The Court Of The Gentiles: Or A Discourse touching the Original of Human Literature, Both Philologie and Philosophie, From the Scriptures & Jewish Church… 4 Parts in 1

Oxford: Printed by H.Hall for Tho. Gilbert, 1672 [Vol. I], -Printed by Will. Hall, for Tho. Gilbert, 1671 [Vol. II], & London: Printed by A. Maxwell andv R.Roberts, for T.Cockeril, 1677 [Vol. III], Printed by J.Macock, for Thomas Cockeril, 1677 [Vol. IV]., 1677. 4to. pp. 18 p.l., 85, [blank leaf], 152, 115; 20 p.l., 448; 11 p.l., [blank leaf], 238, [1 leaf]errata, 5 p.l., 14, [14], [1 leaf]errata, 528. woodcut ornaments & initials. disbound (some dampstaining mainly to margins at beginning of Vol. I & end of Vol. II, some passages with underlining in red or lead pencil). early ownership entry of Wm. Miller. Second Edition of Parts I-II & First Editions of Parts III-IV. Gale’s great life’’s work "was applauded as a marvel of erudition. [He] traces every European language to the Hebrew, and all the theologies, sciences, politics, and literature of pagan antiquity to a Hebrew tradition. A second part deals in a similar way with the origin of all philosophies. A third accounts for the errors of pagan philosophy and popish divinity on the theory of corruption by successive apostasies from a divine original. The fourth and largest part (in three books) is constructive, a reformed Platonism, ending wiith a powerful endeavour to rescue the Calvinistic doctrine of predetermination from moral difficulties. Excepting an essay on Jansenism, and a few learned sermons, Gale’s other writings are mainly reproductions of his system in a Latin dress." (DNB) Wing G137 & Madan 2928; Wing G139 & Madan 2887; Wing G141-142..