Newton Writes Against the Trinity

Newton wrote the Historical Account of Two Notable Corruptions of Scriptures in a Letter to a Friend.

This Treatise was first accurately published in Dr. Horsley’s edition of his works. It has 2 texts:

1. 1 Epistle of St. John v. 7
2. 1 Epistle of St. Paul to Timothy iii. 16.

This work deprived the advocates of the doctrine of the Trinity of two leading texts, Newton has been looked upon as an Arian.

But there is absolutely nothing in his writings to warrant such a conclusion.

His remaining theological works consist of:

• the Lexicon Propheticum which was left incomplete
• a Latin Dissertation on the sacred cubit of the Jews
  • This was translated into English and published in 1737 among the Miscellaneous Works of John Greaves
• Four Letters addressed to Dr. Bentley, containing some arguments in proof of a Deity
  1. December 10, 1692
  2. January 17, 1693
  3. February 25, 1693
  4. February 11, 1693

These were published in 1756, and reviewed by Dr. Samuel Johnson.

“February, 3 1692. Mr. Newton wrote a very important book which got burned.”

All of Newton’s theological writings, with the exception of the Letters to Dr. Bentley, were composed before this sad event.

M. Biot says that this caused Newton’s intellect to get deranged.

In 1692, he prepared for, and transmitted to Dr. Wallis the first proposition of the Treatise on Quadratures, with examples of it in first, second and third fluxions.

He investigated, in the same year, the subject of haloes; making and recording numerous and important observations relative thereto.

Those profound and beautiful Letters to Dr. Bentley were written at the close of this and the beginning of the next year.

In October 1693, Locke was about to publish a second edition of his work on the Human Understanding. He asked Newton to reconsider his opinions on innate ideas.

In 1694, Newton was zealously occupied in perfecting his lunar theory: visiting Flamstead, at the Royal Observatory of Greenwich, in September, and obtaining a series of lunar observations; and commencing, in October, a correspondence with that distinguished practical Astronomer, which continued till 1698.

Newton was appointed Warden of the Mint, in 1695, through the influence of Charles Montague, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and afterward Earl of Halifax.

The current coin of the nation had been adulterated and debased.

Montague undertook a re-coinage.

Newton’s mathematical and chemical knowledge proved useful in accomplishing this difficult and most salutary reform.

In 1699, he was promoted to the Mastership of the Mint—an office worth 1,200-1,500 pounds per annum, and which he held during the remainder of his life.

He wrote, in this capacity, an official Report on the Coinage, which has been published; he also prepared a Table of Assays of Foreign Coins, which was printed at the end of Dr. Arbuthnot’s Tables of Ancient Coins, Weights, and Measures, in 1727.

Newton retained his Professorship at Cambridge till 1703.

But he had, on receiving the appointment of Master of the Mint, in 1699, made Mr. Whiston his deputy, with all the emoluments of the office; and, on finally resigning, procured his nomination to the vacant Chair.