A vindication of the government of New-England churches. Drawn from antiquity; the light of nature; Holy Scripture; it's noble nature; and from the dignity Divine Providence has put upon it

Boston: Printed and sold by John Boyles, in Marlboro'-Street, MDCCXXII [1772]. Hardcover. 16m (6.5" x 4"), original full calf, gilt lettering piece at spine, raised bands. 271 pp., [1] blank, [12] pp. of subscribers, 1 pg. of subscribers in manuscript. Early ownership inscription in ink on recto and verso of ffep. CONDITION: Good, rubbed, head of spine chipped, light foxing throughout. A consideration of "the fundamental ideas of civil as well as religious government," this text responds to attempts to establish the function of church and clergymen within democracy during the early colonial period. First published in 1717, this second edition was reprinted (truncated) as a source "for language and arguments in the controversy then raging," namely the governance of the people of the soon-to-be United States of America. Originally published in 1717 in response to Increase Mather, who intended to "establish associations of clergy that were intended to exercise functions hitherto exercised by the individual churches," the Vindication of the Government of New England Churches, dealt a "death blow" to Mathers' movement (DAB 427). Spurred by a single demand for "no interference!" in the governance of churches in New England, the Vindication "transfers the whole Congregational position from Biblical authority to the sanction of pure reason" that can be known through "natural tuition" and historical knowledge, rather than the word of clergy and divine decree (Miller xiv-xv). "Above all, the Vindication is a lively book. It is the pioneer achievement of rationalism in America" (Miller xvii).  John Wise (August 1652-April 1775) was a "Congregationalist clergyman" who served as minister of the "newly organized parish of Ipswich...until his death. Throughout his life he was active and influential in both civil and ecclesiastical affairs." Notably, when a local governor "attemped to raise money by a province tax, Wise led his townsmen to resist--one of the notable cases of resistance in colonial times--and in consequence in October 1687 was seized and...found guilty, fined 50 [pounds], deprived of his ministerial function, and put under bonds of 1000[pounds] to keep the peace." Eventually resuming his functions, Wise foresaw potentially revolutionary inclinations from one Increase Mather, a fellow clergyman. Quelling Mathers through The Churches Quarrel Espoused (a preliminary version of this present text) and the Vindication, Wise has been dubbed "'the first great American democrat' (Tyler, post, p. 115)" and is considered "an extremely foreceful and brilliant writer, perhaps the most so of any American in the colonial period. No one else equaled him in 'the union of great splendor of style; and he stands alone among our early writers fro the blending of a racy and dainty humor with impassioned earnestness' (Ibid., p. 114)" (DAB 427). John Boyle (1746-1819) "began business as a printer and bookseller in Marlborough street in 1771, and printed a few books on his own account. In May, 1774, Boyle formed a partnership with Richard Draper, publisher of The Massachusetts Gazette, or Boston News-Letter [the first newspaper...continually published in what is now the United States of America" (Wroth 19)]. Draper died the following month, but his widow continued the newspaper, &c. Boyle was in partnership with the widow until August following; they then dissolved their connection, and Boyle returned to his former stand. In 1775, Boyle sold his printing materials, but retained his bookstore, which he continued to keep in the same place" (Thomas 170). Also publisher of the "Journal of Occurences in Boston," a "description of events that occured in and near Boston during the American Revolution" (Harvard). (Inventory #: 8307)