Foxcroft, Thomas. Observations Historical and Practical on the Rise and Primitive State of New-England. With Special Reference to the Old or First Gather'd Church in Boston. A Sermon Preach'd to the said Congregation Aug 23. 1730. Being the last Sabbath of the first CENTURY since its Settlement. Boston. Printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green, for S. Gerrish in Cornhill, Boston. 1730. First and only edition. [8], 46pp. 

Importantly, signed twice by one of the leaders of the Great Awakening, Rev. Samuel Buell. 

Samuel Buell (1716-1798), b. Coventry, CT; d. East Hampton, Long Island. Dr. Buell graduated Yale College in 1741, and preached in various places including at Northampton, where he met Thomas Prince and Jonathan Edwards. Prince wrote of this time, when Buell preached daily in his meeting-house, that "there were very extraordinary effects of Mr. Buell's labours; the people were exceedingly moved, crying out in great numbers in the meeting house, and great part of the congregation commonly staying in the house of God for hours after the public service."  In 1743 he was ordained as an evangelist and in 1746 he received a unanimous call to the pulpit of the church in East Hampton, Long Island. He was instrumental in the revivals that occurred in East Hampton in the years 1764, 1785, and 1791. "He is extensively known, not only by his general influence but by his writings, particularly by a Narrative of the great revival of religion which occurred among his people in 1764." Sprague, W. B. Annals of the American Pulpit. Vol. 3. 

First and only edition of what Sabin calls a "valuable tract, compiled from original sources" touching on the early history of Puritan New England, the religious mission of the early settlers, and the example the forefathers set for the religious nature of the new nation.

Includes a full printing of the Covenant of the First Church of Boston, signed [in type of course] by John Winthrop, etc.

Includes material touching on the Reformation, John Cotton, Cotton Mather, the first "American Reformers" as Foxcroft calls the Pilgrim settlers of 1620, Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts Bay Colony, False Brethren in the Early Church, Increase Mather, Account of John Cotton's God's Promise to His Plantation, Native Americans, The Plague in the Plymouth Colony, Thomas Shepard, etc., all with the point of calling the early 18th century American church back; clearly a view that the original Pilgrim settlers were the ideal for both the Church and for the religious and political leadership of the country. 

Called "very scarce" in the Brinley sale catalogue. EVANS 3280. ESTC W28699. HOWES F309, "aa." SABIN 25399. BRINLEY SALE 1588. Seller Inventory # WRCAM47519

This from a sammelband at some point. Lower 1/3 of title absent. Upon request, we are able to have a facsimile on appropriate hand-laid paper grafted in at no additional charge to the purchaser. Textually exceptionally clean and crisp.