1806 JOHN REED. Rare Anti-Baptist / Daniel Merrill Work Published in Rhode Island.

A very smart and rather rare work specifically against the Baptists evangelists and revivalist spreading throughout New England during the Great Awakening. Putting an even finer point on it, it is directed against the great re-baptizer himself, Daniel Merrill. 

Daniel Merrill [1765-1833] was converted to Christ and sensed a call to preach the Gospel at 13 years of age. At age sixteen [1781], he became a soldier in the American Revolutionary War and in which he remained until hostilities ceased [1783]. He then prepared for the ministry at Dartmouth.

As a result of his first public sermon, preached in Sedgwick in 1791, an immediate revival commenced. This would continue throughout his life. An influential revivalist under the Congregationalist banner, many of his converts who had entered the ministry as Baptists. This led him to a thorough examination of his own views and an 1804 public baptism by immersion, accompanied by the publication of 7 sermons on baptism that articulated his alignment. And off he went, certainly the most influential Baptist evangelist of the era . . . and it set off a spate of ministers and people being re-baptized under his ministry.

The present work, published in Rhode Island, was issued in direct response by the Congregational minister of Bridgeport, just 35 miles from Providence. An historically important publication.

Reed, John. An Apology for the Rite of Infant Baptism, and for the Usual Modes of Baptizing. In which an Attempt is made to State Fairly and Clearly the Arguments in Proof of these Doctrines; and also to Refute the Objections and Reasonings Alleged Against them, by th Rev. Daniel Merrill, and by the Baptists in General. Providence. Heaton & Williams. 1806. 346pp.

Very smart original full calf, a bit bowed, but very solid and leather nicely patinated. Title a bit awkwardly bound and thus wrinkled in the middle. Foxed as usual. Some occasional stains. A much better than average, attractive copy.