£300
8vo, pp. xvi, 440. Later half black calf, black textured cloth, spine divided by raised bands between gilt rules and lettered direct in gilt, edges speckled red. Some gatherings toned and foxed, else a little scattered spotting. Binding a little marked, some rubbing to edges. Ownership inscription of Theophilus Geo. Linstead dated October 31st 1855 to flyleaf, some scattered marginal pencil notes.
The first Scottish edition of this Calvinistic examination of free will by the American revivalist preacher and theologian Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), first published in Boston in 1754 and in England in 1762. Edwards was profoundly influenced by his early reading of John Locke and studies in natural philosophy, including Newton, but once established as a pastor his eloquent sermons contributed to widespread religious fervour and he became a major figure in the First Great Awakening. After this movement had burned itself out he turned his focus more to philosophical theology, with this being one of his major contributions to the field. Throughout this period Edwards was well-known in Scotland through frequent correspondence with other evangelical Calvinist ministers; it is perhaps surprising that it took several decades for this edition to follow the first London one.
