THE HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, representing the actions and miracles of our blessed Saviour and his apostles, attempted in verse: and adorn'd with CLII sculptures The cuts done by J. Sturt.

12mo, pp. [xii], 305, [1] blank, [9] table, [5] advertisements; plus an engraved frontispiece and additional title page; in 19th-century half calf and green cloth boards, gilt, spine gilt, later brown morocco label (a little rubbed, upper joint weak). First edition, second issue. A re-issue of the sheets of the original printing of 1701, with a cancel letterpress title-page; the engraved title-page, with its earlier date, has been retained. Samuel Wesley (1662-1735) was the son of a dissenting clergyman, but he decided as a young man to accept the established church, and was thus able to secure a place at Exeter College, Oxford, where he earned his BA in 1688; his ordination followed shortly afterwards. Wesley began writing verse as an undergraduate, and a collection of poems with the unfortunate title Maggots was published in 1685 by his brother-in-law, the bookseller John Dunton. His later literary efforts were on more conventional subjects. Wesley had a large family, and is now best remembered as the father of John and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism. This volume consists of 151 selections from the Gospels and Acts, with Wesley's version in heroic couplets on facing pages; a small engraving by John Sturt appears at the head of each group of verses from the Bible. At the front is a full-page emblematic engraving of 'Heav'nly Wisedom'. Wesley published a companion volume for the Old Testament in 1705, which was also re-issued in 1715. Foxon W326.…