FIDES APOSTOLICA OR A DISCOURSE ASSERTING THE RECEIVED AUTHORS AND AUTHORITY OF THE APOSTLES CREED. TOGETHER WITH THE GROUNDS AND ENDS OF THE COMPOSING THEREOF BY THE APOSTLES, THE SUFFICIENCY THEREOF FOR THE RULE OF FAITH, THE REASONS OF THE NAME 'SYMBOLON' IN THE ORIGINALL GREEKE, AND THE DIVISION OR PARTS OF IT. HEREUNTO IS ADDED A DOUBLE APPENDIX, THE FIRST TOUCHING THE ATHANASIAN, THE SECOND TOUCHING THE NICENE CREED.
Oxford, England: Printed by Leon. Lichfield Printer to the University, for Jo. Godwin, and Ric. Davis, 1653. Leather-bound. 12mo., 6.75 in. x 4.4 in. pp. [32], 308, [2]. Full contemporary dark calf with double frame stamped in blind to front and back. Rebacked with gilt title on black panel to spine. Rebuilt spine ends. Dark stain to half of top edge. Unmarked interior; clean print. Spine and hinges tight. Errata sheet with old handwritten commentary at bottom. Wing A3997.
Endpapers comprised of six pages of trimmed "printer's waste" (two pages in front; four pages in rear) taken from old Latin Bible with red handwritten capitals (possibly Incanabula?). Content of six pages of "printer's waste" is from Corinthians and Galations. Handwritten notes on these endpapers. Very Good. Item #80206
George Ashwell (1612-1695) "...Ashwell's writings sustain the impression of a quiet, unassuming, fair-minded man. They are almost completely lacking in the sharp polemical edge found in the works of many of his contemporaries. Fides apostolica, based on lectures given at Wadham, was a defence of the direct apostolic authorship of the so-called apostles' creed. Ashwell was gracious to more critical writers who opposed such an archaic view.
"In this work Ashwell, foreshadowing future concerns, referred to Socinianism (a radical anti-trinitarian theology of continental origin) as 'a compendium of heresies'. Gestus eucharisticus (1663), a discussion of the posture to be adopted in receiving holy communion, was similarly even-handed. Ashwell argued for the propriety of kneeling to receive the eucharistic species but with characteristic fairness conceded that this was by no means a universal or constant practice of the Church..." (Oxford DNB).
Price: $1,000.00