London: Printed for Awnsham and John Churchil, 1695. First edition. 8vo. (iv), 304 pp. Full contemporary brown calf, stamped in gilt, rebacked, boards and extremities rubbed and worn, corners worn; red speckled edges; Locke's name added in old manuscript on title-page; final text leaf worn and soiled; contemporary marginalia; repair at bottom B4 with some text supplied in manuscript ink. Pforzheimer 610; Wing L-2751; Yolton 229; Attig 339

Scarce first edition of John Locke's defense of Christianity, his most important theological work. "Although Locke placed severe limitations on certain knowledge, he did feel that reason could achieve knowledge of the essential articles of the Christian faith and, moreover, that the understanding could lead reasonable men to assent to the revelation contained in the Scriptures. The reasonableness of Christianity was an exploration of the content of faith, just as Book IV of the Essay had contained an account of the nature of faith and assent. It was a defense of the Christian faith and scriptural revelation from the dangers of extreme skepticism. Ironically, the publication of Reasonableness merely called attention to the skeptical tendencies in Locke's Essay, and the author found himself accused of the very Deism he was trying to combat." (John Locke Bibliography)