A body of divinitie, or the summe and substance of Christian religion … Whereunto is adjoyned a tract, intituled Immanuel, or the mystery of the incarnation of God …

London: Printed by M.F. [Miles Flesher], 1645. FIRST EDITION. Two separate titles, both within ruled border, table of contents and errata, woodcut initials, head- and tailpieces. Contemporary calf, front cover a bit stained, interior generally excellent with minor browning. Inscriptions from 4 possible early hands on the first title, and though most are crossed-out, abbreviated, or illegible, the name “Griffith” can be read. A Latin phrase “servivir deo regnare est” in a contemporary hand also on the title page. Housed in a clamshell box. First edition, rare on the market. A body of divinitie was published while Ussher was in residence in Wales. Essentially a Calivinist catechism, the book explains every major tenet of the religion. However, he basically claimed that he did not author this book. In a letter dated May 13, 1645, after the book was published, Ussher expressed his disapproval to the publisher, John Downame (Downham), describing A body of divinitie as “so imperfect a thing copied verbatim out of others, and in divers places dissonant from my own judgment, may not by any means be owned by me.” Despite Ussher’s disavowal of the text, numerous editions followed with the last printed in 1677.

Ussher (1581-1656) was highly regarded in his day as a churchman and as a scholar. In 1625, he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh, the highest position in the Irish Anglican Church. He was also vice-chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin, and a member of King James’ Privy Council in Ireland. He opposed any concessions or graces given to the “papists” in his native Ireland preceding and during the English Civil War.