8vo. 223pp, [1]. Uncut, in early roughly-sewn wrappers over original blue-paper wraps. Loss to over-wraps, some rounding to edges and occasional soiling of text block.

John William Fletcher (bap. 1729, d.1785), Anglican clergyman and Methodist writer. Fletcher and his wife, Mary Bosanquet Fletcher, were friends of John and Charles Wesley. One of the earliest theologians of the Methodist movement, he was chosen by John Wesley to be successor, had he not predeceased the latter. A Rational Vindication, a defence of traditional Trinitian orthodoxy, was published posthumously after completion by Joseph Benson. Imprints exist at both London and Hull; both are rare. ESTC records only three locations holding this provincial printing in the UK (Birmingham, BL, Dr. William's Library) and four in North America (Perkins School of Theology, Texas, Union Theological Seminary and Washington & Lee University).