The Online Books Page

Blasphemy

Here are entered works on blasphemy in the legal and theological sense of maliciously reviling God or religion. Works on profane language are entered under Swearing. Works on judicial or official oaths are entered under Oaths.

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• Offenses against religion

• Blasphemy -- Biblical teaching
• Blasphemy -- Early works to 1800
• Blasphemy -- England
• Blasphemy -- Great Britain
• Blasphemy -- Ireland
• Blasphemy -- Law and legislation
• Blasphemy -- Maryland
• Blasphemy -- Massachusetts
• Blasphemy -- Poetry
• Blasphemy -- Sermons
• Blasphemy -- United States
• Trials (Blasphemy)

• Negotiating the Sacred II: Blasphemy and Sacrilege in the Arts (2008), ed. by Elizabeth Burns Coleman and Maria Suzette Fernandes Dias (multiple formats with commentary at ANU E Press)
• Negotiating the Sacred: Blasphemy and Sacrilege in a Multicultural Society (2006), ed. by Elizabeth Burns Coleman and Kevin White (multiple formats with commentary at ANU E Press)
• Prisoner for Blasphemy, by G. W. Foote (Gutenberg text)
• The Bold blasphemer : a narrative of facts. (Richmond, Va. : Presbyterian Committee of Publication, [between 1861 and 1865]) (page images at HathiTrust)
• La bêtise diabolique du blasphème [ressource électronique] / ([Trois-Rivières : Le Bien public, 1914?]), by père Joachim-Joseph (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Des blasphèmes et imprécations [ressource électronique] : extraits divers des meilleurs auteurs / ([Mile-End, Québec? : s.n.], 1887), by S. Laporte (page images at HathiTrust)
• Orbis Phaëthon, hoc est, De universis vitiis linguae / (Coloniae [i.e. Amsterdam] : Apud Cornel. ab Egmond [i.e. Blaeu], 1631), by Jeremias Drexel and Raphael Sadeler (page images at HathiTrust)
• Perjury the national sin, or, An account of the abuses and violations of oaths among us of this nation / (London : Printed, and are to be sold by R. Taylor, 1690) (page images at HathiTrust)
• A full report of the trial of Henry Hetherington, on an indictment for blasphemy : before Lord Denman and a special jury, at the Court of Queen's Bench, Westminster, on Tuesday, December 8, 1840, for selling Haslam's Letters to the clergy of all demoninations ... (London : Henry Hetherington, 1840), by H. Hetherington and Great Britain. Court of Queen's Bench. 1n (page images at HathiTrust)
• Die religionsdelikte nach den kantonal-schweizerischen strafgesetzen. Eine vorarbeit zum eidgenössischen strafgesetzbuch. (Breslau, Schletter, 1917), by Emil Koenig (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• An ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the punishing of blasphemies and heresies : with the severall penalties therein expressed. (London : J. Wright, 1648), by England and Wales Parliament and John Wright (page images at HathiTrust)
• A special report of the trial of the Rev. Vladimir Petcherine : (one of the Redemptorist fathers), in the Court House, Green-Street, Dublin, December, 1855, on an indictment charging him with burning the Protestant Bible at Kingstown / (Dublin : James Duffy, 1856), by Vladimir Petcherine and James Doyle (page images at HathiTrust)
• Antiche pitture sul campanile di S. Marco / (Venezia : A spese della R. Deputazione, 1912), by Vittorio Lazzarini (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Geschiedenis en begrip van strafbare godslastering ... (Oudshoorn, J.G. Baart, 1907), by Joseph Paulus Chardon (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh / (London : Progressive Publishing Company, 1891), by G. W. Foote (page images at HathiTrust)
• Shelley on blasphemy : being his letter to Lord Ellenborough, occasioned by the sentence which he passed on Mr. D. I. Eaton, as publisher of the third part of Paine's "Age of reason" ... (London : Progressive Publishing co., 1883), by Percy Bysshe Shelley and Edward Law Ellenborough (page images at HathiTrust)
• Sud i nakazanīi͡a za prestuplenīi͡a protiv vi͡ery i nravstvennosti po russkomu pravu / (Kazanʹ : Tipo-lit. Imperatorskago universiteta, 1904), by Ardalion Popov (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Ugolovnoe polozhenīe 22 marta 1903 g. : glava vtorai︠a︡ o narushenīi ograzhdai︠u︡shchikh vi︠e︡ru postanovlenīĭ (s izmi︠e︡nenīi︠a︡mi po zakonu 14 marta 1906 g. [Sobr. uzak., st. 461]) / (S.-Peterburg : N.S. Tagant︠s︡ev, 1906), by N. S. Tagant︠s︡ev (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Penalties upon opinion: or, some records of the laws of heresy and blasphemy, (London : Watts & Co., 1913), by Hypatia Bradlaugh Bonner and Rationalist Press Association (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Blasphemy and free speech : being sample portions of an argument which a Connecticut judge refused to read : printed to promote the repeal of blasphemy laws. (New York : Free Speech League, 1918), by Theodore Schroeder (page images at HathiTrust)
