'Farmer's Tracts' An Inquiry into the Nature and Design of Christ's Temptation in the Wilderness bound with Letters to the Rev. Dr. Worthington, In Answer to his late Publication, Entitled, An Impartial Enquiry into the Case of the Gospel Demoniacks

Two works by dissenting minister Hugh Farmer; who used principles of reason to seek to reconcile the theology of his time with natural law. Hugh Farmer (c1714-87) was a dissenter who held a place at Walthamstow, and there nurtured the size of the congregation significantly over many years until retiring due to blindness brought on by cataracts. His most prominent work is his Dissertation on Miracles. The interest in the relationship between natural law and theology which fed that work finds other outlets in this compendium of two publications. In the first of these, Farmer explores that relationship in terms of the reality of Christ's experiences in the desert. In the second, it is explored in terms of demonology. In the first publication Farmer explores critical views of Christ's temptation in the desert and defends his own conclusion that it can be viewed neither as an 'outward transaction' nor as a 'diabolical delusion' or 'divine vision,' before discussing the significance of temptation generally. In the second he attacks Worthington's Essay on Demoniacks, asserting that the demonic possessions discussed were not the work of Lucifer, but rather of the souls of departed people. He concludes by accepting that Worthington is under the same obligation as he to defend his convictions, and concedes that zealotry ought not to destroy benevolence and charity between Christians. Externally, bound in old quarter calf with worn marbled boards and contrasting label; spine chipped, joints cracked, and corners of boards worn.Internally, firmly bound. Some foxing to front and endpapers, bookplate of Professor David Arthur Pailin to front pastedown, notes explaining division of volume on frontpaper. First tract: Erratum on p.xiv; light foxing to final leaves. Second tract: "Advertisement of the Printer" on p. viii; errata on p. [243]; advertisement for books by Farmer on p. [244] Good.…