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Chapter 3 - “Mutters of Assent” or “Lectures for the Eye”

Natural Theology in the Devotional Lyrics of Herbert and Vaughan

from Part I - Metaphysical Poets

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 October 2023

Katherine Calloway
Affiliation:
Baylor University, Texas
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Summary

This chapter focuses on how Herbert and Vaughan depict the natural world as capable of revealing theological truth--and humans as capable of receiving that truth--in their widely read devotional lyrics. Ultimately, Herbert and Vaughan do not just hint at what kind of natural theology might be possible or edifying given their respective understandings of science and nature; both authors practice natural theology in their devotional poetry. Because the two poets differ on the value of human science and the theological status of nature, however, they differ markedly on how and when natural theology may usefully be practiced. Herbert views natural theology along the lines Bacon laid down in his Essays and Advancement of Learning, anticipating—and perhaps even influencing—the physico-theology of John Ray later in the century. Vaughan, by contrast, retains the older view that more theological insight is available in nature than just the facts of God’s existence and providence, making less of a distinction than Herbert between nature and scripture.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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