Henry, G. W. The Marriage of the Lamb, or Wedlock and Padlock, Temporal and Spiritual. Oneida, [NY]: Published by the Author, 1856. First Edition. [7077]
Purple cloth decorated in blind & gilt, backstrip faded to brown, binding otherwise very good, 5 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches, fine steel engraving of Henty & Son as frontispiece, 461 pp. with light foxing, 2 pp. advert, tight. Very good. Hardcover.
"In 1823 George W. Henry established a manufactory of cow bells, and carried it on a few years with varying success. This Mr. Henry was an active, energetic man, who engaged in many business pursuits, all of which ultimately proved unsuccessful so far as enriching him was concerned. He became permanently blind, and was, during some years, a devoted preacher in the Methodist church. He dictated an autobiography and several other works, which met a ready sale. He died in 1876, at the age of seventy-five." - History of Herkimer County, N. Y. (1879), p. 136.
The engraving of is of Henry wearing dark glasses with his young son (probably) as his scribe. He was at the time living in Oneida, New York, and in the preface indicates that he believed that he was dictating the words of God. “Our third reason for writing is, that unless we misapprehend the voice of the Spirit, the same voice which said to us many years ago, ‘Go preach the Gospel,’ now says to us, ‘write all the words which I speak to thee.’ For more than a twelvemonth, by day and by night, that voice has been urging us on.” The endorsements in the adverts are from Methodist ministers, including Jesse T. Peck.
An unusual book, a study of the Bible and marriage, with accounts of the days of creation, “perpetuity and zest of connubial love,” marriage of Adam & Eve, marriages in the Bible, “Courting by Proxy,” “Marriage Yoke,” etc., etc. The author continuously uses the examples and lessons of temporal marriage as the basis for teaching spiritual marriage, or as Christians being the Bride of Christ.