1810 METHODIST - JOSEPH BENSON. Commentary on the Holy Bible in Four Volumes.

Rather attractive reverse calf bound large format set of Joseph Benson's Methodist Commentary [Genesis through Revelation]. 

Spurgeon says, "Adopted by the Wesleyan Conference as a standard work and characterized by that body as marked by, 'solid learning, soundness of theological opinion, and an edifying attention to experimental and practical religion.' Necessary to Methodists"

Joseph Benson [1749-1821] was an early and influential and early English Methodist minister and leader

Aged 15 [1764], a cousin took him to a Methodist conventicle where they read Wesley's sermons aloud. He was captivated by the evangelical clarity. He was determined to hear him in person. In December 1765 he set off on foot to hear Wesley preach in Newcastle-on-Tyne. Arriving too late, he was undeterred and set of to follow Wesley to his next preaching stop in London. He was there introduced to Wesley and became an energetic associate, though remained an Anglican. By 1766, he had been appointed classical master at Kingswood School, where he preached and held cottage and prayer meetings.

While at Kingswood he also met John William Fletcher, who mentioned him to Selina, Countess of Huntingdon. As a result the Countess asked Benson in 1770 to take the post of head of her Trevecca College.

After his time with the Countess, Benson applied for Anglican ordination so he could serve the parish at West Bromwich. But the Bishop of Worcester refused to ordain him. Benson from then on became a Methodist, and an effective evangelical preacher.

Benson was always at the evangelical and conservative end of Methodism. He believed the Anglican church and Methodism could be united; continued to take communion in the Anglican church, etc. But he was so evangelical, so earnest, and so effective that Wesley and others gladly embraced him. He did, however, have significant clashes with the more anti-establishment wing, represented by Thomas Coke, etc., These were occasionally quite public.

But his influence continued to grow. By 1803, Benson was editor of the Methodist Magazine, an influential post he held for the rest of his life. He also served as President of the Methodist conference in 1798 and 1810.

His commentary, present here in its first edition, was declared the “official” commentary of the Methodists at the time.

Benson, Joseph. The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments (According to the Present Authorized Version) with Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical; All the Marginal Readings of the Most Approved Printed Copies of the Scriptures, with such Others as Appear to be Countenanced by the Hebrew and Greek Originals: A Copious Collection of Parallel Texts; Summaries of Each Book and Chapter; And the Date of Every Transaction and Event Recorded in the Sacred Oracles, Agreeable to the Calculation of the Most Correct Chronologers. London. Printed by John Jones. 1810. First Edition. 

The only other complete set, and that not the first edition, elsewhere on the market is offered at $1,500.00.

Reverse calf, rubbed as shown, some lifting to leather which can be relaid with PVA. We're happy to do that for you upon request.  Textually generally clean and sound. An interesting presentation.