Derech Chochmah by the Ramchal – First Edition – Amsterdam, 1783

Derech Chochmah by the Ramchal – First Edition – Amsterdam, 1783
Derech Chochmah, by R. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto – the Ramchal. Amsterdam, [1783]. First edition.
The book includes four compositions by the Ramchal, printed here for the first time (individual title page for each work): Derech Chochmah – clarification of the purpose of life, the way of attaining it and the correct course of study (presented as a dialogue between a teacher and his disciple); Maamar al HaHaggadot – the correct approach to aggadic literature; Maamar HaIkarim – explanation of general topics: Torah and mitzvot, prophecy and providence, reward and punishment, and more; Maamar HaChochmah – explanation of Rosh Hashanah prayers, Passover seder, reincarnation and kabbalistic principles.
The book was brought to print by R. Betzalel Binyamin Meili HaKohen, some forty years after the passing of the author, based on a manuscript in the possession of R. David Franco-Mendes. Foreword and poem in honor of the author on p. [5b], by Franco-Mendes.
R. Moshe Chaim son of R. Yaakov Chai Luzzatto – the Ramchal (1707-1746), a leading Torah scholar of all generations, an exceptional, G-dly kabbalist, who benefitted from revelations of Eliyahu HaNavi and angels – Maggidim from heaven, whose teachings he recorded in his book Zohar Tinyana (second Zohar). He authored Mesillat Yesharim and many other compositions on Kabbalah and ethics. Despite the polemic surrounding him in his times, the Ramchal was accepted throughout the Jewish world. Reputedly, the Gaon of Vilna stated that had the Ramchal been alive in his times, he would have walked on foot all the way to Italy to greet him. The Maggid of Mezeritch attested that the Ramchal's generation was not worthy of grasping the extent of his righteousness and asceticism (publisher's foreword to Klach Pitchei Chochma, Korets 1785). His book Mesillat Yesharim is the most widely studied musar text in Batei Midrash today.
Fine copy, with ornamented leather binding.
Inscription at top of first title page: "Sumbel סונבאלl 1788". Many markings and several glosses (including lengthy glosses) throughout the book.
[5], 5; [1], 3; [1], 7; [1], 10 leaves. 17.5 cm. Good condition. Stains. Marginal wear and creases to some leaves. Old, gilt-decorated leather binding, with new leather spine (binding restored and book rebound).