Scripture and Science

Some Motives and Incentives to the Love of God

By: Robert Boyle

Collection ID

PBK.005250

Type

Printed Book

Date

1663

Geography

England

Language

English

Medium

Printed on Paper

Dimensions

7.1 × 4.3 × 0.6 in. (18 × 11 × 1.5 cm)

Exhibit Location

Not on View

Robert Boyle, the well-known namesake of Boyle’s Law, was a towering figure in the history of chemistry whose scientific pursuits were closely related to his Christian faith. In his first publication, Some Motives and Incentives to the Love of God, Boyle contrasted mere human romance with love for God, or “seraphick” love (a term based upon the seraphim in Isaiah 6:2). Boyle would go on to publish other works on the Bible and the relationship between faith and reason, but this was his most popular work, appearing in nine editions during his life and six more after his death. This is the third edition, published in 1663.

Printed in 1663 by Henry Herringman, London, England. Acquired by 1903 by Nevil Sidgwick, Oxford, England.[1] Acquired by 1995 by University of Chicago Library, Chicago, Illinois; Purchased at auction in 1995 by Ted Steinbock, private collector, Louisville, Kentucky;[2] Privately purchased in 2020 by Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.

Notes: [1] Nevil Vincent Sidgwick, an English chemist at Lincoln College, Oxford, inscribed his name along with “Lincoln June 1903” on the front flyleaf. Above this is a second unknown name, “R: [?]ayler.” [2] Christie’s, University of Chicago Rare Science Duplicates, Part II, March 30, 1995, Lot 318. This auction contained a larger number of duplicate items held by the University of Chicago Library after its merger with the John Crerar Library.

Questions about our Collections?

Visit Contact Us Page

(866) 430-MOTB

To acquire permission to use this image, please visit our Rights and Reproduction page .

© Museum of the Bible 2024
Designed by PlainJoe