Matthew Graves (ca. 1712-1780): Religious Tract Sammelband (1641-1725)

Item 1: Almoni “A Compendious Discourse” 1641
Author - personal        Almoni, Peloni, Cosmopolites.
Title        A compendious discourse, proving episcopacy to be of apostolicall, and consequently of divine institution: by a cleare and weighty testimony of St. Irenæus a glorious martyr, and renowned Bishop of Lyons in France, upon the yeere of our Lord, 184. The said testimony bein so declared, pressed, and vindicated from all exceptions, that thereby an intelligent, and conscionable reader may receive abundant satisfaction in this behalfe. By Peloni Almoni, cosmopolites.
Publisher/year        London : printed by E.G. for Richard Whitaker at the Kings Armes in Pauls Church-yard, 1641.
Physical descr.       [16] p. ;  4⁰.

Items 2 & 3: “The Invalidity of the Dissenting Ministers” 1717
Author - personal        Presbyter of the Church of England.
Title        The invalidity of the dissenting ministry: or, presbyterian ordination an irregular and unjustifiable practice. In answer to Mr. Peirce’s sermon, entituled, Presbyterian ordination prov’d regular. ... To which is added, An impartial view and censure of the mistakes propagated ... in a celebrated book, entituled, An enquiry into the constitution, discipline, unity and worship of the primitive church, ... By a presbyter of the Church of England.
Publisher/year        London : printed for J. Morphew, 1717.
Physical descr.       [16],72;29,[1]p. ;  8⁰.

Item 4: [Zachary Grey], “The Ministry of the Dissenters Proved to Be Null and Void” 1725
Author - personal        Grey, Zachary, 1688-1766.
Title        The ministry of the dissenters proved to be null and void, from Scripture and antiquity. In answer to Dr. Calamy’s sermon: entitled, The ministry of the dissenters vindicated, &c. Addressed by way of letter to that worthy doctor. By a Presbyter of the Church of England.
Publisher/year        London : Printed for Tho. Warner, at the Black Boy in Pater-Noster-Row, 1725.
Physical descr.       [2],69,[1];16p. ;  8⁰.

Item 5: Thomas Blisse, “The Beauty of Holiness in the Common-Prayer” 1716
Author - personal        Bisse, Thomas, -1731.
Title        The beauty of holiness in the common-prayer: as set forth in four sermons preach’d at the Rolls Chapel. By Tho. Bisse, D. D. Preacher at the Rolls, and Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty.
Publisher/year        London : printed by W. B. for Henry Clements at the Half-Moon in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, 1716.
Physical descr.       [8],173,[1]p. ;  8⁰.

Item 6: Theophilus Dorington “A Discourse of Praying by the Spirit” 1708
Author - personal        Dorrington, Theophilus, -1715.
Title        A discourse on praying by the spirit, in the use of the common prayers. Wherein it is maintain’d, that this may be done, and directed. By Theophilus Dorrington, Rector of Wittresham in Kent.
Publisher/year        London : printed and sold by Joseph Downing in Bartholomew-Close near West-Smithfield, 1708.
Physical descr.       23,[1]p. ;  8⁰.
 
Item 7: Charles Wheatly “Bidding of Prayers before Sermon” 1718
Author - personal        Wheatly, Charles, 1686-1742.
Title        Bidding of prayers before sermon, no mark of disaffection to the present government: or an historical vindication of the LVth canon. Shewing That the Form of Bidding Prayers has been prescrib’d and enjoin’d ever since the Reformation, and constantly practis’d by the Greatest Divines of our Church; and that it has been lately enforc’d both by his present Majesty, and our Right Reverend Diocesan the Lord Bishop of London. By Charles Wheatly, M. A. Lecturer of St. Mildred’s in the Poultry.
Publisher/year        London : printed for A. Bettesworth in Pater-Noster-Row, H. Clements and C. Rivington in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, M.DCC.XVIII. [1718]
Physical descr.       80p. ;  8⁰.

    Matthew Graves was born on the Isle of Man around 1712, and about 1749 he was sent as a missionary to the American colonies by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (Anglican Church) to convert Dissenters, especially Quakers, and to bring Indians and enslaved African-Americans into the Church.  He corresponded with the Earl of Dartmouth on 5 August 1770 regarding the establishment of a college in the earl’s name, and wrote to General Washington on 5 February 1776 requesting protection from Revolutionary forces who threatened him and his family because of their Royalist sympathies.  Graves had been forcibly removed from his pulpit in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, after he continued to preach the traditional Anglican service with its prayer for the health of the King and Royal Family.  He died in New York City in 1780 where he had taken refuge with his sister.  This Sammelband was given to Goucher College by Vassar College in July 1986 under the general belief, shared by Goucher’s cataloger, that it contained only Almoni’s Compendious Discourse.