This is a list of the publications of Arthur Ashley Sykes (1684–1756), an English cleric who wrote controversial pamphlets over three or four decades, arguing a latitudinarian and rationalist line, and playing a part in the Bangorian controversy.
YearFull titlePublished as (Sykes or otherwise)Comments1710Some modest animadversions and reflexions upon a sermon preach'd before the Honourable House of Commons, by Dr. West, on Monday, the 30th of January: being the day appointed to be kept, as the day of the martyrdom of the blessed King Charles I. In a letter to the abovesaid DoctorEugenius PhilalethesNot in Disney's catalogue. A sermon of 30 January 1710 by Richard West had proved controversial in its views (pan-Protestant, Whig in its politics, and in favour of continuing the War of the Spanish Succession), and had required a vote in Parliament before it was printed.1712An answer to that part of Dr. Brett's sermon which relates to the incapacity of persons not episcopally ordain'd to administer Christian baptism: In a letter to the DoctorAnonymousDictionary, vol. 1 p. 119.The reference is to Thomas Brett.1715The innocency of error, asserted and vindicatedEugenius PhilalethesLater editions in 1715 and 1729.1715The safety of the church under the present ministry consider'd: in a letter to —By a clergyman1716An answer to the nonjurors charge of schism upon the Church of EnglandA Clergyman of the Church of England1716The external peace of the church: only attainable by a zeal for Scripture in its just latitude, and by mutual charity; not by a pretense of uniformity of opinionBy a lover of truth and peaceDictionary, vol. 1.1716The suspension of the Triennial Bill, the properest means to unite the nation: In a letter to —SykesSykes expressed the view that a Whig parliament was by no means guaranteed without royal help.1716The Thanks of an honest clergyman for Mr. Paul's speech at Tybourn, July the 13th, 1716SykesReference is to William Paul. Sykes contested Paul's claim to die as a nonjuror martyr.1717The difference between the Kingdom of Christ, and the kingdoms of this world: set forth in a sermon preached at the arch-deacon's visitation, in St. Michael's Church in Cambridge, December 13, 1716Sykes1717A letter to a friend. In which is shewn, the inviolable nature of publick securitiesBy a lover of his countryReprinted by John Ramsay McCulloch.1717Some remarks on Mr. Marshall's defense of our constitution in church and state. With an appendix. Containing a brief enquiry into the meaning of those words of the 20th article, the church hath - authority in controversies of faithSykesThe reference is to Nathaniel Marshall.1717A letter to the Reverend Dr. Sherlock, one of the Committee of Convocation, appointed to draw up a representation concerning the Bishop of Bangor's Preservative and sermon: Comparing the dangerous positions and doctrines contained in the Doctor's sermon, preach'd November 5th, 1712, with those charged upon the Bishop in the late report of the CommitteeSykesTo Thomas Sherlock, who answered Sykes.An answer to a letter sent to the Reverend Dr. Sherlock etc. relating to his sermon preach'd before the Lord-Mayor, November the 5th, 1712 : to which are added some observations upon the account the Lord Bishop of Bangor has given to his intended answer to the representation (1717)1717A second letter to the Reverend Dr. Sherlock,: being a reply to his Answer, &c. Proving the doctrines maintain'd by the doctor in his sermon Nov. 5. 1712. to be the same with those charged upon the Bishop of Bangor, as pernicious, in the late report of the Committee. With an appendix relating to a passage or two in Dr. Snape's Second letter to the Lord Bishop of BangorSykes with postscript by Hoadly.The reference is to Andrew Snape. 1717A third letter to the Reverend Dr. Sherlock,: being an answer to his considerations offered to the Bishop of Bangor. With an appendix, in vindication of a passage in the former letter against Dr. SnapeSykesSykes claimed Sherlock had not clarified the differences between what Hoadly now preached and what he (Sherlock) had preached in the past.Starkie, p. 81; Google Books.1718A fourth letter to the Reverend Dr. Sherlock, being an answer to his late book, entitled, The Lord Bishop of B's defence of his assertion consider'dSykes"...a tenacious, if pedantic, catalogue of charges against Sherlock of malice and misrepresenting Hoadly..."Starkie, p. 89; Google Books.1718A Modest Plea for the Baptismal and Scripture-notion of the Trinity. Wherein the Schemes of the Reverend Dr Bennet and Dr Clarke are Compared. Also Two LettersSykesSykes was writing in support of Samuel Clarke's line on the Trinity, against an attack of 1718 by Thomas Bennet. in A Discourse of the Ever-Blessed Trinity in Unity (1718).Thomas C. Pfizenmaier, The Trinitarian Theology of Dr. Samuel Clarke (1675-1729): Context, sources, and controversy (1997), p. 189; Google Books.1719The case of Dr. Bentley Regius Professor of Divinity truly stated: Wherein two late pamphlets, entituled The proceedings of the Vice-Chancellor and the University, &c. And A full and impartial account of the late proceedings, &c. are examinedAnonymousDictionary, vol. 1References are to Thomas Sherlock as vice-chancellor and Conyers Middleton.Dictionary, vol. 11719The case of Dr. Bentley Regius Professor of Divinity farther stated, and vindicated. In answer to A second part of the full and impartial account of the proceedings, &c.Anonymous1720The authority of the clergy and the liberties of the laity stated and vindicated. In answer to Mr. Rogers's discourse of the visible and invisible church of Christ.SykesThe reference is to John Rogers, who wrote Discourse of the Visible and Invisible Church of Christ in the Bangorian controversy; Rogers replied in 1722.1721The case of subscription to the XXXIX articles considered. Occasioned by Dr Waterland's Case of Arian subscriptionAnonymousDictionary, vol. 1.Reference is to Daniel Waterland.1721A letter to