• A letter to Lord Ellenborough : occasioned by the sentence which he passed on Mr. D.I. Eaton as publisher of the third part of Paine's "Age of reason" / (London : R. Forder, 1894), by Percy Bysshe Shelley and Edward Law Ellenborough (page images at HathiTrust)
• The laws relating to blasphemy and heresy : an address to freethinkers / (London : Freethought Pub. Co., [1878]), by Charles Bradlaugh (page images at HathiTrust)
• A discourse on the sins of the tongue / (Boston : Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1845), by Alexander Young (page images at HathiTrust)
• La blasfemia : manual del propagandista en su contra / (Castellón : Establecimiento Tip. de J. Armengot e Hijos, 1913), by Julio Chillida Meliá (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Blasphemy, a plea for religious equality, (London, The Pioneer Press, 1922), by Chapman Cohen (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• The Blasphemy laws / (London : Society for the Abolition of the Blasphemy Laws, 1924), by Society for the Abolition of the Blasphemy Laws and Great Britain Home Office (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Trial of C. B. Reynolds for blasphemy : at Morristown, N. J., May 19th and 20th, 1887. (New York, C. P. Farrell, 1888), by Robert Green Ingersoll (page images at HathiTrust)
• Vindiciae Britannicae. Christianity interested in the dismissal of ministers. A vindication of the people from the charge of blasphemy, and a defence of the freedom of the press. (London : Printed for W. Simpkin and R. Marshall, 1821), by pseud Christophilus and William Wilberforce (page images at HathiTrust)
• The trial and imprisonment of J.W. Gett for blasphemy / (Bradford,[Eng.]: Freethought Socialist League, [191-?]), by Ernest Pack and Freethought Socialist League (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Prestuplenīi︠a︡ protiv religīi v vazhni︠e︡ĭshikh gosudarstvakh Zapada : istoriko dogmaticheskoe izsli︠e︡dovanīe / (I︠A︡roslavlʹ : Tip. G. Falʹk, 1886), by Leonid Sergeevich Belogrit︠s︡-Kotli︠a︡revskiĭ (page images at HathiTrust)
• Prisoner for blasphemy. (London, Progressive Pub. Co., 1886), by G. W. Foote (page images at HathiTrust)
• A speech delivered before the Municipal court of the city of Boston, in defence of Abner Kneeland, on an indictment for blasphemy, January term, 1834. (boston, Printed for the publisher, 1834), by Andrew Dunlap and Abner Kneeland (page images at HathiTrust)
• Constitutional free speech defined and defended in an unfinished argument in a case of blasphemy (New York city, Free speech league, 1919), by Theodore Schroeder (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Trial of C. B. Reynolds for blasphemy, at Morristown, N.J., May 19th and 20th, 1887. (New York city, C. P. Farrell, 1899), by Robert Green Ingersoll and I. N. Baker (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• Essai sur le délit de sacrilège en droit français jusqu'à la fin du XVme siècle, (Gand, E. van Goethem & cie, 1910), by Norbert Hachez, ed. by J. L. M. Eggen (page images at HathiTrust; US access only)
• A view of ancient laws against immorality and profaneness; under the following heads; lewdness; profane swearing, cursing and blasphemy; perjury; prophanation of days devoted to religion; contempt or neglect of divine service; drunkenness; gaming; idleness, vagrancy, and begging; stage-plays and players; and duelling. Collected from the Jewish, Roman, Greek, Gothic, Lombard, and other laws, down to the middle of the eleventh century. (Cambridge, C. Crownfield [etc.], 1729), by John Disney (page images at HathiTrust)
• Report of the arguments of the attorney of the Commonwealth, at the trials of Abner Kneeland, for blasphemy : in the Municipal and Supreme Courts, in Boston, January and May, 1834 ... ([Boston] : Printed by Beals, Homer & Co. No. 34 Congress Street, 1834), by Samuel Dunn Parker and Abner Kneeland (page images at HathiTrust)
• Iohannis Wyclif Tractatus de blasphemia / (London : Published for the Wyclif society by Trübner & co., 1893), by John Wycliffe and Michael Henry Dziewicki (page images at HathiTrust)
