The "De religione gentilium" was a posthumous work, influenced by the "De theologia gentili" of Gerardus Vossius, and seen into print by Isaac Vossius. It is an early work on comparative religion, and gives, in David Hume's words, "a natural history of religion." It is also to some extent dependent on the "De dis Syris" of John Selden, and the "Quaestiones celeberrimae in Genesim" of Marin Mersenne. By examining pagan religions Herbert finds the universality of his five great articles, and that these are clearly recognisable. The same vein is maintained in the tracts "De causis errorum", an unfinished work on logical fallacies, "Religio laici", and "Ad sacerdotes de religione laici" (1645).