The Christians rescue from the grand error of the heathen, (touching the fatal necessity of all events) and the dismal consequences thereof, which have slily crept into the Church. In several defences of some notes, writ to vindicate the primitive and scriptural doctrine of Gods decrees. By Thomas Pierce Rector of Brington in Northamptonshire. [5 works]

London : printed by J[ohn]. G[rismond]. for Richard Royston, at the Angel in Ivy-lane, 1658. Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1st Edition. Thick Quarto. 8" x 6" x 3". Five works bound together. The works are: 1. "A correct copy of some notes concerning Gods decrees, especially of reprobation" (London, printed by R. Daniel for Richard Royston, 1658; Wing P2172); 2. "The divine philanthropie defended against the declamatory attempts of certain late-printed papers intitl d correptory correction" (London, printed for Richard Royston, 1658; Wing P2179); 3. "The divine purity defended" (London, printed by S. Griffin, for Richard Royston, 1659; 2nd ed.; Wing P2080A); 4. "Heautontim; roumenos, or, The self-revenger exemplified in Mr. William Barlee" (London, printed by R. Daniel, for Richard Royston, 1658; Wing P2181); 5. "Autokatakrisis, or, Self-condemnation" (London, printed by J.G. for R. Royston, 1658; Wing P2164). Collation is complete as per ESTC [20], 74, [6], 148, 64, [8], [16], 133, [3], [24], 163, [1], [24], 31 [1], 212, [8]pp. Original leather boards rebound in leather over raised bands with gilt lettering to spine. One or two paper flaws, 2 holes and some repair in the upper margin of a couple of leaves not affecting text. Some marks and browning, else good or very good, with wide margins. ESTC states "A reissue, with general title page and preliminaries added, of 5 separate works by Thomas Pierce. Each of the 5 works has separate dated title page, pagination, and register, and each was probably also issued separately. A printed note on A4v at the end of the preface indicates the order for binding and the tables of contents for each of the 5 works (B1-2), making it clear that these works were intended to be bound together following the general title page and the general preliminaries." Thomas Pierce (1622-91) was an Evangelical divine, rector in Brington, Northamptonshire. He gradually moved from his Calvinist doctrines to a more moderate theology akin to that of John Goodwin. In 1655 he expounded his creed, that the sin in him was due to his own and not to God's will, and that the good done by him was received from the special grace and favour of God. The subsequent controversy and tracts were collected and published in this volume.