Groningen, Dominicus Lens, 1679.
8vo. In contemporary full calf with four raised bands and blind tooled ornamentation to spine. Small paper-label pasted on to top of spine. Leather with a few holes, primarily affecting back board, showing the wooden boards underneath. Previous owner's names in contemporary hand to title-page. Small worm-tract throughout, otherwise internally nice and clean. (16), 93, (2), 554, (6) pp.
The rare first (only) edition of Ridderus’ work on the obstacles and challenges one can meet on the way to live a good Christian life. We have only been able to trace two copies at OCLC and one auction-record. “Although somewhat forgotten today, Franciscus Ridderus (1620-1683) was one of the most prolific and best-loved authors of the Further Reformation. His years as a preacher in Rotterdam (1656-83) were particularly important, a time in which he made his name as an erudite author and cleric with Orange sympathies. In 1665, the time of ‘true freedom’, his efforts on behalf of the Prince brought him into conflict with the city authorities after he had criticized the existing political situation and testified to his support for the later William the Third.” (Noak, Foreign Wisdom: Ethnological Knowledge in the Work of Franciscus Ridderus)
Order-nr.: 61386