No. 93176590
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Blaise Pascal - Litterae provinciales - 1658
No. 93176590

Blaise Pascal - Litterae provinciales - 1658
[PASCAL (Blaise)]
LUDOVICI MONTALTII LITERAE PROVINCIALES, from Morali & Politica Jesuitarum disciplina. A Willelmo Wendrockio Salisburgensi theologo, e gallicâ in latinam linguam translatæ, et theologicis notis illustratæ, quibus tum jesuitarum adversus Montaltium criminationes repelluntur: tum præcipua theologiæ moralis capita à novorum casuistarum corruptelis vindicantur.
Cologne, N. Schouten [J. Elzevier], 1658.
1 volume in-8 (18.5 x 11.5 cm), brown calf (contemporary binding), decorated ribbed spine, gilt arms in the center, speckled edges, [32]-608 pages (complete). Worn corners and caps, one hinge cracked, rare foxing. Very good condition.
First edition of the Latin translation of the Provinciales, by Nicole (who here inaugurates her pseudonym of Wendrock), published during Pascal's lifetime - and if we are to believe the preface that he would have revised. Intended, with success, to give them an "international" audience, it is augmented by the notes that Nicole wrote directly in Latin, and which themselves will be translated into French by Melle de Joncoux in 1699 ("Reading Wendrock's notes is almost indispensable to understand the Provinciales", MSH of Clermont-Ferrand). Edition printed in Leiden by Jean Elzevier, doubtless on behalf of the Elzeviers of Amsterdam who had published the previous year the first edition of the Provinciales, with continuous pagination.
Born in 1623, Pascal came under Jansenist influence in 1646. In 1654, after a period of discouragement and repeated meditation, he had a mystical experience that converted him definitively to the religious life. In 1655, he settled in Port Royal. The attacks of the Jesuits on the Jansenist cause and on Antoine Arnauld led to the publication in 1656-7 of eighteen Letters from Louis de Montalte to a Provincial of his friends and to the RR. PP. Jesuits on the morality and politics of these fathers; they were composed by Pascal and are known as the Provincial Letters. They deal with two subjects: divine grace and the ethical code of the Jesuits.
PROVENANCE: Binding with the coat of arms of Jean de la Valette-Cornusson (OHR 2141), commendatory abbot of the abbey of Beaulieu (diocese of Rodez).
Good copy.
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