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In this work, Toland argued that there was nothing in the Bible or the Christian faith that could not be understood by the proper application of human reason derived from natural principles. It was denounced (incorrectly) as atheistic, but is now widely acknowledged as an important text of the early Enlightenment. Christianity not Mysterious was attacked from the pulpit, and copies were burned by the common hangman outside the Irish parliament on College Green. Archbishop Marsh was outraged by Toland’s arguments, which he believed were dangerous to the Anglican Church. Marsh annotated his copy of this book at three separate points, pages 82, 145 and 157. On page 157, Toland has written against the reality of miracles, and comments: ‘that I have clearly prov’d it too’. Marsh retorts: ‘you have often said it indeed, but yet prov’d nothing, unless saying a thing is so, be proving it to be so’.

Citation:
John Toland, Christianity not Mysterious: or a treatise shewing, that there is nothing in the Gospel contrary to reason, nor above it: And that no Christian doctrine can be properly call’d a mystery (London, 1696),
Marsh's Library Exhibits,
accessed July 4, 2025,
https://web.marshlibrary.ie/digi/items/show/590