• A pick-tooth for swearers, or, A looking glass for atheists and prophane persons wherein the greatness of the party offended, the solemn giving of the law, together with the strickness and purity thereof, the unquestionable verity of the Holy Scriptures, and what fearfull sentence the wiked may expect in the great day are briefly touched. (Edinburgh : Printed by John Reid, 1698), by James Donaldson (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• Blasphēmoktonia:: The blasphemer slaine with the sword of the spirit: or, A plea for the god-head of the Holy Ghost. Wherein the deity of the spirit of God is proved in the demonstration of the spirit, and vindicated from the cavils of John Bidle. / By an admirer and worshipper of the Trinity in unity. (London : Printed by T.M. for Joh. Rothwell at the Fountain and Bear in Gold-smiths Row in Cheap-side, [1653]), by Matthew Poole (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• All the proceedings at the sessions of the peace holden at Westminster,: on the 20. day of Iune, 1651. against Thomas Tydford, Elizabeth Sorrell the elder, Margaret Dunlape, Anne Burley, Frances Bedwell, Elizabeth Sorrell the yonger, and Thomas Kearby. Together, with their severall examinations and behaviours before the justices, and the petition of six of them, as also their recantation; with the sentence and punishment of Thomas Kearby, for his blasphemous impiety, and wilfull obstinacy. To which is added a postscript, to deterre all men to avoyd such horrid blasphemies. This is perused (and thought fit to be published) by divers of the justices of the peace within the city and liberty of Westminster, for the satisfaction of the publique. July 22. 1651. E.H. (London : Printed by Thomas Harper, 1651) (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A treatise of the high rebellion of man against God in blasphemy:: shewing what it is according to God in the law. And proving, that men not knowing the sin, come daily to commit it, without the sense thereof. With an examination of an ordinance made by the Lords, and the Act made by the late Parliament against the same. Written by an unworthy witness of the name and soveraignty of the Jehovah elohims, John Brayne. (London : Printed for Richard Moon, at the seven stars in Paul's Church-yard, neer the great North-door, 1653. [i.e. 1654]), by John Brayne (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• To all who desire satisfaction in the case of oathes shewing how far under the law it was lawful to swear, and how that in any case under the Gospel it is forbidden / by William Holgate. (London : Printed and sold by Andrew Sowle ..., 1683), by William Holgate (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A looking-glasse, for murtherers and blasphemers: wherein they [see] Gods iudgement showne vpon a keeper neere Enfield C[hase] desperately shot at a man that intended to haue stolne deere, ... was done on Monday night, the xii. day of Iune, being the same day [the] tempest was in London. The the tune of Iasper Cunningha[m.] (London : printed [by M. Flesher] for I. T[rundle, 1626]) (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• The swearer silenced, or, The evil and danger of prophane swearing and perjury demonstrated by many arguments and examples of Gods dreadful judgments upon sinful swearers / by Tho. Doolittle. (London : Printed by J. Astwood for Jonathan Greenwood ..., 1689), by Thomas Doolittle (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A sermon, against profane swearing; delivered at Keene, on Lord's Day, October 17, 1790, and published at the request of a number of the hearers. / By Aaron Hall. A.M. Pastor of the church in Keene. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts] (Keene, (state of New-Hampshire) : Printed and sold by James D. Griffith., [1790]), by Aaron Hall (HTML at Evans TCP)
• The danger of taking God's name in vain. As it was delivered in a sermon / by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts] (Boston, : Printed by Benjamin Harris, and John Allen, at the London-Coffee-House., 1691), by Samuel Willard (HTML at Evans TCP)

• A scriptural view of the doctrine of unpardonable sin, or, The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, examined and explained / by Joseph M'Kee. (Baltimore : Printed for the author, and sold by J.J. Harrod, 1834), by Joseph M'Kee (page images at HathiTrust)

• A blow at the serpent; or a gentle answer from Madiston prison to appease wrath advancing it self against truth and peace at Rochester. Together with the work of four daies disputes, in the Cathedral of Rochester, in the Countie of Kent, betweene several ministers, and Richard Coppin, preacher there, to whom very many people frequentlie came to hear, and much rejoyced at the way of truth and peace he preached, at the same whereof the ministers in those parts began to ring in their pulpits, saying, this man blasphemeth, ... Whereupon arose the disputes, at which were some magistrates, some officers, and souldiers, peaceable and well-minded, and very many people from all parts adjacent, before whom the truth was confirm'd and maintained. The whole matter written by the hearers, on both sides. Published for the confirmation and comfort of all such as receive the truth in the love of it. By Richard Coppin, now in Maidston Prison for the witness of Jesus. Twenty five articles since brought against him by the ministers, as blasphemie, and his answers to them, how he was (London : printed by Philip Wattleworth, and are to be sold by William Larnar at the Black-moor neer Fleet-Bridge, 1656), by Richard Coppin (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• An answer to a printed book, falsely intituled, A blow at the serpent It being truly a blow of the serpent, lately published by one Richard Coppin. Wherein, among many others, these following heresies, and abominable errours of his, are briefly, and plainly confuted out of the word of God. 1 That the deitie of Christ was united to the sinful nature of man, and consequently that his conception was impure. 