THE CHURCHES QUARREL ESPOUSED: OR, A REPLY IN SATYRE, TO CERTAIN PROPOSALS MADE, IN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, WHAT FURTHER STEPS ARE TO BE TAKEN, THAT THE COUNCILS MAY HAVE DUE CONSTITUTION AND EFFICACY IN SUPPORTING, PRESERVING, AND WELL-ORDERING THE INTEREST OF THE CHURCHES IN THE COUNTRY by Wise, John - 1715

Boston: Reprinted: Sold by Nicholas Boone, at the Sign of the Bible in Cornhil, 1715. Testimonial leaf, title-leaf, 116pp. 12mo. Original calf covered birch boards, boards ruled in blind. Hinges cracked, boards rubbed, spine extremities bumped. Waste paper pastedowns, free endpapers excised. Later ownership inscriptions on initial and final blanks. Tanned, occasional foxing. A very good copy, in original condition. In a half morocco box. Second edition, after the virtually unobtainable first New York edition of 1713. The present pamphlet was issued in response to an attempt by the Mathers and others to initiate a movement to establish associations of clergy to exercise functions usually left up to individual churches. Wise has since been called the "first great American democrat" due to his argument that the ultimate power of the churches should rest with the congregation and not with their ministers or an association of ministers. "The People...are the first Subject of Power...a Democracy in Church or State is a very honourable Government." Wise's influential A VINDICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW-ENGLAND CHURCHES (Boston, 1717) is the famous statement of his belief in Congregational polity. ESTC W5306. EVANS 1795. SABIN 104897. HOWES W594, "aa." DAB XX, p.427.