In 1729, Aliddleton published " A letter from Rome, sheaving an exact conformity between Popery and Pa ganism ; or, the religion of the present Romans derived from that of their Heathen ancestors." In this letter, he gave offence to some of the English divines, by at tacking the Popish miracles with that general spit it of scepticism and levity, which seemed to condemn all miracles. In the second edition, he endeavoured to ob viate this objection, by an express declaration in favour of the Jewish and Christian miracles. To the fourth edition, which came out in 1741, 8vo. were added, 1. " A prefatory discourse, containing an answer to the writer of a Popish book, entitled " The Catholic Chris tian lust: ucted," &c. and 2. " A Postscript, in which Nr. Warburton's opinion concerning the Paganism of Rome is particularly considered." Upon the publication of Tindal's famous book, called " Christianity as old as the Creation," many writers en tered into controversy with its author ; and, among otfu rs, \Vaterland, who n rote " A Vindication of Scrip ture," &c. Middleton, being displeased with \Vaterland's manner of vindicating Scripture, addressed ,4 A Letter" to hint, in 1731, containing- sonic remarks on it, together with the sketch or plan of another answer to Tindal's book. He did not, however, put his name to the tract ; nor was it known for some time, who was the author of it. Waterton(' having continued to publish more parts of " Scripture vindicated," &c. Pearce, bishop of Ro chester, took up the contest in his behalf ; which drew from Middleton " A Defence of the Letter to Dr. Wa terton(' against the false and frivolous cavils of the au thor of the Reply," 1731. Pearce replied to this de fence, and treated Middleton, as he had done before, as an infidel, or enemy to Christianity in disguise. Mid dleton, who was now known to be the author of the Let ter, uas, in consequence, very near being stripped of his degrees, and deprived of all his connections with the University. But this was deferred, upon a promise that he would make all reasonable satisfaction, and ex plain himself, it possible, in such a manner as to re move every objection. This he accordingly attempted to do, in " Some Remarks on Dr. Pearce's Reply." He also published, in 1733, " Some Remarks," S,:c. on an anonymous pamphlet, entitled " Observatiens ad dressed to the author of the Letter to Dr. Wateiland," which was written by Dr. Williams.
During this controversy, Middleton was appointed, in December 1731, Woodwardian professor, being the fit si appointed by Wcodward's tiustees. In July 1732, he published his inauguration speech, with this title, Orario de novo physiologie explicande munere, ex cele berrirm IVoodwardi testament° instituto habita : Canto brigie in scholis publicis. This situation, however, he
resigned in 1734, when he was made principal librarian.
In 1735, he published "A Dissertation concerning the origin of Printing in England," Be. in which he en deavoured to prove that this art had been introduced by Caxton. In the year 1741, appeared Middleton's great work, " The History of the Life of M. Tullius Cicero," in 2 vols. 4to. The profits of this work ena bled him to portion two nieces, and to purchase a small estate at Hildersham, about six miles from Cambridge. In 1743, he published " The Epistles of M. T. Cicero to M. Brutus, and of Brutus to Cicero," &c. in which lie vindicated the authority of these epistles against the ob jections of the Rev. Mr. Tunstall. In [745, he pub lished Germano quedam antiquitatis erudite monumenta, quibus Romanorum veteran: ritus varii, tarn sacri quam prolani, turn Grecorum atque .:Egyptiorum nonnul!i, il lustrantur, br.c. ; and in 1747, " A Treatise on the Roman Senate," in two parts.
In the last mentioned year also. a publication appear ed, which laid the foundation of another controversy with the clergy. This was his " Introductory Discourse to a larger book, designed hereafter to be published, concerning the miraculous powers which are supposed to have subsisted in the Chi istian church from the earliest ages, through several successive centuries," &c. This introductory discourse was immediately attacked by two celebrated controversial writers, Dr. Subbing and Dr. Chapman; and Middleton replied by Some Remarks" on both their performances. Iii December of the same year, he published his larger nork, with this title, " A Free Inquiry into the miraculous pow ers which are supposed to have subsisted in the Chris tian Church," &c. Innumerable antagonists now ap peared against him, among whom Dodwell and Church distinguished themselves so much. that they were com plimented by the University with the degree of D. D.
Meanwhile, Middleton surprised the public with " An Examination of the Lore Bishop of London's Dis courses concerning the use and intent of Prophecy," &c. which was refuted by Dr Rutherforth, divinity pro fessor at Cambridge. While meditating an answer to all the objections made against the " Free Inquiry," he was seized with a slow hectic fever and disorder in his liver, which terminated his life, at Hildersham, on the 28th of July, 1750, in the sixty•seventh year of his age. Ile left no children by any of his wives.