Guiding readers through the diverse forms of natural theology expressed in seventeenth-century English literature, Katherine Calloway reveals how, in ways that have not yet been fully recognized, authors such as Donne, Herbert, Vaughan, Cavendish, Hutchinson, Milton, Marvell, and Bunyan describe, promote, challenge, and even practice natural theology in their poetic works. She simultaneously improves our understanding of an important and still-influential intellectual movement and deepens our appreciation of multiple major literary works. “Natural theology,” as it was popularly understood, changed dramatically in England over the seventeenth century, from the application of natural light to divine things to a newer, more brittle, understanding of the enterprise as the exclusive use of reason and observation to prove theological conclusions outside of any context of faith. These poets profoundly complicate the story, collectively demonstrating that some forms of natural theology lend themselves to poetry or imaginative literature rather than prose.

‘With erudition lightly worn and engagingly conveyed, this book traces the development of natural theology across the seventeenth century from Bacon to Donne to Cavendish and to Milton, Bunyan, and the Boyle Lectures. Its fusion of intellectual history and literary criticism will delight scholars of this period along with those approaching it afresh. The book of nature that Calloway opens up is richly interwoven with compelling thought and beautiful poetry.'

Dennis Danielson - Professor Emeritus of English, University of British Columbia

‘From Bacon to the Boyle lectures, from the metaphysicals to Milton, Bunyan, Hutchinson, and Cavendish, this book provides a ground-breaking guide to the evolving conversation between early modern science and “creative” or literary theology throughout the seventeenth century. Examining how Protestant poets and prose writers diversely applied new understandings of nature to both traditional and Reformed views of scripture, Calloway's deeply-informed conclusions rest on a broad range of authorial sources and current literary criticism. A must-read for any scholar seriously concerned with these themes and authors.'

Catherine Gimelli Martin - Professor emerità, English Literature, University of Memphis