"Best Things" by Richard Newton, illustrated with drawings by Charles Hale, engraved in wood by John Daniel Felter (1825-1914), published by Robert Carter, New York, 1859, copyright 1859 by the publisher. First Edition.

Hard boards, original embossed cloth with gold lettering on spine [cloth damages front board and spine: see photos]; 4.1/2" x 6"; bright-ocher color endpapers, inscription on the front endpaper, frontispiece and additional engraved title page with tissue guard, the engraved title page is signed in plate Felter, 293 pages on heavy stock paper + 5 wood engraved plates including frontispiece and extra engraved title page; some foxing mostly plates and pages next to the plates, a few pages are partially unopened [unread], a few small creases, a few page corner folds, good condition.

According to the inscription on the front endpaper, this book was given to Francis Henry Diehl by his Aunt Amie on Dec. 25, 1859.

The book consists of nine sermons:
The Best Fountain
The Best Workers
The Best Work
The Best Warfare
The Best Loan
The Best Lesson
The Best Flower
The Best Robe
The Best Helper

Using easy understandable metaphors, Newton explains the interconnection of religion, the social and moral values. In simple words, he explains the theological concept of life, and elaborates in detail how the earnest moral conduct leads to the success in life.

Richard Newton (1813-1887) graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1836, and the General Theological Seminary, New York City, in 1839. He was ordained in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in the latter year in the Church of the Holy Trinity, and received a call directly to the rectorship of the same church. A year later he became rector at St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia, which post he held for twenty-two years. In 1862 he was called to the Church of the Epiphany, Philadelphia, where he labored until 1881, when he accepted the rectorship of the Church of the Covenant, Philadelphia, where he remained the rest of his life.

Newton was very successful in preaching for children, and was called "The Prince of Preachers to the young" by no less than Charles H. Spurgeon. Several volumes of his sermons for children were published from the late 1840s through the early 1860s.

US: Priority (c.2-4 days) ----------- $9.50
Canada: Priority (c.2-6 weeks) ---- $29.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) ----- $40.50