Of The Principles and Duties of Natural Religion: Two Books. To Which is Added, A Sermon Preached at His Funerals, by William Lloyd…

8vo leather, rebacked with original boards. 410 pp. Pages 408 & 409 read 108 and 109 instead of correct numbers. Engraved frontispiece. Rebacking crude, but functional. Library stamp on title page, but not that visible. Same stamp on first page of preface. Inscription by early owner. Nice copy. First published in 1675 (this copy is a 5th edition) was reprinted several times in the 17th and 18th centuries. John Wilkins (1614-1672) was a clergyman and scholar, who studied astronomy, mathematics and natural philosophy. As a chaplain in London, he promoted weekly meetings with other intellectuals to discuss progress in the development of natural philosophy, and other branches of learning, These meetings would later evolve into the Royal Society, which Wilkins served as its first secretary. In matters of religion, Wilkins was known for his tolerance of dissenters. In this work he presents many arguments about the existence of God that would become familiar in the 18th century, including “admirable Contrivance of Natural things.”