Benjamin Stevens

A Sermon Preached at Boston, Before the great and General Court or Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, May 27. 1761. Being the day appointed by Royal Charter for the election of His Majesty's Council for said province [Half title: Mr. Steven's Election-Sermon. May 27. 1761]

Boston: John Draper, 1761. Very Good. Item #48402

Boston: Printed by John Draper, Printer to His Excellency the Governor and the Honorable His Majesty's Council, 1761. First Edition. Octavo; removed; 72,[4]pp. (collated complete with half title). Textblock trimmed slightly affecting contemporary ownership signature at head of half title page (serving as upper wrapper), light dust-soil and chipping to margins, else a Very Good example. Bound with the errata leaf in the rear explaining that "The Delay of the Publication of this Discourse occasioned by the Author's ill State of Health."

Pre-Revolutionary War election sermon heavily relating to the importance of the links between property and liberty. Stevens, pastor of the First Church in Kittery, observes that "our situation and circumstances demand a particular attention to our husbandry and trade, as it is by improvement of the advantages that result from those sources of wealth, our independence is to be maintain'd. May not something further be done for their advancement and encouragement -- as well as to discountenance idleness and extravagance, vices that pave the way to slavery?" (pp. 65-6).

Evans 9017; Sabin 91485.

Price: $650.00