Natural Religion Insufficient; and Revealed Necessary to Man"s Happiness in his Present State

London: J Fairbairn, A Constable, 1798. Leather. Very Good. 8.5" by 5.5". None. A fascinating and highly detailed enquiry into the principles of the modern Deists, with particular focus into the writings of Lord Herbert. Extremely scarce; being one of ten copies located, of which three are within America. "Natural Religion Insufficient; and Revealed Necessary to Man"s Happiness was first published in 1714. A conservative evangelical, Halyburton was a vigorous opponent of what he deemed to be deistic thought, distinguishing between what he calls "mortal deists" and "immortal deists". The former deny immortality. In his judgment, they "are, in effect, mere atheists" with whom it is pointless to debate at any length (p. 30). The latter hold that there is a future state but have fundamentally defective ideas about God and salvation. This is because they affirm that natural religion is sufficient. In an extensive reply to them Halyburton argues, with particular reference to what he claims to find in Herbert of Cherbury and, to much lesser extent, in Blount and other so-called "deistic" writers, that "experience of the world" (p.184) shows that the teaching of natural religion is inadequate in relation to the knowledge of God, the proper nature of worship, the true happiness of human being and the way to attain it, the motives for obedience, the origin of sin, and the means for obtaining pardon." (Cited from the catalogue of The Antiquarian Library of Emertitus Professor David A. Pailin). From the private library of theologian and professor of philosophy, David A Pailin. In original tree calf binding with calf and gilt spine label. Externally, sound with only some light cracking to the front joint and minor straining to the rear hinge. Internally, generally firmly bound, although lacking the front endpapers, bright, although with the odd spot. College library bookplate, as well as David Pailin's bookplate and ink signature to the front pastedown. Very Good