Montagu, Richard. The Acts and Monuments of The Church before Christ Incarnate. London: Printed by Miles Flesher and Robert Young, 1642. First Edition. [8545]
Contemporary calf boards sometime rebacked in calf, raised bands with blind tooling to panels, title panel in gilt, 10 3/4 inches, joints fine, corners rounded, binding is edge-worn. Bookplate of Edmund R. C. Lister on front pastedown, bookplate of Wican Free Public Library on the ffep, which is detached. Several notations on the ffep, including a brief account of the author. Title page with brown ink scribbles in lower margin obliterating a signature. Oval blind stamp "Free Public Library, Wican" on tp. [4], 307, [1], 313-552 pp.; complete & matching the collation at ESTC. Text with some old stains in the front section, contemporary brief underlining & marginalia throughout. Good. Full calf.
Wing M2469; ESTC R3327.
Contents: The State of the Church before Christ incarnate; The Prophecies of Jacob and Daniel concerning the Messias; Concerning the Sybils; The reigne and life of Herod in Judea; The State of Judea under the Romans; Concerning the succession of the High-Priesthood in Israel; The Jewish State in Spirituals; The Ancestors and Parents of our Saviour.
The chapter on the Prophecies is 79 pp. and examines principally those of Jacob and Daniel, with the 70 weeks of Daniel interpreted as being completely fulfilled by Christ. "Thus all scruples removed, and doubts with objections cleared, no other Persian Kings reigne according, no not with the many stretchings of Story, we have brought the just period of Daniels seventy weeks home, the most memorable Prophecy of our Saviour, for the full accomplishment every way. Messias the Prince is none but he. Novellers, and Rabbins may goe seek their Jewish Governour, if they knew where, when, or whom."
Richard Montagu (or Montague, Mountagu) 1578-1641, Anglican prelate, friend & supporter of William Laud and opponent of the Puritans. "Distinguished for his knowledge of primitive Christianity...a leaner toward Romanism; and it was even asserted by the moderate churchmen who opposed Laud's course that Mountague was aiming to carry the king, his court and his primate, bodily over to Rome, and to go there himself...Bishop Mountague's literary labors are valuable, especially in the field of ecclesiastical antiquites. He assited Savile in his edition of St. Chrysostom; edited Gregory Nanzianzen...and published several theological works and controversial tracts." - M'Clintock & Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (1894).
"An Arminian divine of great learning and abilities...He was celebrated for his knowledge of the Greek language, ecclesiastical antiquities, and the Fathers." - Darling, Cyclopaedia Bibliographica (1854).
