Commentaria, In Primam Divi Thomae Partem, In Duos Tomos Divisa [...]. Autore Ludovico Molina, e Societate Iesu... Lugduni: Joannis Baptistae Buysson, 1593, folio.
-------------------
FIRST EDITION of Luis de Molina's commentary on St Thomas Aquinas, two parts bound into one thick folio tome. The author is one of the most important Catholic theologians of the Counter-Reformation; he developed the doctrine now known as Molinism, the most famous concept associated with which is termed Scientia Media ('middle knowledge').
The present work is Luis de Molina's engagement with the Thomistic tradition, namely the Prima Pars of Aquinas' Summa, part of which notably addresses providence, but also the existence and nature of God, divine attributes, creation, human nature, the soul, etc. This work, therefore, printed on the eve of the Congregatio de Auxiliis, is a true representative of the greatest controversies of that time, intersecting Dominican and Jesuit theology, the Counter-Reformation, and debates concerning free will. The controversy became so significant that Popes intervened, the special commission was established, and the debate dominated Catholic theology during these significant decades. More than just the Congregatio de Auxiliis, however, this work became a foundational text for Jesuit theology, as did Molina's other major work, the Concordia, which addresses Molinism directly.
RARE. The USTC records 29 extant copies institutionally worldwide, but we can trace no other copies recorded in commerce.
-------------------
Size: 240 x 346 mm (approx.)
Condition:
[a10, A-3Q6, 3R8, 3S-4H6]
Contemporary full calf, original tooled red morocco label extant, shows well. Binding minimally rubbed, minor wear at extremities, shelf and edge wear, but overall in a very good state of preservation with both boards securely attached and the binding secure. Some stains to leaf edges. No attached bookplates, old ownership inscription of Joao Miguel to foot of title page. Marginal dampstaining which does incur into the text but does not obscure legibility to the first quires terminating in gathering 1U, generally bright throughout the text block with the vast majority in bright condition, some dampstaining to upper corner beginning circa 3Y1 and continuing until the end of the text block, with the concluding quires (4G-4H) also with dampstaining along the fore-edge, other sporadic instances throughout. However, the full text is legible without loss of sense. A handsome copy, particularly the binding.
Collates as complete. A few misprints in signatures (as issued, eg a5 repeated, but the correct leaves are present as opposed to a5 bound in twice). This copy includes the 4H6 blank which follows the colophon leaf (4H5), both of which are often wanting in extant copies.
[USTC 158371].
