ARNOLD, GOTTFRIED.

Die Erste Liebe. Das ist Wahre Abbildung Der Ersten Christen Nach Ihren Lebendigen Glauben Und Heiligen Leben Aus der ältesten und bewährtesten Kirchen-Scribenten eigenen Zeugnissen Exempeln und Reden Nach der Wahrheit der Ersten einigen Christlichen Religion allen Liebhabern der Historischen Wahrheit und sonderlich der Antiqvität, als in einer nützlichen Kirchen-Historie. Treulich und unpartheyisch entworffen Worinnen zugleich des Hn. William Cave Erstes Christenthum Nach Nothdurfft erläutert wird.

Franckfurt am Mayn, Benschen, 1712.

Folio (330 x 220 mm). In contemporary full calf with four raised bands. Binding defective, frontboard detached, numerous scratches to extremities. Annotations in ink to front free end-paper. Internally nice and clean. (16), 558, (4), 490, (22) pp. 

Third edition of first major work. "An almost revolutionar book of the new trend that established his fame and brought him an appointment as professor at the University of Giessen in 1697, which he resigned a year later. This book gives a new picture of the primitive church as the ideal brotherhood to be emulated. Its appeal was tremendous throughout the 18th century (six editions appeared up to 1780, latest European edition 1845) and continued also its value as a favorite devotional reader among the Pennsylvania Germans (numerous editions in America). (Robert Friedmann in "Mennonite Piety Through the Centuries").

Order-nr.: 62049