De regno Christi Jesu servatoris nostri, libri II (Book II only)

Book II only A woodcut illustration on title page, upper outer blank corner torn away and repaired, decorative woodcut initials, light dust-soiling to title and colophon leaf, some dampstaining throughout, occasional fraying to lower outer corners, early manuscript fragment strip bound-in before title (formerly part of endpaper strengthening), endpapers replaced, near contemporary sheep, rubbed and scuffed, small folio Adams B3032

Martin Bucer (1491-1551) was born in Strasbourg and entered the Dominican order After converting to the reformed faith, his writings had a great influence on Lutheran, Calvinist, and Anglican doctrines and practices In April 1549 he left Strasbourg for England, where, at the invitation of the young Edward VI, he became Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge First published in the year of his death, and dedicated to Edward VI, De Regno Christi examines and addresses the true nature of monarchy in relation to the (reformed) church and is thus an important intervention in English Reformation theology

Bucer had ambitious goals in diffusing the Reformation throughout England He was disappointed, therefore, when those in power failed to consult him in bringing about change On learning about the custom of presenting a memorandum to the king every new year, he worked on a major treatise which he gave as a draft to his friend John Cheke on 21 October 1550 The De Regno Christi [On the Kingdom of Christ] was the culmination of his many years of experience, a summary of his thought and theology that he described as his legacy In it he urged Edward VI to take control of the English Reformation, and proposed that Parliament introduce fourteen laws of reform, covering both ecclesiastical and civil matters In his view the Reformation was not only concerned with the church, but in all areas of life Noting the difficult social conditions in England, he promoted the role of deacons to care for the poor and needy He described marriage as a social contract rather than a sacrament, hence he permitted divorce, a modern idea that was considered too advanced for its time He advocated the restructuring of economic and administrative systems with suggestions for improving industry, agriculture, and education His ideal society was distinctively authoritarian, with a strong emphasis on Christian discipline The De Regno Christi was never to be the charter of the English Reformation that Bucer intended: it was finally printed not in England but in Basel, in 1557