"In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries this work was the most universally read English book on devotion next to Pilgrim's Progress. Bunyan himself ascribes the commencement of his spiritual life in some measure to the perusal of this practical handbook on piety... First published in the early 1600's... by 1792, (it was in) its seventy-first English edition... (It has) appeared in most European languages, including Dutch (1620), French (1625), German (1692), and Polish (1647).

New England Puritans even translated it into the Indian language used in Massachusetts (1665)... Bayly's puritan convictions brought him into frequent conflict... in 1621 he was imprisoned for some months for his aversion to the infamous Book of Sports, and for other minor charges... Bayly's Practice of Piety is replete with practical, Puritan guidelines on the pursuit of holy living.

The author commences his work with 'a plain description of God [in] his essence, person, and attributes.' He treats the doctrines of God as a basis for piety and divine grace as a ground for every grace which we sinners need. The remainder of the volume deals with the reasons for, and the conditions and objectives of piety...

In short, this is a book about how to live well and how to die well... Read The Practice of Piety slowly, meditatively, prayerfully, and, I would recommend annually. Ask yourself repeatedly, 'Am I putting this wise spiritual director's scriptural advice into practice? Am I pursuing holiness -- that holiness without which no man shall please God or be received into the eternal glories of a holy heaven?'" (Joel Beeke).

Here is a sample of Bayly's writing, "But God was more displeased with Cain for despairing of his mercy, than for murdering his brother; and with Judas for hanging himself, than for betraying his master: in that they would make the sins of mortal men greater than the infinite mercy of the eternal God; or as if they could be more sinful, than God was merciful: whereas the least drop of Christ's blood is of more merit to procure God's mercy for thy salvation, than all the sins that thou hast committed can be of force to provoke his wrath to thy damnation" (The Practice of Piety, pp. 294-295).