1689 RICHARD BAXTER. On the Evil of Anger and Malignity in Christians and Especially in Ministers!

In an era of outrage, even [or perhaps especially] among Christians, Baxter provides a timely and characteristically direct [i.e. red hot] reproof of anger, hatred, and of a militant [as he calls it] "us versus them" perspective on people. For Baxter, this has its root in the original narrative of Cain and Abel . . . an early iteration of the truism that all wars are civil wars and all murder is fratricide, and all anger is, in the eyes of Scripture, heart-murder. 

Baxter, Richard. Cain and Abel. Malignity, That is Enmity to Serious Godliness, That is, To an Holy and Heavenly State of Heart and Life: Lamented, Described, Detected, and Unanswerably Proved, to be the Devilish Nature, and the Militia of the Devil against God, and Christ, and the Church and Kingdoms, and the Surest Sign of a State of Damnation. By Richard Baxter, who earnestly beseecheth all Enemies, Scorners, Opposers, and Persecutors of serious Obedience to God, not to refuse to small a matter as the Reading this short undeniable Evidence, to save their Souls, while yet there is hope, from so damnable a state of Sin and Diabolism. Especially Magistrates and Clergy-men, who are Sacrilegious and Blasphemous, if in the name of Christ's Ministers, they turn those Sacred Officers against him. London. Printed for Thomas Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns, at the Lower End of Cheap-side, near Mercers Chapel. 1689. 146pp + 2pp.

Boards detached, textually complete and quite good with stain extending through preface and introduction at top right corner of block; otherwise minor toning and foxing and a few minor tears and ships not impacting text. Tender. 

Very scarce. No other examples on the market. We are also happy to assist with sourcing rebinding if you wish at actual cost. Rebound, we would be asking $750.00

Appears to be signed J. Mather [?] London. October 4, 1689 on the ffep and J. Webb 1725 in near miniscule at the head of the title. This is possibly Rev. Joseph Webb or Rev. Joseph Webb II, both 18th century Presbyterian divines in the American Colony and, if this is a Mather related volume, perhaps commuted to America by one of the Mather line. Some further research may be fruitful.