1644 GILES RANDALL. Anabaptist on the Holy Spirit in Scripture, Need for the Spirit in Christianity, &c

A very rare work by Giles Randall, English Anabaptist author and disciple of John Everard. Though Baptists [rightly on the issue of believer's immersion] often claim the Anabaptists, there was also a deeply experiential, revivalist-mystical vein to the movement. Everard and Randall embody both traits, as well as pacifist and non-resistance ideals that would find their home shortly after in Quakerism. Printed in Amsterdam since the printing of Anabaptist literature was illegal in England at the time.

The present work is exceptionally rare with no other copies on the market. He circumlocutes his own innovative ideas and moves them beyond rationalism by means of self-deprecatingly styling himself a "mad man." 

Randall, Giles. Divinity and Philosophy Dissected and set forth by a mad Man. The first Book, Dividied into Three Chapters. Chap. I. The Description of the World in Mans heart: with the Articles of the Christian Faith. Chap. II. A Description of one Spirit Acting in All, which Some Affirmed is God. Chap. III. A Description of the Scripture According to the History and Mystery Thereof. Amsterdam. Printed in the Yeare, 1644. 62pp.

Professionally removed from a sammelband of important 17th century Baptist, Presbyterian, etc., tractates and smaller work. Now archivally preserved in wraps as shown. Some stains, but complete and very scarce.