The Religious Philosopher or, the Right Use of Contemplating the Works of the Creator (3 volumes)

Bernard Nieuwentyt; John Chamberlayne

W. Bowyer for J. Senex, at the Globe in Fleet-Street, J. Osborn and T. Longman at the Ship in Pater-Noster-Row; and W. Innys in St. Paul’s Church Yard, MDCCXXX, 1730

[The Teleological basis of God's existence: Nature as evidence of Divinity.  With Interesting Massachusetts Provenance] 3 volume set.  Mixed set, v.1. 1735 (5th ed.), v.2 & 3. 1730 printing (3rd ed.).  21 cm. Bound in contemporary leather.  Rebacked and restored. Pages are clean and unmarked.  ([2], x, [20], lvi, 360 pages; [16], [367]-749, [1] pages; [16], [735]-1100, [2] pages.  29 folding engraved plates.  

Early English translation of the Nieuwentyt's Regt gebruik der werelt beschouwingen. Nieuwentyt was a Dutch philosopher, mathematician, and theologian who wrote in opposition to the rational philosophy of Spinoza.  In this work Nieuwentyt argues that the scientific examination of the natural world is compatible with religious belief.  "Never before had teleological arguments been tried on such a scale, and none among Nieuwentijt's numerous imitators equalled his completeness." (DSB).  Nieuwentyt's work was highly influential, Voltaire owned a copy (French title: De l'existence de Dieu demontree par les merveilles de la nature, ou traite teleologique dirige contre la doctrine de Spinoza par un medecin hollandais.) The English philosopher, William Paley's famous analogy of the watchmaker is believed to have been taken directly from Nieuwentyt.  According to Bowyer's records only 1000 copies were printed. Ref: ESTC T135770. Wellcome IV, p.239; DSB X, p.120; BMN I, p.522. 

Early Massachusetts provenance: E.A. Holyoke's copy, with his signature.  Edward Augustus Holyoke (1728-1829) was a notable Massachusetts doctor and educator.  He was a founding member of the American Academy of Arts and Science, as well as founder and president of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He was a strong advocate of smallpox inoculation and was awarded Harvard's first M.D. degree in 1783.  He was the son of Harvard's ninth president. 

Subtitle: "I. In the wonderful Structure of Animal Bodies, and in particular, Man. II. In the no less wonderful and wise Formation of the Elements, and their various Effects upon Animal and Vegetable Bodies. And, III. In the most amazing Structure of the Heavens, with all its Furniture. Designed for the conviction of atheists and infidels. Vol. I. Throughout which, all the late discoveries in anatomy, philosophy and astronomy, Philosophy and Astronomy, together with the various Experiments made use of to illustrate the same, are most copiously handled by that learned mathematician Dr. Nieuwentyt. Translated from the Low-Dutch, by John Chamberlayne, Esq; F. R. S. To which is prefixed, a letter to the translator, by the Reverend J. T. Desaguliers, L L. D. F. R. S."