The Practice of Piety

[Reformed Covenanter]

Does anyone know the year that Lewis Bayly's book The Practice of Piety was first published?

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

I believe it was c. 1611.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

I believe it was c. 1611.

What year did James I son Prince Henry die? Bayly mentions him among one of his pious list of princes in the dedication to Prince Charles (later Charles I).

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

I believe it was c. 1611.

What year did James I son Prince Henry die? Bayly mentions him among one of his pious list of princes in the dedication to Prince Charles (later Charles I).

He died on November 6, 1612.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

I believe it was c. 1611.

What year did James I son Prince Henry die? Bayly mentions him among one of his pious list of princes in the dedication to Prince Charles (later Charles I).

He died on November 6, 1612.

Then the book must have been published after that date as the epistle dedicatory implies that Prince Henry is dead - he is listed along with Edward VI, Queen Elizabeth and so on.

Perhaps it was written in 1611, but published some time later.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

What year did James I son Prince Henry die? Bayly mentions him among one of his pious list of princes in the dedication to Prince Charles (later Charles I).

He died on November 6, 1612.

Then the book must have been published after that date as the epistle dedicatory implies that Prince Henry is dead - he is listed along with Edward VI, Queen Elizabeth and so on.

Perhaps it was written in 1611, but published some time later.

Good point. I think it is known with certainty that the third edition was published in 1613, but I have seen both 1611 and 1612 referenced as possible dates of the first edition. Your point concerning Prince Henry is well taken.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

He died on November 6, 1612.

Then the book must have been published after that date as the epistle dedicatory implies that Prince Henry is dead - he is listed along with Edward VI, Queen Elizabeth and so on.

Perhaps it was written in 1611, but published some time later.

Good point. I think it is known with certainty that the third edition was published in 1613, but I have seen both 1611 and 1612 referenced as possible dates of the first edition. Your point concerning Prince Henry is well taken.

Another thing worth finding out is whether his name should be spelled Baily of Bayly. He uses the former at the end of the dedication.

It is a shame Prince Charlie did not take the dedication to heart...but then how could he take anything seriously that spoke of James I as "your most religious father".

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Oh yes, he does say at the beginning of the dedication that this is his third epistle to Charles. Does that indicate that I am reading the third edition of the book? When I read it initially, I presumed he had written dedications in other books, but perhaps not?

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Moreover, he writes to Charles: "I once again, on my bended knees offer my old mite new stamp, into your Highness hands" which perhaps indicates that this was not the first edition of the book?

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Another thing worth finding out is whether his name should be spelled Baily of Bayly. He uses the former at the end of the dedication.

I'm not sure, I think Bayly is standard today, but I can't say for sure about his own spelling.

It is a shame Prince Charlie did not take the dedication to heart...but then how could he take anything seriously that spoke of James I as "your most religious father".

Agreed. When I read the dedications to some magistrates by some reformers and puritans, and consider the lives they (the magistrates) lead, it can be very sobering.

Oh yes, he does say at the beginning of the dedication that this is his third epistle to Charles. Does that indicate that I am reading the third edition of the book? When I read it initially, I presumed he had written dedications in other books, but perhaps not?

I'm not sure which edition you are reading. I have the SDG edition which is taken from the 1842 edition.

BTW, Joel Beeke wrote the introduction to the SDG edition and he says:

First published in the early 1600s (the exact date is unknown, but was probably 1611), The Practice of Piety was printed in its second edition in 1612 in an amplified form. By 1643 it had reached its thirty-fourth English edition; by 1714, its fifty-first English edition; by 1792, its seventy-first English edition! In 1842 Grace Webster produced an edition with biographical notes.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

In fact he says it is an enlarged edition in the preface to the reader.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Another thing worth finding out is whether his name should be spelled Baily of Bayly. He uses the former at the end of the dedication.

I'm not sure, I think Bayly is standard today, but I can't say for sure about his own spelling.

It is a shame Prince Charlie did not take the dedication to heart...but then how could he take anything seriously that spoke of James I as "your most religious father".

Agreed. When I read the dedications to some magistrates by some reformers and puritans, and consider the lives they (the magistrates) lead, it can be very sobering.

Oh yes, he does say at the beginning of the dedication that this is his third epistle to Charles. Does that indicate that I am reading the third edition of the book? When I read it initially, I presumed he had written dedications in other books, but perhaps not?

I'm not sure which edition you are reading. I have the SDG edition which is taken from the 1842 edition.

BTW, Joel Beeke wrote the introduction to the SDG edition and he says:

First published in the early 1600s (the exact date is unknown, but was probably 1611), The Practice of Piety was printed in its second edition in 1612 in an amplified form. By 1643 it had reached its thirty-fourth English edition; by 1714, its fifty-first English edition; by 1792, its seventy-first English edition! In 1842 Grace Webster produced an edition with biographical notes.

