De la Divina Providencia, o sea Naturaleza Universal, o Natura Naturante, Tratado Theologico.

NIETO, DAVID.

James Dover

London

1704

Kayserling, p. 78; Den Boer, Catalogue Etz Haim/ Livraria Montezinos, n. 427; Roth, Marrano Typography, p. 8.

One of the most wide-ranging, intellectually accomplished Jews of his time, Venetian-born David Nieto (1654-1728) succeeded Solomon Ayllon as Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in London. Two years after his appointment he published the present theological treatise in which he explained that ‘Nature’ was a modern term that in essence, referred to the actions of God in governing natural phenomena. This provoked much discord within the community, including accusations of Spinozism - which in the atmosphere of the time, meant pantheism or even atheism. Nonetheless, such rabbinic luminaries as the Chacham Tzvi and the Chid”a, both praised Haham Nieto and his teachings (see Chacham Tzvi, Responsa, no. 18).