Nathaniel Culverwell (1619–51) was an English theologian and preacher known for his contributions to religious and philosophical thought during the 17th century. He was one of the first natural law theorists in 17th-century England and one of the first moral philosophers to stress the primacy of reason.
Born in Middlesex, Culverwell was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was influenced by the Puritan movement and developed a reputation as a prominent preacher.
Culverwell’s most notable work is An Elegant and Learned Discourse of the Light of Nature (1652,) published posthumously, which explores the concept of natural light and reason in relation to religious faith. This work is significant for its philosophical approach to the intersection of reason and divine revelation, reflecting the intellectual currents of the time.
Though his life was short, Culverwell’s writings contributed to the broader theological and philosophical debates of the period. His emphasis on natural reason and the relationship between human understanding and divine truth resonated with his contemporaries and influenced later thinkers.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Nathaniel Culverwell
See how powerful religion is: it commands the heart, it commands the vitals. Morality comes with a pruning-knife, and cuts off all sproutings, all wild luxuriances; but religion lays the axe to the root of the tree. Morality looks that the skin of the apple be fair; but religion searcheth to the very core.
—Nathaniel Culverwell
Topics: Religion
The body, that is but dust; the soul, it is a bud of eternity.
—Nathaniel Culverwell
Topics: Soul
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