Ely, Ezra Stiles. A Synopsis of Didactic Theology. Philadelphia: J. Crissy, 1822. First Edition. [10411]
Full leather binding with black leather title label in gilt, gilt lines to spine, 7 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches. Joints are cracked but the end papers are strong; boards still attached. Several signatures of Thomas Creigh on the end papers & tp. 308 generally clean pp., with a couple of printer's or binder's errors: pp. 21-24 are numbered twice, the second series have an asterisk by the number and the text is continuous; one leaf, pp. 219-220 was never bound in. The text block is tight. Good. Hardcover.
The author generally follows the plan of the Westminster Confession, with further exposition than the scope of that condensed work allows. He treats with an introduction and the subject of natural theology in the first thirty pages, and then the rest deal with the revelation of scripture. Ely gives footnotes naming authors and books that he recommends his readers consult for further study.
Ezra Stiles Ely (1786-1861), an Old School Presbyterian born in Lebanon, Connecticut. “At twelve years of age he made of profession of religion. He graduated at Yale College in 1803. His theological studies were pursued under his father, the Rev. Z. Ely. In 1806 he was ordained, and installed as pastor of the church in Colchester, Conn., which he left some time after to become chaplain to the New York City Hospital. In 1811 the Old Pine Street Church, Philadelphia, became vacant. Its pulpit had been by the most eloquent ministers of the day, and it was necessary to choose a man of commanding intellect and power. The choice fell most wisely upon Dr. Ely. He was the principal founder of the Jefferson Medical College. He was stated clerk and moderator of the General Assembly in 1825 and 1828, and was constantly engaged in works of charity and schemes of benevolence. In 1834 he conceived the plan of establishing a college and theological seminary in Missouri. He entered into this with great zeal, but the crisis of 1837 made it a failure. In this enterprise he lost his large fortune, and returned to Philadelphia a poor man – his intellect and oratorical powers unimpaired – but failed to receive that degree of attention he commanded when in affluence. In 1844 he became pastor of the church in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, where he labored until prostrated by paralysis in 1851.” – M’Clintock & Strong.
The previous owner, Thomas Creigh (1808-1880), born in Carlisle, Pa; a Presbyterian minister educated at Dickinson College of his hometown, and afterwards at Princeton Seminary. He was for many years the pastor of the Mercersburg Presbyterian Church.
