1682 First Edition Comber Divine Right to Tithes.
Comber, Thomas. (1645-1699) An Historical Vindication of the Divine Right of Tithes, from Scripture, Reason, and the Opinion and Practice of Jews, gentiles, and Christians in all Ages. Designed to Supply the Omissions, Answer the Objections, and Rectifie the Mistakes of Mr. Selden’s History of Tithes. By Tho. Comber. D.D. London: Printed by S. Roycroft, for Robert Clavel at the Peacock in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1682.
Octavo, 7.5 x 5.7 in. First edition. A4, *A4, a4, *a2, B-Z4, Aa-Ii4. This is a rare publication and has been rebacked to preserve the original period boards. The pages are clean with only occasional foxing to the first and last few leaves and a slight browning to the title-page. There is an interesting ex libris plate from James Harrop Dransfield on the front paste-down. It shows a head in profile impaled upon a sword with the motto: Cutta Cavat Lapidem Non Vi Sed Saepe Cadendol. This is an extremely rare book. Want to know more about books and such?
Thomas Comber:
‘I have reason to believe many have been encouraged to commit by that current and commonly received Error, That Tithes are not due by Divine right, but only by humane positive Constitutions. For in the days of our Fathers, while the Divine right was generally maintained and believed, it was thought a matter of Conscience to pay Tithes justly. But now they that are either so cunning to avoid discovery, or so great to despise the punishments of the Law, do without scrupple in part, or in whole, subtract or detain their Tithes, and by this false Principle are perswaded it si no Sin that they need to repent of, so that the same Error that encourages them to do this great injury to the Church, causeth them to do a greater to their own Souls.’ Comber’s Epistle Dedicatory. Comber blames the common occurrence of this error on Selden’s work on tithes, from whom the argument is borrowed. Comber seeks to straighten out this legal mess and get the believers back to giving every Sunday. A rare and unusual piece. Wing C-5472.
Price: $1,199.00
