Here we have a religious philosopher in the mid-1600's who finds religion very much a misinterpretation against the freedom that God intended and sees a strong distinction between the intent of religious practice and spiritual law. Superstition (including prayer and other religious beliefs) prevents people from using true reason. From the Preface: "I have often wondered that persons who make a boast of professing the Christian religion, namely, love, joy, peace, temperance, and charity to all men, should quarrel with such rancorous animosity, and display daily towards one another such bitter hatred, that this, rather than the virtues they claim, is the readiest criterion, of their faith." The work as a whole discusses natural vs. God's law, the history of the Hebrew people, the difference between religious practice and spiritual life, and the relation of all of these to the state. ( )