Godfried - Historie der Kerken - 1701

HERESY AND REVELATION: DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE CHURCH AND THE IMAGES OF THE GREAT HERETICS
Groundbreaking work by Gottfried Arnold, with numerous great illustrations by Romeyn de Hooge. This edition contains portraits of heretical figures, engraved by the most famous illustrator of the time.
large folded illustration depicting Frederick of Borussia, to whom the book is dedicated.
Gottfried Arnold (pseud. Christophorus Irenaeus) was an important representative of the so-called radical Pietism, publicist, church historian and song writer (so he was believed to have written the well-known Pietism song 'O Durchbrecher aller Bande') . The engraving entitled 'Hermathena' shows Athena, goddess of wisdom advising a muse, representing the church to her right and other mythological figures to her left, including a faun and a cupid.

CONTENTS
Gottfried Arnold, a leading figure in radical Pietism, reveals his shocking journey from Orthodox theology to Pietism, shedding new light on his views on the early Church and Protestantism. This historical treasure, featuring engravings by De Hooghe and an insightful analysis of the religious landscape of the 17th century, promises to reveal hidden secrets and transform our understanding of the era.

Arnold studied theology in Wittenberg. From Lutheran orthodoxy he converted, through Spener's writings, to pietism, later associating himself in a circle around the court preacher Sprögel, who was influenced by Jakok Böhm. Many medieval mystics were subsequently republished by him. He was also clearly influenced by Grotius and the early Enlightenment. His search for “true” Christianity rightly led him into the early Church.

Then he made an edition containing the sermons of the desert father Macarius. Arnold was a skilled patristic, although he did not escape the creation of an ideal image of Christian life in the early Church, a flourishing era, in his opinion, which ended with the reign of Constantine. His first study on the early Church ("Die erste Liebe der Gemeinen Jesu Christi") got him a professorship in Gieàen, a position he soon left, disappointed by what he called the "Ruhmsüchtige Vernunftwesen des akademischen Lebens". He continued as an individual scientist and published books and poems. His major work is 'Unparteiischen Kirchen- und Ketzerhistorie' (1699-1700) , of which this is the Dutch translation.

In this study he adapts the theory of reformatory decay, according to which censorship no longer belongs to Constantine, but to the post-apostolic period. The decadence was temporarily overcome with the Reformation, but soon returned, so much so that even contemporary institutional Protestantism found itself under the fire of its criticism. On the other hand it privileged the 'Church of the spirit' which has existed in all times (invisible) and is characterized by avoidance of the world and asceticism.

Not orthodoxy, but the subjectivity of the religious man is central in his theological thought. His studies earned him great praise but also a storm of criticism. His work marks the transition from a confessional historiography to a modern and pragmatic historiography. Here after his life took a surprising turn. Not only did he marry late in life, but he also accepted an ecclesiastical position in Allstedt. A few years later he became parish priest and superintendent in Werben. This career led to a moderation of his radical ideas. According to Hirsch Arnold was the most important theologian of the late 17th century era. and the beginning of the 18th century. Romeyn de Hooghe (1645-1708) was an important and prolific printmaker and caricaturist of the Dutch late Baroque. De Hooghe was skilled as an engraver, draftsman, painter, sculptor and medalist. He is best known for his political caricatures of Louis XIV and propaganda prints supporting William of Orange. During his career, de Hooghe produced over 3500 prints. He also illustrated books and his own illustrations.

CONDITION REPORT
2 volumes. Contemporary full leather binding. Title and numbering engraved in gold on the spine. Text enriched by interesting extra-text tables. The internal pages of the book show no particular signs of wear or stains. Good state of maintenance of the work. Nice copy, complete, clean and tidy. Vol. 1 Pp. (2) ; 72nn. 858; 26nn. Vol. 2 (4) ; 768; 235; 19nn.

FULL TITLES & AUTHORS
Historie der Kerken en Ketteren Van het Jaar onzes Heeren 1500 tot 1600.
Amsterdam, Sebastiaan Petzold, 1701
Arnold Godfried