Extensively annotated copy, demonstrating close, critical engagement by a contemporary reader. Throughout the text are numerous verbal annotations (“a pleasing illustration of God’s sovereignty, and man’s free agency”; “very sound and evangelical”), which become notably more frequent and lengthier towards the end, culminating in a fifteen-line evaluation of the work written across the rear endpaper. In addition, there is extensive underling and the use of manicules, lines and crosses in the margins, present across at least two-thirds of the text. The owner, whose name is inscribed to the head of the title page (which, due to the text having been slightly trimmed, is now difficult to decipher - second name possibly a Gulielmus - William - derivative), clearly had a scholarly interest in the content of this work of Puritan theology. Extensive notations are made throughout the entirety of the text, but it is the final section regarding “the work of conversion” that seems to have been of greatest concern. Here the reader, evidently a Calvinist, often praises the work: “All this banter is to oppose the unsoundness of Arminianism as oppos’d to the more evangelical views of Calvinism as shown in this most able Vol:”, although still maintains a critical eye, frequently questioning the text, and concluding thus: “I see much of the Spirit of God in this Author, and I believe much acquainted with the H. book of God; but his judg[ement] seems not in all measures to be clear, but all men, even good men do not see with the same eyes, & therefore charity on both sides covers all defects.”
Edward Polhill (1622-1693/4) was a religious writer of a Puritan disposition who nevertheless remained a supporter of the established church. He produced several theological works – “The Divine Will” being his first – which significantly contributed to the development of English Puritan thought. Indeed, he was even praised by the influential New England Puritan Cotton Mather, who declared: “Everything of Polhill is evangelical and valuable”. The present copy certainly demonstrates the role of Polhill’s writings in the lively religious discourse of the period – his text, embellished with the thoughtful, impassioned responses of a contemporary reader, vividly displaying the tensions within late seventeenth-century Protestantism.irst edition. Early nineteenth-century half dark-blue calf over marbled boards. The spine with five raised bands, compartments decorated in blind, and morocco title label lettered in gilt. Trimmed without loss to the text, although sometimes with slight loss to the manuscript marginal annotations. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with bumping to the corners and a little wear to the extremities. The contents with four pinholes to the title page and some light scattered foxing to the text are otherwise in very good order throughout.
