A pair of rare early American imprints, the second being of significant importance to the earliest days of the United States in the immediate aftermath of the American Revolutionary War's end, i.e. September 3, 1783.

Printed by Robert Aitken at the very end of 1783 and distributed with its dual work title in early 1784, Marshall's work is perhaps the earliest work on the religious education of youth published in the newly liberated America. And Marshall was deeply invested in the new Country, penning an important letter to George Washington that was again reprinted in the context of the Civil War. 

In Part I, Marshall authors a catechism for youth covering a doctrine of Scripture, the Trinity, the Covenants, Christ's Priestly, Kingly, and Prophetical Offices, the Atonement, Regeneration, Moral Law, The Sacraments, Final Judgment, Eternal Glorification and Hell, etc., 

Part II is also fascinating historically, as Marshall explains the theological views of various sects active in American during the period, including Dunkards, Enthusiasts, Jansenists, Herodians, Fanatics, Antinomians, Baptists, Brownists, Covenanters, Waldenses, Shakers, Supralapsarians, Quakers, Polygamists, Muggletonians, Mennonites, etc. 

The first work in the binding, an early, if not the first American edition of Toplady's classic edition of Zanchius on the classical doctrine of Predestination. 

The present copy belonged to Frederick Frelinghuysen Cornell [1804-1875], signed Fredk F. Cornell in sepia ink on ffep. A minister of the Dutch Reformed, Church, he was the son of Reverend John Cornell, who has apparently also signed on the pastedown in pencil, though it may be a later descendent of the same name. And grandson of General Frederick Frelinghuysen of the American Revolution. 

Frederick graduated from the College of New Jersey [Princeton] in 1825, and was licensed by the Presbytery of Newtown, L.I., in 1829. He was professor of languages in the College of Mississippi, Natchez, in 1828; missionary at Stuyvesant, N.Y., three months in 1829; at Columbiaville, in 1830; Marshallsville, N.J., 1831, 1832; Montville, 1853-35; New York city, Manhattan Church, 1836- 56; Pluckemin (Presbyterian), N.J., 1857-64. He was thereafter without a charge till his death, August 7, 1875. 

Toplady, Augustus. The Doctrine of Absolute Predestination Stated and Asserted: With a Preliminary Discourse on the Divine Attributes. Translated, in Great Measure, from the Latin of Jerom Zanchius. New-York. Printed by Hodge and Shober, for Samuel Loudon, on Hunter's Key. M.DCC.LXXIII. 173pp.

Bound With

Marshall, William. Minister of the Gospel to the Scots Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Religious Instruction to the Rising Generation. A Catechism for Youth, Containing the Principles of Practical Religion: Agreeable to the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures Exhibited in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger and Shorter Catechism. To which is Added, A Catechetical Explication of Sundry Terms belonging to Religion, Alphabetically Digested: In which are Specified the Distinguishing Tenets of the Various Denominations and Religious Sects that Now Appear. Philadelphia. Printed for the Author, and sold by Robert Aitken, in Market-Street. M.DCC.LXXXIII / M.DCC.LXXXIV. 172pp. 

A good + example in an attractive original 18th century American calf with raised band and morocco title. A bit rubbed, but very handsome. Toplady generally quite good with some scattered foxing. The Marshall work trimmed very close at the margins, occasionally impacting marginal material and final letters of a line, not rendering anything illegible.