Leonard Twells (1684?–1742) was an English cleric and theological writer.

Life

His father John was Master of

Newark School Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...

. He received his education at

Jesus College, Cambridge Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's full name is The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund, near Cambridge. Its common name comes ...

, where he graduated B.A. in 1704. In 1722 Twells was presented to the vicarage of St. Mary's, Marlborough,

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...

. He took the degree of M.A. at Oxford by diploma, 7 December 1733, and was created D.D. in that university, 7 July 1740. In 1737 he was presented to the united rectories of St Matthew, Friday Street, and St Peter, Cheapside, in London. He was also a prebendary of

St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglicanism, Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London ...

, and one of the lecturers at

St. Dunstan's-in-the-West The Guild Church of St Dunstan-in-the-West is in Fleet Street in the City of London. It is dedicated to Dunstan, Bishop of London and Archbishop of Canterbury. The church is of medieval origin, although the present building, with an octagonal ...

. Twells died at

Islington Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ...

on 19 February 1742, leaving a large family without provision.

Works

His works are: * ''A Critical Examination of the late new Text and Version of the New Testament, wherein the editor's corrupt text, false version, and fallacious notes are detected and censur'd'', 3 parts, London, 1731–2. Against Daniel Mace. * ''A Vindication (and a Supplement to the Vindication) of the Gospel of St. Matthew, against a late tract entitled A Dissertation or inquiry concerning the canonical authority of the Gospel according to St. Matthew'', 2 pts. London, 1735. * ''A Second Vindication of the Gospel of St. Matthew'', London, 1735. * ''An Answer to the Enquiry into the meaning of Demoniacks in the New Testament'', London, 1737. * ''An Answer to the Further Enquiry into the meaning of Demoniacks in the New Testament, in a second letter to the author'', London, 1738. This and the previous work were addressed to

Arthur Ashley Sykes Arthur Ashley Sykes (1684–1756) was an Anglican religious writer, known as an inveterate controversialist. Sykes was a latitudinarian of the school of Benjamin Hoadly, and a friend and student of Isaac Newton. Life Sykes was born in London ...

. * ''The Theological Works of Dr. Pocock. To which is prefixed an account of his life and writings'', London, 1740. This was a subscription of works of Edward Pocock. * ''Twenty-four Sermons preached ... at the lecture founded by the Hon. R. Boyle, and eight Sermons preached ... at the lecture founded by the Lady Moyer'', 2 vols. London, 1743; 2nd edit. 1755.

Boyle Lectures The Boyle Lectures are named after Robert Boyle, a prominent natural philosopher of the 17th century and son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork. Under the terms of his Will, Robert Boyle endowed a series of lectures or sermons (originally eight ...

and Moyer Lectures.

References

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Twells, Leonard 1684 births 1742 deaths 18th-century English Anglican priests People from Newark-on-Trent 17th-century Anglican theologians 18th-century Anglican theologians