Saint augustin

1610 · 149448 — London: George Eld 1610. Rare first edition in English of Augustine's monumental work. Translated by John Healey. Folio bound in full brown calf gilt titles to the spine morocco spine label raised bands. Large woodcut printer's device on title McKerrow 375. Decorative woodcut head-pieces and decorative and woodcut initials including three twelve-line initials. In very good condition ownership signature on title page dated 1790. First editions are rare. One of the great cornerstones in the history of Christian thought The City of God is vital to an understanding of modern Western society and how it came into being. Begun in A.D. 413 the book's initial purpose was to refute the charge that Christianity was to blame for the fall of Rome which had occurred just three years earlier. Indeed Augustine produced a wealth of evidence to prove that paganism bore within itself the seeds of its own destruction. However over the next thirteen years that it took to complete the work the brilliant ecclesiastic proceeded to his larger theme: a cosmic interpretation of history in terms of the struggle between good and evil. By means of his contrast of the earthly and heavenly cities--the one pagan self-centered and contemptuous of God and the other devout God-centered and in search of grace--Augustine explored and interpreted human history in relation to eternity. George Eld hardcover