Originally published in 1649, Jeremy Taylor's The Great Exemplar is widely considered the first full-length, systematic biography of Jesus Christ written in the English language.

Prior to Taylor’s work, English books about Jesus were primarily disjointed collections of sermons, harmonized Gospel tracts, or translations of continental Catholic mystical works. The Great Exemplar established a new genre in English literature: a structured, chronological narrative of Christ's life interspersed with theological "considerations," practical discourses, and prayers. And it was an immediate bestseller, remaining staple of English devotion well into the 19th century.

Historically, it was published during a time of intense civil unrest between the Puritans and Royalists. This is significant to Taylor’s work. While parties of Christians were locked in a bloody civil war, Taylor engaged Christ's life as a trans-political plea for peace.  He intentionally bypassed comment on current doctrinal disputes, focusing his attention on the call to the imitation of Christ rather than theological argumentation.

The Great Exemplar also played another important role. It served as the intellectual and theological drawing board for Taylor’s most famous subsequent works, Holy Living (1650) and Holy Dying (1651). Both are fundamentally expansions of his Great Exemplar, founded on his understanding of the ultimate purpose of Christianity as practical, daily transformation into the likeness of Christ.

The text beautifully presented by William Pickering of London.

Taylor, Jeremy. The Great Exemplar of Sanctity and Holy Life, Described in the History of the Life and Death of the Ever Blessed Jesus Christ, The Saviour of the World. London. William Pickering. 1849. 825pp.

Very attractive half leather three volume set with deep loden green calf and marbled boards and endpapers. Very solid and textually near fine. Some rubbing as shown, just through at points. Volume 1 with a very small breach at the head of the front hinge.