I am reading a PDF of the 1719 edition - which I presume is an update of Bayly's 2nd or 3rd edition - which it would seem was written after Prince Henry's death

 

[christiana]

I found this online and 1611 seems the correct date.

The Practice of Piety

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

I found this online and 1611 seems the correct date.

The Practice of Piety

That would seem to be write for the first edition. The one I am using must be the 2nd or 3rd.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

I saw a copy of the title page of Bayly's Practice of Piety as translated by John Eliot into the Algonquin Indian language (pub. 1665) today in a book I was re-reading.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

I saw a copy of the title page of Bayly's Practice of Piety as translated by John Eliot into the Algonquin Indian language (pub. 1665) today in a book I was re-reading.

We need more good books translated into foreign languages. Think of Brazil and China where there are loads of evangelical believers who would benefit from books like this in their language.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

I saw a copy of the title page of Bayly's Practice of Piety as translated by John Eliot into the Algonquin Indian language (pub. 1665) today in a book I was re-reading.

We need more good books translated into foreign languages. Think of Brazil and China where there are loads of evangelical believers who would benefit from books like this in their language.

I believe besides Algonquin, this work has been translated into French, German, Italian, Polish, Romansh, Welsh, and it deserves to be translated into many more.

BTW, Daniel -- if you haven't read it, you may enjoy Charles E. Hambrick-Stowe's The Practice of Piety: Puritan Devotional Disciplines in Seventeenth-Century New England, which takes it's title from Bayly's work.

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

I saw a copy of the title page of Bayly's Practice of Piety as translated by John Eliot into the Algonquin Indian language (pub. 1665) today in a book I was re-reading.

We need more good books translated into foreign languages. Think of Brazil and China where there are loads of evangelical believers who would benefit from books like this in their language.

I believe besides Algonquin, this work has been translated into French, German, Italian, Polish, Romansh, Welsh, and it deserves to be translated into many more.

BTW, Daniel -- if you haven't read it, you may enjoy Charles E. Hambrick-Stowe's The Practice of Piety: Puritan Devotional Disciplines in Seventeenth-Century New England, which takes it's title from Bayly's work.

Come Over and Help translate some Puritan and Reformed books into the languages of Eastern European nations.

 

[Pilgrim's Progeny]

Can someone tell me a little more about this book or tract? Where can I obtain a copy?

 

[Reformed Covenanter]

Can someone tell me a little more about this book or tract? Where can I obtain a copy?

Soli Deo Gloria republished it some years ago, but copies are now hard to obtain. I will PM you in a moment.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Can someone tell me a little more about this book or tract? Where can I obtain a copy?

Soli Deo Gloria republished it some years ago, but copies are now hard to obtain. I will PM you in a moment.

Daniel may have answered your query already, but you may be interested to read more about the book and its author here at the links below. The Practice of Piety was one of the premier seventeenth century Puritan devotional manuals, and it was instrumental in the conversion of John Bunyan, among others. It is available online (see below) but hard to find in print. I have a couple of copies, but one I'm saving for someone special.

http://www.puritanboard.com/f18/lewis-bayly-18208/
Lewis Bayly - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biography of Lewis Bayly | Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Links and Downloads Manager - Christian Walk Links - The Practice of Piety - The PuritanBoard

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Devotional Book Reviews: The Practice of Piety

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

If anyone happens to own a Dutch edition of this work, be aware that the SSNR is conducting a research project and would like to see a copy of your book:

And group of specialists is conducting a broad investigation into the background, content and influence of the Dutch editions of this work. In dit verband wordt een catalogus gemaakt van alle bekende Nederlandse uitgaven van de Practycke . In this light, a catalogue of all known Dutch editions of the Practycke. Daarvoor is het nodig om zoveel mogelijk exemplaren te bekijken. Therefore it is necessary to get the most copies. Interessant zijn de inscripties van vroegere eigenaren. Interestingly, the inscriptions of previous owners. De edities in de Nederlandse bibliotheken zijn uiteraard al bekend, maar er is minder zicht op de exemplaren die in particulier bezit zijn. The editions in the Dutch libraries are of course already known, but there is less visibility on the sheets in private possession. Voor het onderzoek is het van belang om deze ook te bekijken. For the study, it is important to pass them on to see. Daarom deze oproep om uw exemplaren aan te melden. That is why this call to your copies to sign. Neem daarvoor contact op met drs FW Huisman. Please contact with drs FW Huisman. E-mail: [email protected] of telefoon: 033 2861880.