'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
Introduction; Part I. Metaphysical Poets: 1. A 'Metaphorical God' and the Book of Nature: John Donne on Natural theology; 2. 'I Summon'd Nature': George Herbert and Henry Vaughan on science and nature; 3. 'Mutters of Assent' or 'Lectures for the Eye': Natural theology in the devotional lyrics of Herbert and Vaughan; Part II. Imagined Worlds: 4. 'Architect of Wonders': Creation in Cavendish, Sylvester, Hutchinson, Denham and Marvell; 5. 'His Footstep Trace': the natural theology of Paradise Lost; 6. The misunderstood spider: John Bunyan reads the Book of Nature; Epilogue: Literature and natural theology at the dawn of the Boyle Lectures.