877c Barclay, Robert. (1648-1690) Truth Triumphant Through the Spiritual Warfare, Christian Labours and Writings of that Able and Faithful servant of Jesus Christ Robert Barclay Who deceaced at his own hour at Urie, in the Kingdom of Scotland, the 3 day of the 8 month 1690 Heb. xi. 4. He being dead yet speaketh.

London: Thomas Northcroft in George-Yard
in Lombard-Street, 1692

$1,500

Folio, 11.5 x 7.5 in. First edition. A4, a-d4, *4, **2, A4, C-Z4, Aa-Zz4, Aaa-Zzz4, Aaaa-Zzzz4, Aaaaa-Zzzzz4, Aaaaaa-Bbbbbb4, Cccccc1. This copy is bound in full modern calf. Rough repairs have been done including some tears near the beginning that have been repaired with tape. Some minor browning and worming also occur.

This book, published two years after Barclay’s death, is a compendium of the author’s works with a preface by Penn. There is also an introductory testimony by George Fox. Barclay, a Quaker apologist, was born in 1648 at Gordonstown, Morayshire. He studied French and Latin with his uncle, rector of the Scottish college in Paris, until 1663. In 1667 he joined the Society of Friends. He “soon afterwards turned to account a degree of learning and logical skill very unusual amongst the early Quakers in controversy with one William Mitchell, a neighbouring preacher. Truth Cleared of Calumnies appeared in 1670 and William Mitchel Unmasqued in 1672. In 1673 he published a Catechism and Confession of Faith; and in 1676 two controversial treatises. The first of these, called the Anarchy of the Ranters, was intended to vindicate the Quakers from the charge of sympathy with anarchy, whilst repudiating the claim to authority of the Catholic and other churches. The second was the famous Apology. Barclay had already put forth Theses Theologiae, a series of fifteen propositions, printed in English, Latin, French, Dutch. Meanwhile Barclay was suffering persecution at home. In 1672 he had felt it incumbent upon him to walk in sackcloth through the streets of Aberdeen. […] He was imprisoned at Montrose that same year.” (DNB)

Wing B-740.