USSHER, James. A Body of Divinity: or, The Sum and Substance of Christian Religion. Catechistically propounded and explained, by way of Question and Answer. Methodically and familiarly handled, for the Use of Families. To which are adjoined a Tract, intituled, Immanuel: or, The Mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God.

To which are added, The Life of the Author, containing many remarkable Passages: His Model of Church Government, and Advices to Young Ministers. With an Alphabetical Table. And likewise the Principles of Christian Religion in short, for the use of Younger People. The Eighth Edition, carefully corrected from very many Errors in former Editions.

London: Printed by R.J. for Jonathan Robinson, A. and J. Churchill, J. Taylor, and J. Wyatt, 1702. Quarto. pp. 52, [8], 518 [i.e.448], [6 (index)]. Pp. 430-448 misnumbered 500-518. With an engraved frontispiece portrait of Archbishop Usher by R. White after Peter Lely. Contemporary full panelled calf with decorative blind floral tooling to borders, spine professionally rebacked, new red morocco letterpiece. Bookplate of Anthony P.B. Lambert on front pastedown, with a neat pencil note ‘Lucasian Professor of Mathematics before Newton’. Wear to corners, occasional light browning and a couple closed tears to margins. Overall a very good crisp copy. Very scarce.
Archbishop James Ussher (1581-1656), Primate of All Ireland, was one of the most eminent scholars of his time, theologian, historian, and chronologer, famed for his Annales Veteris et Novi Testamenti (1650-54) dating the Creation to 4004 B.C. His Body of Divinity was among the most widely read catechetical manuals in the English-speaking Protestant world, blending precision of doctrine with clarity for family instruction. This edition, printed half a century after his death, reflects the enduring influence of his theology and his stature as the foremost Irish divine of the seventeenth century.
Provenance: From the library of Anthony P.B. Lambert, noted scholar and bibliophile. His distinctive engraved bookplate to front pastedown.

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