COLLINS, Anthony. - English Deist, b. at Heston on 21 June 1676, d. in London on 31 Dec. 1729. A friend and disciple of Locke, he defended “free thought.” While admitting a certain faith in God as known by reason, C. was a critical enemy of the Christian Creed.
He applied the rationalist method even to biblical exegesis, and especially to the evaluation of prophecies, concluding that these should be regarded as mere allegories. Principal work: A Discourse of Free-Thinking occasioned by the Rise and the Growth of a Sect called Free-Thinkers (London 1713). He was placed on the Index by decree of 1 Oct. 1715.
Bibl.: A. W. Ward–A. R. Waller, The Cambridge History of English Literature, IX, Cambridge 1912, pp. 292–93, 505–506; Uberweg, III, pp. 379, 689.
Giovanni Muller