Thomas à Kempis; Nelson, Robert. The Christian's Exercise: or, Rules to Live above the World While we are in it; with Meditations, Hymns and Soliloquies, Suited to the several States of the Christian Life. Adorn'd with Curious Sculpture. In Four Parts; To which is added, and Appendix of Letters Dialogues, &c. Addressed to all the true Lovers of Devotion, by Robert Nelson, Esq. London: Printed for R. S. and sold by Charles Rivington, 1714-1715. [10563]
Full gilt-bordered polished calf, front cover tenuously attached by a single cord, rear cover joint good. Five raised bands, red title label reads "NELSON'S | X.TIAN | EXCERCI." Seven copperplate engravings, six title pages, head & tail pieces in the text. 431 pp. with [1] p. of adverts. Collates A1-Dd8. Text very good. Good. Hardcover.
Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471), "A pious writer of great celebrity. Born at Kemp, in the diocese of Cologne...Studied at Daventer. Entered the monastery of Regular Canons of Mount St. Agnes, near Zwol, 1399." - Darling, Cyclopedia Bibliographica.
"He copied the Bible no less than four times, one of the copies being preserved at Darmstadt in five volumes. He was widely read in the Bible's teachings, and his works abound with biblical quotations, especially from the New Testament. Thomas belonged to the school of mystics who were scattered along the Rhine from Switzerland to Strasburg and Cologne, and in the Netherlands. He was especially influenced by Geert Groote and Florentius Radewijns, the founders of the Brethren of the Common Life." - New World Encyclopedia, online.
Robert Nelson (1656-1715), b. London. "A learned and pious gentleman. Educated at St. Paul's School and Trinity College, Cambridge. Joined the Nonjurors at the Revolution, but in 1709 returned to the communion of the Church of England...His Companion to the Festivals and Fasts is still one of the best on the subject." - Darling, Cyclopedia Bibliographica.
