Covel, John. Some Account of the Present Greek Church, With Reflections on their Present Doctrine and Discipline; Particularly in the Eucharist, And the Rest of their Seven Pretended Sacraments, Compared with Jac. Goar's Notes upon the Greek Ritual, or ΕΥΧΟΛΟΓΙΟN. Cambridge: Printed for Cornelius Crownfield, Printer to the University, 1722. First Edition. [12036]
Newly rebacked using the original boards, portions of original spine relaid, corners, edges, and turn-ins neatly repaired, 14 x 9 1/4 inches. Boards scuffed and worn with blind panels and corner devices. New end papers. Includes the original half-title page. Title page with several old institutional stamps, and a few others scattered in the text. [8], lx, [4], 400, [x], the last section of ten pages being the index. The text is counted and complete. This has two (of four) plates: 1. Utensils and prosphera; 2. A Diagram of a Church. There is also a church diagram in the text (see photos). The text has some light stains, some sections are darkening along the edges of the margins, and there are a few pencil strokes in the margins. Good. Hardcover.
Contents:
Liber I. I. Private Thoughts concerning the Christian Communion in General; II. Concerning the Greek Communion; III. Notes upon Chrysostom's Liturgy, or the Greek Synaxis; IV. How the Μερίδες, or Portions were brought in by the Greeks; V. Of the Rise and Progress of Transubstantiation;
Liber II. I. Of the Greeks seven Mysteries, or Sacraments; Of Confirmation, Orders, Matrimony, Penance, Extream [sic] Unction; II. Of Images and the Worship of Saints.
John Covel (1638-1722), b. Suffolk, England; buried in the chapel at Cambridge. Covel was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he was made a fellow in 1659. In 1670 he went to Constantinople as Chaplain to the Levant Company, where he was able to observe and study the Greek Church. He traveled extensively in Asia Minor, purchased many Greek books and manuscripts, and made a scientific study of the plants of the area. He became Chaplain to the Princess of Orange in The Hague (1681-1685), and was elected Master of Christ's College (1688-1723).
"...before he took orders he studied physic, and throughout his life he retained a strong taste for natural science, and especially botany...His manuscript journals of his travels are illustrated with representations of buildings and various natural objects, drawn with considerable spirit, with maps, plans, and inscriptions. During his stay at Constantinople much interest was taken both in England and in France in the doctrines and practices of the Eastern church, and before he left he was requested by Gunning, Pearson, and Sancroft, all three afterwards bishops, to investigate the question then in debate between Dr. Arnauld of the Sorbonne, and M. Claude, minister of Charenton, as to whether the Greeks held transubstantiation. Covel accordingly turned his attention to that subject, as well as to scientific pursuits, which seemed to be more natural to him, and had many discussions on it with the French ambassador. He collected several books and some few manuscripts, and intended to write a treatise on the Eastern church shortly after he came back, but it was long before he did so." - DNB.
