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[RELIGION]. BENTLEY, Richard (1662-1742). The Folly and Unreasonableness of Atheism Demonstrated… in Eight Sermons Preached at the Lecture Founded by the Honourable Robert Boyle Esquire… London: Printed for J. H. for H. Mortlock, 1693, [1692]. 8vo. [viii], 36; 36; 32; 36; 36; 34; 40; 42 pp. Bound in contemporary full calf, boards ruled and paneled in blind, blind floral cornerpieces, rebacked in modern brown calf ruled and tooled in gilt, two black gilt morocco lettering labels (boards worn, somewhat bowed, hinges starting, text a bit toned, with some ink notations throughout (including ownership markings on endleaves), later errata slip affixed to bottom of final leaf. Very good. FIRST COLLECTED EDITION OF BENTLEY’S SERMONS REFUTING ATHEISM. Each sermon has a separate title-page, as they were originally published separately (sermons in various editions). Bentley was an English scholar and literary critic. He was the keeper of the Royal Libraries and was later appointed the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1692, he was nominated first Boyle lecturer (named after the scientist Robert Boyle). He also delivered a series of sermons refuting Thomas Hobbes and atheism; of particular interest is that he tried to show how the recent physics work of Sir Isaac Newton offered proof of the existence of God (Bentley corresponded with Newton on the subject).