Harmonia Apostolica, Seu Binae Dissertationes

Most attractively bound in contemporary calf: four raised spine bands, double blind fillet framing boards with floral corner ornaments; red speckled edges. ‘Society Book’ in an early hand to the first blank which has slightly ragged edges. Probably same hand, ‘The Rev.d Mr Davids’ to the head of the title page. At the tail of the title page an early ownership stamp: ‘Iohn*Eyton’ - probably a member of the book collecting Eyton family of Old Leeswood, Flintshire who were established in the Mold area. Bizarrely paginated (ESTC state 1) the book collates complete with both the Imprimatur and Errata and a colon after ‘Rob Scott:’ in the imprint: [20] pp122 [2] pp177-359, [4].

The Harmonia was written in an attempt to reconcile the apparent discrepancies between St. Paul and the Epistle of James on the relationship of faith and good works in Christian justification. Bishop George Morley wrote a pastoral letter to his clergy against Bull; Thomas Barlow lectured against him at Oxford; Thomas Tully wrote an answer, in which he is said to have been assisted by Morley and Barlow, setting off a pamphlet war. Bull was Bishop of St David’s.