1644 ROGER WILLIAMS. Important Baptist Work - More Rare than The Bloudy Tenent!

This is an item of exceptional rarity. Not offered on the open market since 1966 when Goodrich auctioned a copy.  They commented in their catalogue that it was perhaps Williams' rarest work, and certainly more rare than the Bloudy Tenent. And, interestingly, it covers much the same content and may be said to form the backbone of that now famous work.

The most recent copy of The Bloudy Tenent to hit the market hauled in a whopping $175,000.00 at Sotheby's. 

An important piece of Americana from one of the foundational Baptist thinkers and architects of the idea of Religious Liberty.

The work is radical in that it even strained the views of religious tolerance being advocated for by the Presbyterians and Independents. In 1643, the Puritan Parliament, influenced largely by Presbyterians of the Westminster Assembly, reached an agreement with the Scottish government. The Scottish government, then under the influence of the Scottish Presbyterians, or Covenanters, agreed to give mutual support in the overthrowing of the throne of King Charles on the understanding that Presbyterianism would essentially be established in England. It wasn't an attempt at religious liberty, but simply a swap of two State imposed churches.

Five Independent, or Congregational, divines [addressed in the title] who were puritans, but viewing Presbyterianism as a softer brand of Prelacy, objected. Williams wrote to them, objecting that even they had not gone far enough. That there was to be complete distinction between the Church [in any form] and the State [in any form]. It is, in many ways, his opening volley into the battle for true religious independence from any Government infringement on the liberty of worship. Published anonymously, for good reason. Though today known definitively to be by Williams and included in his “Collected Works.”

Williams, Rogers. Queries of the Highest Consideration Proposed to Mr. Thomas Goodwin, Mr. Philip Nye, Mr. William Bridges, Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs, Mr. Sidrach Simpson, and to the Commissioners of the General Assembly (So Called) of the Church of Scotland upon Occasion of their Late Printed Apologies for Themselves and their Churches. London. 1644. 13pp. 

It is in the process of being professionally removed from a larger sammelband, is textually complete, including title, and will be presented in a lovely leather mock book in fine imitation of a 17^th century binding with sleeve for the work on the inside. Lacks only the final blank, impacting no text.

An exceptional opportunity for an institution of exceptional private collector.