A treatise partly theological, and partly political, containing some few discourses, to prove that the liberty of philosophizing (that is making use of natural reason) may be allow'd without any prejudice to piety, or to the peace of any common-wealth; and that the loss of public peace and religion it self must necessarily follow, where such a liberty of reasoning is taken away [...].

8vo: [30]-452 pp. (some foxing mostly marginal, marg. water stain on 1st ff.).

Contemp. mottled calf, blind- ruled and orn. double frame on boards, gilt-orn. spine with raised bands and red title-label, red spr. edges (spine skillfully renewed, corners and side-edges used).

First complete English edition of the "Tractatus theologico-politicus" (1st Latin ed.: 1670), main work of Spinoza (1632-1677). "It constituted an extension to political thought of his ethical views. Man is moved to the knowledge and love of God; the love of God involves the love of our fellow men. Man, in order to obtain security, surrenders part of his right of independent action to the State. But the State exists to give liberty, not to enslave; justice, wisdom and toleration are essential to the sovereign power. Spinoza's thought, a fusion of Cartesian rationalism and the Hebraic tradition in which he grew up, is a solitary but crystal-clear exposition of the theory of natural right. He defends with eloquence the liberty of thought and speech in speculative matters, and the Tractatus contains the first clear statement of the independence of each other of philosophy and religion, in that speculation and precepts of conduct cannot collide." (PMM 153). The "Tractatus" is one of the most eloquent arguments for a secular, democratic state in the history of political thought.
ref. Van der Linde 13. - Kingma & Offenberg 7. - Van de Ven 293-sq. - ESTC R21627.
Prov. Nic. Donning (ms. entry on title). - Hunt Books of Southborough Kent, England (bookseller's label, 1929). - Roy Norr (bookpl. signed E.B. Bird, loose).