An exceptionally scarce early articulation of the Baptist faith. Barber was a tradesman who began preaching as a lay preacher against the evils of infant baptism. He was then imprisoned in 1640, and used his year in prison to study the issue further. There, like Bunyan, he penned his treatise in defense of believer's baptism.
It is a very important and rare piece of Baptist history.
Barber, Edward. A Small Treatise of Baptisme; or, Dipping. Wherein is Clearly Shewed that the Lord Ordained Dipping for those Only that Profess Repentance and Faith. 1. Proved by Scriptures. 2. By Arguments. 3. Parallel betwixt Dipping and Circumcision. 4. And an Answer to Some Objections by P. B. [i.e. Praise-God Barebone]. London. Published Anonymously. 1641. 30pp.
Textually complete with one leaf awkwardly printed and lacking only the final blank leaf.
I do not expect to see this work ever again. The first time I have seen it in 25 years.
Professionally removed from a sammelband of important 17th century works and professionally housed in an archivally appropriate paper binding.
Museum worthy.