The Conditionalist Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 2

XII. Scope of Writing Revealed by Twelve Titles

The bare listing of Layton’s twelve titles indicates the range and intensity of the debate that surged back and forth, both theological and philosophical, as it involved Layton. The climax of his writing activities was the production of a major two-volume work, A Search After Souls: or, The Immortality of a Human Soul, Theologically, Philosophically, and Rationally Considered, with the Opinions of Ancient and Modern Authors. It was simply signed, “By a Lover of Truth.” But it was written by Layton, and received highly favorable comments from Bishop Edmund Law and Archdeacon Blackburne, both of them stalwart Conditionalists. Note the progressive series: CFF2 201.1

1. Observations upon Mr. Wadsworth’s Book of the Soul’s Immortality, and his Confutation of the Soul’s Inactivity to the Time of the General Resurrection (London: 1670). Wadsworth’s treatise was, “Antipsuchothanasia: or The Immortality of the Soul Explained and Proved by Scriptures and Reason. A Confutation of that Irrational and Irreligious opinion of the Soul’s Dying with the Body, and Interruption of its Communion with God from Death, Until the Day of Judgment.” CFF2 201.2

2. Observations on Dr. Charlton’s Treatise, intituled, The Immortality of the Humane Soul, Demonstrated by the Light of Nature (London: 1670?). In this Layton simply continues his previous arguments. CFF2 201.3

3. Observations upon a Sermon intituled, A Confutation of Atheism from the Faculties of the Soul ... by way of Refutation (London? 1692?). Richard Bentley’s treatise was on, Matter and Motion Cannot Think: or, a Confutation of Atheism from the Faculties of the Soul. CFF2 201.4

4. Observations upon a Short Treatise written by Mr. Timothy Manlove: intituled, The Immortality of the Soul asserted (London: 1697). Layton here avers that “the certainty of a resurrection, and last judgments, rests not upon the behalf of the soul’s immortality, but upon the strong current and agreement of the gospel.” CFF2 201.5

5. An Argument concerning the Human Soul’s Separate Subsistence (London: 1699). In answer to a pamphlet called Spira Respirans. CFF2 202.1

6. Observations upon a Treatise intituled, A Vindication of the Separate Existence of the Soul (1702). An answer to John Turner’s “A Brief Vindication of the Separate Existence and Immortality of the Soul,” written in opposition to Dr. Coward’s Second Thoughts. CFF2 202.2

7. Observations on a Treatise intituled, Vindiciae Mentis (London: 1703). Vindiciae Mentis was an anonymous work, “Clearing all Doubts ... concerning the Life and Immortality of our Souls” (London: 1702). CFF2 202.3

8. Arguments and Replies in a Dispute concerning the Nature of the Humane Soul, viz. Whether the same be Immaterial, separately subsisting and Intelligent; or be Material, Unintelligent, and Extinguishable at the Death of the Person (London: 1703). CFF2 202.4

9. Observations upon Dr. Nicholl’s Book, intituled, A Conference with a Theist (London: 1703). Nicholl’s book was allegedly Proof of the Immortality of the Soul, written against Coward. CFF2 202.5

10. Observations upon a Treatise intit’led Psychologia. Written by John Broughton (London: 1703). Broughton’s book was toward “establishing the receiv’d Doctrine of an Immaterial and consequently Immortal Substance, United to Human Body,” likewise against Coward. CFF2 202.6

11. Observations Upon a Treatise intituled, A Discourse concerning the Happiness of Good Men in the Next World, by Dr. Sherlock (London: 1704). Sherlock’s work on the immortality of the soul also dealt with the eternal punishment of the wicked in the next world, and had French, German, and Dutch translations. CFF2 202.7

12. A Search After Souls: or, The Immortality of a Humane Soul, Theologically, Philosophically, and Rationally considered, with the Opinions of Ancient and Modern Authors. By a Lover of Truth (2 vols., of 278 and 188 pages, London? 1706). CFF2 202. 9 Paragraph 115/124 CFF2 202. 10 Paragraph 116/124 These treatises, it might be added, are in the British Museum, Harvard, and the Library of Congress, and are accurately listed in Ezra Abbot’s Literature of the Doctrine of a Future Life, or Catalogue of Works. CFF2 202.8