John Wilkins — EEBO-TCP A66053, keyed from the 1675 first edition.
Left unfinished at Wilkins’s death in 1672 and completed for the press by John Tillotson. The first book argues the reasonableness of believing there is a God, from consent, from the origin of the world, from contrivance and from providence, and then goes through the divine perfections; the second argues that the duties which follow are also the wisest way for a man to live. It is the founding book of English natural theology and was still being set for undergraduates a century later.
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Contents (28)
- The Preface
- Book 1, Chapter 1. Concerning the several kinds of Evidence and Assent
- Book 1, Chapter 2. Two Schemes of Principles relating to Practical things, whether Natural or Moral, proposed in the Method used by Mathematicians of Postulata, Definitions and Axioms
- Book 1, Chapter 3. Some Propositions necessary to be premised for the removing of several prejudices in Debates about Religion
- Book 1, Chapter 4. Concerning the Existence of a Deity, and the Arguments for it. The I. Argument, From the universal consent and agreement of Mankind; and the Objections answered
- Book 1, Chapter 5. 2. Arg. From the Original of the World
- Book 1, Chapter 6. 3. Arg. From the admirable contrivance of Natural things
- Book 1, Chapter 7. 4. Arg. From Providence, and the Government of the World
- Book 1, Chapter 8. Concerning the Excellencies and Perfections of the Divine Nature: And First, of those which are commonly called Incommunicable, namely, Simplicity, Unity,
- Book 1, Chapter 9. Of the Communicable Perfections of God: And first, of those which relate to the Divine Understanding, viz. Knowledg, Wisdom, particular Providence
- Book 1, Chapter 10. Of the Perfections relating to the Divine Will; Goodness, Justice, Faithfulness
- Book 1, Chapter 11. Of the Perfections belonging to the Powers and Faculties of Acting, viz. Power, Dominion, Distribution of future Rewards and Punishments
- Book 1, Chapter 12. Concerning the Duties of Religion naturally flowing from the consideration of the Divine Nature and Perfections: And first, of Adoration and Worship
- Book 1, Chapter 13. Of Faith or Affiance in God
- Book 1, Chapter 14. Of the Love of God
- Book 1, Chapter 15. Of Reverence and the Fear of God
- Book 1, Chapter 16. Of Obedience: And first of Active Obedience to the Laws of God
- Book 1, Chapter 17. Of Passive Obedience, or Patience and Submission to the Will of God
- Book 2, Chapter 1. Shewing in general how Religion conduces to our Happiness
- Book 2, Chapter 2. How Religion conduces to our present Happiness in this world: And first to the happiness of the Outward man. 1. In respect of Health
- Book 2, Chapter 3. How Religion conduces to the happiness of the outward man, in respect of Liberty, Safety, and Quiet
- Book 2, Chapter 4. How Religion conduces to the happiness of the outward man in respect of Riches
- Book 2, Chapter 5. How Religion conduces to the happiness of the outward man in respect of Pleasure; or the chearful enjoyment of outward blessings
- Book 2, Chapter 6. How Religion conduces to our Honour and Reputation
- Book 2, Chapter 7. How Religion conduceth to the happiness of the Inward man, as it tends to the regulating of our faculties, and to the peace and tranquillity of our minds
- Book 2, Chapter 8. How Religion conduces to our Happiness in the next world
- Book 2, Chapter 9. The Conclusion of the whole, shewing the excellency of the Christian Religion, and the advantages of it, both as to the knowledg and practice of our duty, above the meer light of Nature
- A Sermon Preached Before the King