FIRST DUTCH TRANSLATION

BIFIELD (BYFELD, NICHOLAS).

Gulde regelen van een heyligh leven, of Een tractaet vervattende de heylighe regieringe onses levens in de Schiftuere voor-geschreven

Amsterdam, Johannes van Someren, 1656.

8vo. In the original blank wrappers. Small paper label pasted on to top of spine (Inventory number in Valdemar's Castle's library). Missing upper part of spine. Extremities slightly miscoloured. Leaf A7 and A8 missing lower half of leaf, otherwise internally nice and clean. (10), 150, (20) pp.

Rare first Dutch translation of Byfeld’s “Golden Rules of a Holy Life” provides guidelines for leading a devout and holy life based on the precepts found in the Bible.

Nicholas Byfield (1579–1622) was a prominent religious figure in England during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, known for his Calvinistic Puritan beliefs. He was born in Warwickshire around 1579, and although he attended Oxford University, he didn't graduate. Instead, he became a preacher and was initially bound for Ireland but ended up staying in Chester due to his popularity as a preacher there. In 1611, Byfield became involved in a controversy regarding Sabbath observance when a young man he had instructed, John Brerewood, refused to work on Sundays based on Byfield's teachings. This sparked a debate between Byfield and Edward Brerewood, John's uncle, which was later published as "A Learned Treatise of the Sabaoth" in 1630. In 1615, Byfield became the vicar of Isleworth, where he served diligently until his death in 1622 at the age of around 43. He suffered from kidney stones for many years, which ultimately contributed to his death. Byfield was survived by his wife Elizabeth and at least eight children, one of whom was named Adoniram. (See DNB).

Order-nr.: 61707