Rather scarce in the trade, a nice, rather freshly rebound collection of the writings of the "boy martyr of the Quakers, James Parnell [1636-1656].
When but 15 years of age, and finding no relief for his soul among the priests, history records that young Parnell walked 150 miles to visit George Fox while he was imprisoned in Carlisle. At last finding the grace of Jesus made real to his soul, he joined the Quakers and early on determined to preach among them.
His willingness to tell anyone who would listen his story [which often included interrupting ongoing church services to sort out the preaching], his intense earnestness, and his success in gathering converts straight out of the Anglican church put him on the wrong side of the establishment.
As a result, he was arrested on July 4, 1655 for disrupting a church service in Coggeshall. He was charged with blasphemy and other offences and taken to the county jail in Colchester Castle. Though acquitted of all charges by the jury, the magistrate levied a fine, which he refused to pay. He was thus returned to jail, where he was regularly beaten and kept in terrible conditions. It is recorded that his food was kept at the top of a rope he had to climb in order to obtain it. This became more difficult each day since the rations themselves were below starvation levels. By the spring of the following year, he could no longer climb the rope and was so weak that he could not eat anyway. He starved to death on April 10, 1656.
His death not only served to energize the existing Quaker body, it inspired a fresh influx of new converts to the Quaker body.
Spurgeon himself recommended highly the reading of these "apostolic" early Quakers.
Parnell, James. A Collection of the Several Writings Given forth from the Spirit of the Lord, through that Meek, Patient and Suffering Servant of God, James Parnel; Who (though a Young Man) bore a Faithful Testimony for God, and Dyed a Prisoner under the Hands of a Persecuting Generation, in Colchester Castle, in the Year 1656. Published in the Year 1675. First Edition. 40 + 476pp.
The volume contains:
*The Testimonies Regarding James Parnell of Samuel Cater, Thomas Bayles, and Ellis Hookes.
*A Tryal of Faith wherein is Discovered the Ground of the Faith of the Hypocrites, which Perisheth; and the Faith of the Saints, which is Founded Upon the Everlasting Rock.
*Christ Exalted into His Throne, and the Scripture Owned in its Place.
*The Trumpet of the Lord Blown; Or, a Blast Against Pride and Oppression, and the Defiled Liberty which Stands in the Flesh.
*To the Libertine whose Liberty Stands in the Flesh
*A Shield of the Truth; Or, the Truth of God Cleared from Scandals and Reproaches Cast Upon it by Scandalous and Reproachful Tongues, which the Devil in all Ages did make use of, whereby he Blasphemed the Truth of God, Striving to Present it Odious to the Eyes and Ears of all People, that so he might Uphold his own Kingdom. [Extensive defense of the Quakers]
*The Watcher; or, the Stone Cut Out of the Mountain without Hands, Striking at the Feet of the Image, whose Head is Gold, and Breast of Silver, and Thighs of Brass, and Legs of Iron, and Feet Part Iron and Clay.
*A Relation of Several Passages that James Parnel had with the People Called Baptists in Several Meetings, with the Occasion of the First Meeting - A Copy of Some Queries which were sent to the Baptized People in Fenstanton - The Occasion of Another Meeting between the People Called Baptists and the People Called Quakers - The Excommunication of Ezekiel Cater and Samuel Cater out of the Baptists Society, etc.
*The Fruits of a Fast, Appointed by the Churches Gather'd against Christ and his Kingdom, who go about to Mock God with their Outside Worship and Appointed Fasts, etc., who Go Under the Name of Independents in Essex, their Persecuting Spirit, etc. [Presbyterians]
*Goliath's Head Cut Off with his Own Sword in a Combat between Little David, the Young Stripling, who Stands in the Power and Strength of his God's and Great Goliath the Proud Boaster.
etc.
Very attractive full paneled best calf binding, full title absent, one half sheet of text from the testimonies lacking. Works by Parnel textually complete. Handled and frayed toward the fore of the text block. p.371 torn with minor loss to text. Scarce and desirable in any condition.
