L’Apocalypse de Meliton, ou Revelation des mysteres cenobitiques.
« Saint Leger” [but Leiden]: “Noel and Jaques Chartier” [but Elzevir], 1668. 12mo. [viii], 205, [3] pp. THIRD EDITION. Engraved frontispiece. Contemporary stiff vellum, manuscript spine title. Early attribution inscription on the title. A fine copy. Item #19097
Third edition of this biting satirical biography of the Bishop of Melito, a Jew born in Turkey in the 2nd century CE who converted to Christianity, supposedly compiled by Pithois from the writings of Camus. The text denounces monastic life and monks as lazy, vain, and corrupt, hoarding wealth in the name of false charity and divine intercession. It is written in the form of a missive to Hermodore, the fictional author of the Secret Interviews, another damning critique of the holy orders first published in 1634.
This title was placed on the Index in 1681.
Rahir 2355; see Dorbon 1982.
Price: $850.00