Dominium temporale non fundatur in gratia (Commencement Quaestiones), 1697 July 7

Small paper notebook of John Ballantine with the handwritten Latin quaestiones performed by Ballantine, Eliphalet Adams, Adam Winthrop, and Jabez Fitch as candidates for the Master’s degree during the July 7, 1697 Harvard Commencement ceremony. The Quaestiones begin with Ballantine’s “Dominum temporal non fundatur in gratia,” and follow with “An Jesuitae possint esse boni subditi? Neg Resp. Dom. Winthrop,” "An Ethnicae virtutes sint verae virtutes?" Neg. Resp. Dom. Adams,” and “An detur omnibus an sufficiens ad salutem? Neg. Resp. Dom. Fitch.” The title page bears the inscription: “Jno Ballantine’s Book” and the first page has been torn out.

John Ballantine (ca. 1677-1735), a Boston civil servant, was baptized in the First Church of Boston on May 6, 1677. He received an AB from Harvard in 1694, and an AM in 1697. The Harvard Commencement exercises for the Master’s degree included the Quaestiones, a single question chosen by each candidate, to be discussed in the affirmative or negative. Ballantine, along with three other classmates, publicly delivered his Quaestiones during the July 7, 1697 ceremony. After graduation, Ballantine participated in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, and in 1708 was promoted to lieutenant. He served in the Port Royal Campaign of 1710. From 1710 to 1714, Ballantine acted as Boston town scavenger, before being appointed clerk of the Superior Court of Common Pleas. In 1716, he was also became Register of Deeds for Suffolk County. Ballantine served in both positions until his death on January 2, 1735.

The 1697 Commencement Quaestiones broadside is available in Commencement Theses, Quaestiones, and Orders of Exercises, 1642-1818. HUC 6642, Harvard University Archives.