Melanchthon, Philip

Moralis Philosophiae Epitome. Philippi Melanchth

      1497-1560 Octavo, 5.6 x 3.75 inches. a-i8. 140 pages. This copy is complete, including the blank: i7, and the leaf with Gryphius's large woodcut griffin: i8. The contents are quite clean, and the book has been recently rebound in black half calf with marbled paper boards. In his Epitome Philosophiae Moralis Melanchthon treats first the relation of philosophy to the law of God and the Gospel. Moral philosophy, it is true, does not know anything of the promise of grace as revealed in the Gospel, but it is the development of the natural law implanted by God in the heart of man, and therefore representing a part of the divine law. The revealed law, necessitated because of sin, is distinguished from natural law only by its greater completeness and clearness. The fundamental order of moral life can be grasped also by reason; therefore the development of moral philosophy from natural principles must not be neglected. Melanchthon therefore made no sharp distinction between natural and revealed morals." (wikipedia)