2 That there is no resurrection of the body. 3 That the pains of Hell are not eternal. 4 That there is no general day of judgement, but such a temporal judgement only as befals men in this world. 5 That God will not destroy any man, but only sin in man. 6 That all shall be saved, the divel not excepted. 7 That the humane nature of Christ is not ascended into Heaven. By Edward Garland M.A. and minister of Gods word at Hartclip [sic] in Kent. (London : printed for Philemon Stephens in St. Pauls Church Yeard [sic], 1657), by Edward Garland (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A discourse concerning zeal against immorality and prophaness deliver'd in two sermons in St. Michaels Church Dublin, October 29, and November 26. 1699. (Dublin : printed by Joseph Ray in Skinner-Row, for Jacob Milner bookseller in Essex-Street, 1700), by William Hamilton (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• The VViltshire rant; or A narrative wherein the most unparallel'd prophane actings, counterfeit repentings, and evil speakings of Thomas Webbe late pretended minister of Langley Buriall, are discovered; the particulars whereof are set down in the following page. Also the proceedings of those in authority against him. With a catalogue of his untruths in his Masse of malice, and replies to sundry of them. by Edw. Stokes Esq; (London : Printed by Ralph Smith, at the Sign of the Bible in Cornhill near the Ryall exchange, 1652), by Edward Stokes (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A true narrative of the proceedings at the Sessions-house in the Old-Bayly at a sessions there held on Wednesday the 17th of January 1676/7. Giving a full account of the true tryal and sentence of Lodowick Muggleton for blasphemous words and books. As also the tryals and condemnation of a vvoman for killing her bastard-child; and of a man for personating another person in giving bayl before a judge. With an account how many are condenmed, burn'd in the hand, to be whipt, and transported. With allowance. Roger L'Estrange. (London : printed for D.M., 1676/7), by England and Wales. Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (London) (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• An antidote against the poysonous vveeds of heretical blasphemies, which during the deplorable interval of church-government have grown up in the reforming Church of England. As it was lately presented to the Church of God at Great Yarmouth. / By Iohn Brinsley, Minister of the Gospel there. Augus. 10. 1650. Imprimatur, Edm. Calamy. (London : Printed by T.R. & E.M. for Ralph Smith at the singe of the blew Bible in Corn-hill neer the Royal Exchange, 1650), by John Brinsley (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A list of some of the grand blasphemers and blasphemies, which was given in to the committee for religion. Very fit to be taken notice of, upon the occasion of the day of publick fasting and humiliation. (London : Printed by Robert Ibbitson, 1654) (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• Caution humbly offer'd about passing the bill against blasphemy ([London : s.n., 1698?]), by William Penn (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• Caveat for sinners. (London : printed for J. Deacon, at the sign of the Rainbow, a little above St. Andrews church in Holborn, 1683), by R. B. (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• Deity of the Holy Ghost proved. (London : printed by R. & W.L. for John Rothwell at the Fountain and Bear in Goldsmiths Row in Cheap-side, 1654), by Matthew Poole (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• Araignement of an unruly tongue. (London : Printed by G.P[urslowe] for Iohn Budge, and are to bee sold at his shop in Pauls church-yard, at the signe of the greene Dragon, 1619), by George Webbe (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• Anthony Paint[er] the blaspheming caryar Who sunke into the ground vp to the neck, and there stood two day[s and] two nights, and not to bee drawne out by the strength of hor[ses] or digged out by the help of man: and there dyed the 3. of Nouember. 