(FREE THOUGHT) REASON, THE ONLY ORACLE OF MAN; OR, A COMPENDIOUS SYSTEM OF NATURAL RELIGION. BY COL. ETHAN ALLEN. TO WHICH IS ADDED, CRITICAL REMARKS ON THE TRUTH AND HARMONY OF THE FOUR GOSPELS, WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE INSTRUCTIONS [FIRST ATHEIST PUBL]

New York And Philadelphia: G. W. & A. J. Matsell and Wm. Sinclair. Very Good with no dust jacket. 1836. Hardcover. THEOLOGY; 12mo 7" - 7½" tall; -FIRST ATHEIST PUBLICATION in America- (Free Thought) Reason, the Only Oracle of Man; or, A Compendious System of Natural Religion. By Col. Ethan Allen. To which is added, Critical Remarks on the Truth and Harmony of the Four Gospels, with Observations on the Instructions given by Jesus Christ, and the Doctrines of Christianity. By a Free Thinker. Original muslin boards, quite darkened (orig. Paper spine label worn but readable. The two works are separately paged, have separate title pages, and are separated by an integral blank leaf. American Imprints 35708. A later edition of Allen's Oracle, originally printed in Bennington in 1784, considered the first anti-religious or atheistic work published in America. Following in Allen's footsteps, "A Free Thinker" finds the Virgin birth and similar "improbable stories (we use his phrase) to be impediments to conventional reliance on the Gospels. 106, [2], 70, [1] pp. , with 4 page "Catalogue of Liberal Works," for sale by G. W. & A. J. Matsell. Volume is sound with light foxing. Provenance- Hall Park McCullough bookplate. In the introduction Ethan states, "... And as to being a Deist, I know not strictly speaking, whether I am one or not, for I have never read their writings..." He employs 'Free Thought' to formulate his conclusions, which are Deistic, and places 'Reason' above faith. .