1657 JOHN HOWE. Puritan Autographed Work on the Corruption of the Church through Political Idolatry.

A fascinating work recounting the attempts all across Europe to gain religious power through complicity with various Kings, Queens, and Governments. Includes the Pope's desire to gain power in Germany to expel the Lutherans, work against the results of the Spanish Reformation, etc., etc. It has long been the idolatry of the Church to have have believed that the Kingdom of God will prosper best when imposed by the Kingdom's of men.  The present copy is boldly signed by Puritan, John Howe [1630-1705]. Howe was raised in a Puritan home; his father had been ejected by Archbishop Laud during the same persecutions which led Roger Williams to flee England for America. Howe had seen what religion could do when empowered by the armies and prisons of the State in the life of his own family.  Howe graduated Christ's College, Cambridge and accepted a pastorate at Devon. In 1656 he was invited to preach for Oliver Cromwell and was offered the position of Chaplain, which he accepted. He was ejected