1613. Also the punishment of Nicholas Mesle a most wicked blasphemer. Reade and tremble. Published by authoritie. (At London : Printed [by G. Eld] for Iohn Trundle: and are to be sold at Christ Church Gate, 1614) (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A description of the prophets, apostles, and ministers of Christ, and also of those called ministers of England, by men which say they are ministers of Christ, but are found to be blasphemers and lyars, and none of the ministers of Christ Iesus; and wherein the difference plainly appears, and they made manifest. With an exhortation to the people of England; to forsake them, their blind-guides, and to follow Christ Iesus, the shepard of their souls; the way, the truth, and life, who faith, come learn of me, for I am meek and lowly, ... / Given forth to undeceive the simple hearted; by him whose name in the flesh, is, Henry Clark. (London, : Printed for Giles Calvert, and are to be sold at his shop, at the Black-spread-Eagle neer the west end of Pauls., 1655), by Henry Clark (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A full and true account of the life: and also the manner and method of carrying on the delusions, blasphemies, and notorious cheats of Susan Fowls. As the same was contrived, plotted, invented, and managed by wicked popish priests and other papists, with a design to scandalize our church and ministers, by insinuating that the virtue of casting forth devils, and easing persons possess'd was only in the power of their church. As also, of her tryal and sentence at the Old Baily, the 7th of this instant May, for blaspheming Jesus Christ, and cursing the Lord's prayer. (London, : Printed for J. Read in Fleet street, 1698) (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• The Petition of divers gathered churches, and others wel affected, in and about the city of London, for declaring the ordinance of the Lords and Commons, for punishing blasphemies and heresies, null and void. Also, a seasonable premonition to the Churches of God in the countrey, that acknowledge the holy scriptures the only word of faith, and believe that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not dye, but have everlasting life. More especially to the thirty congregations, whose faith and practise is extant. Printed for William Larner, at the Black-More neer Fleet-Bridge. 1651. (London; : Printed, and are to be sold in Pauls Church-Yard., 1655) (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• An appeal to the present rulers in Englands Israel. Touching impious blasphemy against Jesus Christ God the son of late explicitely broached in a scrowl scribled by one William Farmer giving himself the title gent: as also, touching ignorance, and error implicitely, but indeed peremptorily by interrogation a concluding way of argument charged upon the same rulers in his frontispice [sic], or mock-title about a clause conteined in the Apostles Creed, and about the real truth of Jesus Christ. Wherein the appealant modestly, and humbly prayeth the same rulers to vindicate the honour of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ from horrid impious blasphemy, and their own reputations, and knowledges from calumniation of error, and ignorance. Hereunto is annexed an advertisement to millenaries with a forcible argument framed by our Lord Christs own words against their opinion for his personal reign on earth 1000. years occasioned by the same scriblings of William Farmer. / By Ri. Foster schism. gent. (London : Printed for Charles Sumptner, in the year 1650), by Richard Foster (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• A declaration of the ground of error & errors, blasphemy, blasphemers, and blasphemies; and the ground of inchantings and seducing spirits, and the doctrine of devils, the sons of sorcerers, and the seed of the adulterer, and the ground of nicromancy, which doth defile witches and wizards. How this is all from the spirit of God in the transgression of it; and all them that draw from the spirit of God, draw into it; and they that are lead by the spirit of God, are led from it to God, and to the knowledge of the doctrine of Christ. By G. F. (London : printed for Giles Calvert, at the Black-Spread-Eagle neer the West end of Pauls, 1657), by George Fox (HTML at EEBO TCP)
• An abstract of the penal-laws against immorality, and prophaneness commanded to be put in speedy and vigourous execution, by his Majesty's gracious and pious proclamation, pursuant to the humble address of the honourable House of Commons. Published for the ease and direction of all officers, or others, for the better discharge of their duty, by giving information to the magistrates of the breach of the said laws. (London : printed by William Downing, in St. Bartholomew-Close, near Smithfield, 1698) (HTML at EEBO TCP)

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