A wonderful early edition of James Hervey's most influential works, i.e. Theron and Aspasio, or a series of Letters upon the most important and interesting Subjects. 

James Hervey [1714-1758] was a member of the Holy Club at Oxford, along with his friends and sometime theological nemeses, John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield. He emerged from Oxford as a significant voice of the Great Awakening, though ending up in the Calvinist camp of the movement with Whitefield, and remaining within the Anglican church. 

His Meditations and Contemplations were in constant print for nearly 150 years. But it was his 1755 production of Theron and Aspasio that brought him into the theological spotlight. Whitefield and his long-time supporter, Selina, Countess of Huntingdon [to whom he dedicated the works] both felt it tended toward antinomianism. The work was replied to by John Wesley in print and essentially echoed the Marrow Controversy happening at the same time in Scotland. It is still considered a spiritual classic by those of the Marrow school.

Hervey, James. Letters on Theron and Aspasio. Addressed to the Author. In Two Volumes. On thing is Needful. The Fourth Edition. With Two Prefaces, and two Appendices. Containing an Account of the Progress of the Controversy [with John Wesley, &c.], and of the Principal Pieces that have been Wrote against the Letters. London. Printed for T. Vernor, and J. Chater. 1768. 400 + 448 + Indices and Appendices.

Original very attractive full calf, raised bands, and morocco titles. Some rubbing and light bumping, but on the whole, a really nicely preserved 18th century set of one of the most significant publications of the Great Awakening era.