1790 Sermon to the Congregation of Protestant Dissenters on the Test Act
An original FIRST EDITION of: 'The oppressive, unjust, and prophane nature, and tendency of the Corporation and Test Acts, exposed, in a sermon, preached before the congregation of Protestant Dissenters, meeting in Cannon-Street, Birmingham, February 21, 1790. By Samuel Pearce. Printed at the Request of the Committee of the seven Congregations of the three Denominations of Protestant Dissenters in Birmingham.'
The Test Acts were a series of English penal laws that served as a religious test for public office and imposed various civil disabilities on Roman Catholics and nonconformists. The principle thrust of the act was that only those people taking communion in the established Church of England were eligible for public employment. It was a way to sideline or reduce the influence of all but those in the establised Church of England.
Written by Samuel Pearce (1766-1799), who was appointed minister of Cannon Street Baptist Church, Birmingham in 1790, it was a 'call to arms' for the dissenters from the established Church of England.
This is review on the printed sermon from 1790: "This is a vehement discourse in favour of the Dissenters. The only new argument is that the Test Act is an unlawful encroachment on the royal prerogative."
This is a rare FIRST EDITION and is in excellent shape except that it is missing its board covers.
Offered with FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING. International buyers please use the shipping feature in your shopping cart and pay through PayPal if you would like next day shipping.