Lot 488
Leland, John
Rare Books, Maps & Manuscripts
Auction: 10 September 2014 at 12:00 BST
Description
A view of the principal deistical writers that have appeared in England in the last and present century.. London: Dodsley, 1764. Fourth edition 2 volumes, 8vo, contemporary sprinkled calf, spines decorated gilt in compartments; [Idem] The advantage and necessity of the Christian revelation, shewn from the state of religion in the ancient heathen world. London: Richardson and Clark, 1768. 2 volumes, 8vo, contemporary tree calf, spine decorated gilt in compartments, and 20 others (23)
Footnote
Note: " Leland tries hard to place Hume's critique of religious thinking within the context of the overall philosophy of his Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding but cannot reconcile Hume's allegiance to causal reasoning with his nescience as to the nature of the causal connection-an illuminating instance of the commentator's projecting onto his subject the 'contradictions' that he expects of an infidel work … Leland's theology was orthodox enough and broad enough to appeal both to mainstream and to more radical dissenters; many leading Anglicans subscribed for his Discourses and editions of A View... continued to appear until the mid-nineteenth century, with two American editions." (Oxford DNB)