the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham. Occasioned by a late motion made by the Archdeacon of London, at his visitation for the city clergy to return their thanks to his Lordship for his answer to Mr. WhistonA curate of London.Dictionary, p. 311; Google Books.1722The consequences of the present conspiracy to the Church and State, considered, in a sermon preach'd at the Chapel in King-Street, near Golden Square, upon November 5, 1722Sykes1725An essay upon the truth of the Christian religion: wherein its real foundation upon the Old Testament is shewn: Occasioned by The discourse of the grounds and reasons of the Christian religionSykesReply to Anthony Collins.1727The true grounds of the expectation of the Messiah. In two letters. The one printed in the London Journal, April the first, 1727. The other in vindication of it. Being a reply to the answer published at the end of a late letter to Dr. RogersPhilalethes1728The duty of love to God, and to our neighbours. A sermon preach'd at the assizes held at Chelmsford in Essex, March 21. 1727-8Sykes1728A sermon preach'd at the assizes held at Brentwood in Essex, August 7. 1728: Before the Right Honourable The Lord Chief Justice Eyre, and Mr. Baron HaleSykesThe references are to Sir Robert Eyre and Sir Bernard Hale.1730The true foundations of natural and reveal'd religion asserted: Being a reply to the supplement to the treatise entitul'd, The nature, obligation, &c. of the Christian sacramentsSykesReply to Daniel Waterland. Thomas Johnson replied anonymously to this work and one by Thomas Chubb.Dictionary, vol. 1.1730A defence of the answer to the remarks upon Dr. Clarke's exposition of the church-catechism. Wherein the difference between moral and positive duties is fully stated. Being a reply to a pamphlet entitled, The nature, obligation, and efficacy of the sacraments consider'dAnonymousDictionary, vol. 1.Reply to Daniel Waterland.1730An Answer to the Remarks Upon Dr Clarke's Exposition of the Church-CatechismAnonymousDictionary, vol. 1.Reply to Daniel Waterland.1731An answer to the postscript of the second part of Scripture vindicated. Wherein is shewn, that if reason be not a sufficient guide in matters of religion; the bulk of mankind, for 4000 years, had no sufficient guide at all in matters of religionAnonymousDictionary, vol. 1.1732A dissertation on the eclipse mentioned by Phlegon. Or, an enquiry whether that eclipse had any relation to the darkness which happened at our Saviour's passionSykesOn the Crucifixion darkness and eclipse, and Phlegon of Tralles. The work was provoked by William Whiston, who related in his Memoir of Samuel Clarke how Sykes had persuaded Clarke to remove reference to the eclipse in Clarke's published Boyle Lectures; Sykes took the eclipse to be a coincidental natural event, as was the earthquake reported at the Crucifixion, an attitude (Whiston wrote) that was prejudice without proper support. Whiston first replied to Sykes in 1732.1733A defence of the dissertation on the eclipse mentioned by Phlegon: wherein is further shewn, that that eclipse had no relation to the darkness which happened at our Saviour's passion: and Mr. Whiston's observations are particularly consideredSykesThe reference is to William Whiston. In A reply to Dr. Sykes's Defence of his dissertation on the eclipse mentioned by Phlegon, one of his Six Dissertations (1734) dealing with Sykes's claim, Whiston mentions the secular acceleration of the Moon, as studied by Edmond Halley; this astronomical sidelight in a theological controversy was picked up only by George Costard at the time.1734A second defence of the dissertation upon the eclipse mentioned by Phlegon: wherein Mr. Chapman's objections, and those of the A. of the letter to Dr. Sykes, are particularly consideredSykesOne reply to the first work on Phlegon was anonymous (1733); the author's name has been given as Douglass.Dictionary, vol.3 col. 1904; archive.org. The other reference is to John Chapman, who published works in the controversy in 1734 and 1735.1734The reasons against Dr. Rundle's promotion to the See of Glocester, seriously and dispassionately considered: in a letter to a member of Parliament for the county of —By a gentleman of the TempleReply by Isaac Maddox, as "A clergyman in the country".Dictionary, vol. 1.1735Some further considerations on the reasons against Dr. Rundle's promotion to the See of Glocester: in a second letter to a member of parliament for the County of —A Gentleman of the TempleThe reference is to Thomas Rundle.1736The corporation and test acts shewn to be of no importance to the Church of EnglandAnonymousDictionary, vol. 1.1737An enquiry into the meaning of Demoniacks in the New TestamentT.P.A.P.O.A.B.I.T.C.O.S. (i.e. The Precentor And Prebendary Of Alton-Borealis In The Church Of Sarum).This and the sequel had a reply that has been attributed to John SwintonDictionary, vol. 1. and George Costard.DNB Another anonymous reply was by Thomas Church.Dictionary, vol. 1.1737A further enquiry into the meaning of Demoniacks in the New Testament. Wherein the enquiry is vindicated against the objections of the Revd. Mr. Twells, and of the author of The Essay in answer to itAnonymousThe reference is to Leonard Twells. Other publications in the controversy were by Samuel Pegge and Thomas Hutchinson.1740Principles and connexion of natural and revealed religion distinctly consideredSykesOn prophecy and miracles, two central topics of the apologetics of the time, it took the view that prophecy is more convincing; this position was unorthodox and was criticised.1742A Brief Discourse Concerning the Credibility of Miracles and Revelation: To which is added, a postscript in answer to the Lord Bishop of Lichfield's charge to his clergyarchive.org.SykesThe Bishop of Lichfield at the time was Richard Smalbroke.1744An examination of Mr. Warburton's account of the conduct of the antient legislators : of the double doctrine of the old philosophers, of the the