THEOLOGICAL NOTEBOOK | Manuscript, early 17th century

THEOLOGY

MATERIALS FOR SERMONS. A HOTCHPOCH OF NOTES

Manuscript notebook probably compiled by a "B.B.", containing extensive theological and philosophical notes on various topics and doctrines, with headings, in English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, with partial index at front, mostly in a single hand with scatterered notes in a second hand, 361 numbered leaves, dated 28 March 1615 (fol. 2v), blind-tooled panelled calf; upper cover detached, loss at spine

"Hee that is a kinge is kinge over a people, And the people that are subjects are to yeld not onely, honor & worshipp, but service with body & goodes Both to mainteyne theyr kinge in peace, to defend him from injuries, to retayne his right & to seeke to recover his right lost, yea & to mainteine him & to serve him..."

These sophisticated notes were undoubtedly the work of a minister and provide a good insight into many of the key issues of the day. It contains carefully structured arguments that are the clear mark of a classical education. The passage above on kingship, for example, is defended with three rationales ("ratio"): Biblical sources; the understanding that "all that we have wee hold of another", and that ultimately the monarch is God's tenant; and that "it is the verie order of nature, that one shold rule & another shold be under rule". The writer extends his arguments to show that they refute Anabaptists and Papists, considers counter-arguments and further implications of the initial thesis.

The initials "B.B." are found at several points in the manuscript and are presumably those of the compiler, but neither the name nor the location of his ministry have so far been identified.

PROVENANCE:

Charles W. Hall, gifted to Charles Wals

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