The Pleas of Gospel-Impenitents Examined & Refuted. In two sermons at the Thursday-Lecture in Boston. On Febr. 5. and April 23. 1730
Boston: Printed by S. Kneeland, and T. Green, for S. Gerrish, 1730. Good+. Item #26535
Boston: Printed by S. Kneeland, and T. Green, for S. Gerrish, 1730. First Edition. 12mo; full contemporary paneled sheep over scaleboards; [2],76pp. ([A]4-K4, lacking half title but otherwise collated and complete). Boards quite worn with shallow but ubiquitous chips to leather along extremities exposing scaleboards with occasional discreet expert repairs, additional losses along margins of pastedowns, old clear tape repairs along margins of title page, four contemporary and early ownership signatures to title page recto and verso, p. [1], and rear free endpaper, as well as brief street plan to front pastedown somewhat obscured by 20th century ownership rubberstamp. Overall a Good copy in contemporary binding.
Exceedingly uncommon first edition of this pair of sermons by the spiritual successor to Cotton Mather, Thomas Foxcroft (1697-1769). At the time (1730) the author was chiefly preoccupied with maintaining the Massachusetts colony's Puritan roots, arguing here that "It is nothing less than Sin and Folly for Men to make the Uncertainty of their Election an Argument against their belief in Christ" (p. 13).
No copies in retail as of May, 2023, and last seen at auction in 1989.
ESTC W27673; EVANS 3281; SABIN 25400.
Price: $750.00