BOK.ENG.AD1781.v1

Thelyphthora Vol I

A treatise on female ruin, in its causes, effects, consequences, prevention, and remedy; considered on the basis of the divine law: under the following heads, viz. marriage, whoredom, and fornication, adultery, polygamy, divorce; with many other incidental matters; particularly including an examination of the Principles and Tendency of Stat. 26 Geo. II. c. 33. commonly called The Marriage Act.

In this highly controversial work, Martin Madan, an English clergyman, defended polygamy as a divine institution established by God in the Law of Moses which, according to his studies, still maintained contemporary effect. Madan's main argument can be found in the Preface of Volume I:

"The grand question to be tried is - whether a system filled with obligation and responsibility, of men to women, and of women to men, even unto death itself, and this established by infinite wisdom, is not better calculated to prevent the ruin of the female sex, with all its horrid consequences, both to the public and individuals, than a system of human contrivance, where neither obligation nor responsibility are to be found, either of men to women, or of women to men, in instances of the most important concern to both, but especially to the weaker sex?" (Vol. I. Pref. xxiii, xxiv, spelling standardized).

Many distasteful reactions to this book arose among other clergypeople. The cleric Thomas Haweis published a work called "A scriptural refutation of the arguments for polygamy, advanced in a treatise entitled Thelyphthora" where he stated that Madan's work "threatened to prove as inimical to the peace of society, as opposite to the purity of the gospel" (Haweis, spelling standardized). Another work, "Anti-Thelyphthora. A Tale, in Verse" was printed by Madan's first cousin William Cowper as a satirical reaction against his theories.

Some theorize that Madan was motivated to write his book "to extenuate the conduct of a rich trader in the borough, a friend of Mr. Madden's who had married two wives, and... lived in tolerable harmony with both under the same roof" (qtd. from resources accompanying the book).

This volume has multiple handwritten notes throughout the text from a previous owner which regularly discredit the arguments put forth by Madan.

This first volume contains the following:
Chap. I: Of Marriage as a Divine Institution
Chap. II: Of Whoredom and Fornication
Chap. III: Of Adultery
Chap. IV: Of Polygamy
Chap. V. Christ not the Giver of a New Law
Appendix to Chap. I: Containing Farther Thoughts on Exod. xxii. 16, 17
Appendix to Chap. II: Bucer on Concubinage
* * *
Cowper, William. Anti-Thelyphthora. A Tale, in Verse. Cambridge, United Kingdom: University of Cambridge Library, 1781.

Haweis, Thomas. A scriptural refutation of the arguments for polygamy, advanced in a treatise entitled Thelyphthora. By T. Haweis, ... [London]: Printed for the author, and sold by Charles Dilly, J. Matthews, and T. Wilkins, [1781]. Eighteenth Century Collections Online (accessed October 7, 2020).

1781 AD

Martin Madan

Printed for J. Dodsley

London

England

18th Century

Print

Second Edition

History of Writing Collection See all items with this value

English

Presented by: John F. Evans
In memory of: J. Fred Evans

"Shepard Book Company 'Ye Old Booke Shoppe' Salt Lake City, Utah" sticker on the bottom right corner of the verso side of the front cover

"J. Fred Evans 219 K St. Salt Lake City, Utah. Dec 6th 1915" handwritten on the recto side of the first endpaper

Apologetic

Madan, Martin, 1726-1790. Thelyphthora; or, A treatise on female ruin, in its causes, effects, consequences, prevention, and remedy; considered on the basis of the divine law: under the following heads, viz. marriage, whoredom, and fornication, adultery, polygamy, divorce; with many other incidental matters; particularly including an examination of the Principles and Tendency of Stat. 26 Geo. II. c. 33. commonly called The Marriage Act. Vol. 1. 3 Vol. London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1781.