The Practice of Piety

The Practice of Piety presents the substance of several sermons Lewis Bayly
preached while minister at Eversham. It was made into a devotional manual and
soon became one of the most popular books in England. It was translated into
Welsh, French, Hungarian, Polish, and several other languages.
The Practice of Piety is filled with scriptural and practical guidelines on the
pursuit of holy living. Bayly begins his work with a plain description of God " in His essence, person, and attributes, understanding this to be the basis for " piety; every grace that sinners need springs from the gracious character of
God. He emphasizes the necessity of true faith and holy living, and explains
how to attain and maintain readiness for Christ's second advent. Bayly then
shows how to overcome obstacles to the pious life, stresses how piety is to be
cultivated, and offers wise advice on the spiritual disciplines. He shows how
to guide our thoughts, words, and actions in times of health as well as in
times of sickness and affliction. He even provides directives to protect us
from despair and the fear of death. In short, this is a book about how to live
godly and die well.
Lewis Bayly (ca. 1575-1631) was a graduate of Oxford University, a popular
preacher within the Church of England, and bishop of Bangor, Wales.