Mason, John. Self Knowledge: A Treatise, showing the Nature and Benefit of that Important Science and the Way to Attain it. Intermixed with various reflections on Human Nature. Hartford: Printed for Oliver D. Cooke | Hale & Hosmer, Printers, 1814. [12454]
Full calf, good joints, small chip top of spine, lacks the spine title label, some minor scuffing, 5 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches, tight. Pencil letters on the front end papers, small tear with loss to the bottom of the second front end paper (blank), [i]-xiv, [15]-204 pp., counted and complete. Pages are generally quite clean, with some light foxing and a few small ink drops. Good. Hardcover.
"The subject of the ensuing treatise is of great importance; and yet I do not remember to have seen it cultivated with that precision, perspicuity, and force, with which many other moral and theological themes have been managed. And indeed, it is buy rarely that we find it professedly and fully recommended to us in a set and regular discourse, either from the pulpit or the press. This consideration, together with a full persuasion of its great and extensive usefulness, hath excited the present attempt to render it more familiar to the mind of Christians." - Preface.
"His sermons are written in a plain and striking manner, free from all peculiarities of style and sentiment. His Self-Knowledge immediately on its publication became so popular that a new edition was annually demanded for several years. It is replete with maxims and precepts of the utmost importance." - Darling, Cyclopaedia Bibliographica: A Library Manual of Theological and General Literature...&c. (1854)
The many printings of this book by persons of different denominations testify to its usefulness. The US Methodist bishop George Peck, in his 1842 Introduction to their edition, frankly called it "one of the best books which we have ever read...We have uniformly recommended it, especially to the young, as eminently adapted to prepare the mind for efforts in the pursuit of knowledge."
John Mason (1705-1763), English dissenting minister, author of Sermons, Self-Knowledge, Christian Morals, and other useful theological books. In addition to his pastoral duties, he taught young men preparing for the Christian ministry.
"He was a man of high literary culture and excellent taste. His theological positions were for the most part conservative; he stated them with much moderation of tone, and defended them with candour and discrimination." - DNB (1909).
