De la diferencia entre lo temporal, y eterno. Crisol de desengaños, con la memoria de la eternidad, postrimerias humanas, y principales mysterios Divinos (Extra Illustrated)
Amberes (Antwerp): Geronymo Verdussen, 1684. New edition, revised. Hardcover. Small octavo (7 1/2 x 4 3/4"). [16], 655, [77]pp., frontispiece plus 10 engravings. Contemporary full vellum, with later title label to spine. Frontispiece engraved title by Gaspar Bouttats.
Originally published in 1640, "De la diferencia entre lo temporal, y eterno" is one of the author's most ascetic and most successful works, with a total of 60 editions in various translations. The book, written in admirable prose, inspired Jacindo Verdaguer for his "L'Atlàntida."
In this book, Father Juan Eusebio Nieremberg (1595-1658), a Jesuit priest, theologian and mystic, states that Man was created by God to praise Him, make Him reverence and serve Him, and thereby save his soul; and the other things on the face of the earth are created for man, and to help him in the pursuit of the purpose for which he was created. Hence it follows that man must use things as much as they help him to his purpose, and so much he must remove them as they prevent him from doing it. Therefore, this "difference" between the temporal and the eternal is related to the purpose of man's life.
Nieremberg intends in this work that the reader internalizes this "difference" in a vital and existential way, deepening the thought of eternal life, whether in heaven or in hell. The "things on the face of the earth", the temporal, are means that must be "used" to reach the purpose, or happy eternity with God, the Creator.
This work is extra illustrated with 10 full-page engravings (plus frontispiece engraved title), by Gaspar Bouttats (c. 1640-1695 or 1696), a renown Flemish printmaker and engraver of the Baroque period. (Univ of Valencia, Accession No: OCLC: 919962919).
Vellum age-toned and chipped at lower front corner. Contemporary previous owner's name (Juan Nuñes de Almeyda) and inscription in Hebrew to fly leaf. Minor and sporadic foxing and age-toning throughout. Three fly leaves at rear missing. Text in Spanish. Binding in overall fair to good, interior in good to very good, engravings in very good condition. f to vg. Item #44189
Price: $650.00