Gerardus [Gerhard] Zerbold [Zerbolt] de Zutphania

Tractatus de spiritualibus ascentionibus

      Gilles de Gourmont, [Paris:]: Gilles de Gourmont,, [1507.]. Modern antique style calf, blind-tooled with banded spine and gilt title,a.e.g. ; contemporary ink annotations about Gerardus on verso of last leaf, with bleed-through, minor lower margin stain.. Small 8vo. 123 x 80mm.. Large de Gourmont woodcut on t.p. [Renouard 380] Gerard (1367-98), a member of the devotio moderna and librarian of the Brethren of Common Life at Deventer,teacher of Thomas aOKempis. In this work Gerardus outlines the states of the soul towards redemption in this important work of mystical theology. Its method of meditative exercises culminated in Ignatius of Loyola's Spiritual Exercises. #11;The Devotio Moderna was a religious movement of the Late Middle Ages. It came into advocation at the same time that the concept of Humanism meshed with Christianity to form Christian Humanism. Christian Humanism advocated studying the fundamental texts of Christianity to come to one's own relationship with God. The 15th century laity were able to study the scriptures by the advent of the printing press. With the ideals of Christian Humanism, "Devotio Moderna" recommended a more individual attitude towards belief and religion and was especially prominent in Dutch cities during the 14th and 15th centuries. It is regarded sometimes as a contribution to Lutheranism and Calvinism. It was also a major influence upon Erasmus, who was brought up in this tradition. #11;The treatise De spiritualibus ascensionibus was a very popular devotional work, the most important Gerard's works, and printed many times until well into the 16th century. It describes in 70 chapters the various steps one has to go to rise from this vale of tears to a mental state of paradisical innocence. Renouard/Moreau I,p232:76 [three locations only none in US. BM STC (French) 201.