Psalms with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Readers may assume that both of these texts are simply functional transmissions of doctrine and discipline, representing a narrow and dogmatic religious culture of merely antiquarian interest. Harasztis, the enigma of the bay psalm book, 1956, p.
For the riches of true knowledge and heavenly wisdom, are here set open for us, to take. The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the. The bay psalm book richard mather, john eliot, thomas. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620.
The bay psalm book preface first reformed presbyterian. As an electroniconly publication offered as a downloadable pdf, the digital bay psalm book takes advantage of digital technology to offer meticulously. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first english settlers landed at plymouth rock. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago.
Psalm 23 bay psalm book, 1698, by john playford 16231686. What is the bay psalm book but did you know that the bay psalm book was first printed in the colonies in 1640 and in reissues remained in use for over 100 years. Being a fascimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640, wilberforce eames. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing scripture psalmes in the churches of god.
The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. According to many researchers it was ezra, the priest and scribe, himself who completed the final collection of the psalms ezra 3. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. Published 1903 by prepared for the new england society in the city of new york in new york. The following is the preface to the bay psalm book. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived for instance, old 100th. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a century and a half after the first gutenberg bibles and 20 years after the pilgrims had landed at plymouth. The first page of the pdf of this article appears above. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. Originally, the colonys residents looked to a committee of thirty men led by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather to translate all 150 psalms from hebrew into english. The edition of this facsimile reprint of the bay psalm book is limited to.
Forgotten and lost books of the bible, 1611 kjv apocrypha and other lost scriptures understand the language of parables of christ by robert ferrell, free mp3s, free pdf s, and videos. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. The mystique of the bay psalm book this is the auction catalogue from 1947the last time a bay psalm book was seen at auction. The first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday. The new psalm book was adopted at once by nearly every congregation in the colony of massachusetts bay, and for that reason it came to be known as the bay psalm book. The main thing you need to know right now about the bay psalm book is that a copy of it is up for public sale for the first time since 1947.
Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Its a translation of the old testament book of psalms, valuable for its rarity and because it was printed in 1640, the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Join david redden director, special projects, and s. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. As an electroniconly publication offered as a downloadable pdf, the digital bay psalm book takes advantage of digital technology to offer. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. The congregationalist puritans who emigrated to massachusetts bay in search of religious freedom quickly set about to translate and produce a version of the book of psalms that was a closer paraphrase of. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. The bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640. The first edition of the resulting bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, and sothebys will auction one of the 11.
The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective. The 1700 copies of the first edition provided puritans with a plain and familiar translation designed to represent more faithfully the hebrew psalms than did the version used by the. The bay psalm book preface the singing of psalms breathes out nothing but holy harmony and melody. The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the first book printed on angloamerican soil. Psalms 7 clearly refers to the babylonian captivity. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american religious history. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Institute for studies in american music, department of music, school of performing arts, brooklyn college of the city. Introduction by wilberforce eames reprinted original t. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history.
Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The wide range of sources are indicated by just a few examples of entries. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. The book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking a. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. A revised and enlarged edition, under the title of the psalms hymns and spiritual songs of the old and. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in plymouth in 1620, the magnitude of the effort and. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullness.
Although tradition has it that david regulated the liturgy just as he composed all the psalms, it is more likely that the levites the sons of asaph and yedutun who were. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english meter. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. The singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. As the antinomian or free grace controversy illustrated, new england puritans were far from unanimous on doctrinal issueseven psalmsinging, according to the bay psalm book preface, had become a source of discord. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts.
Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. Music of the ainsworth psalter and bay psalm book carleton sprague smith. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, wilberforce eames the bay psalm book. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Nov 27, 20 its a translation of the old testament book of psalms, valuable for its rarity and because it was printed in 1640, the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The bay psalm book library and museum religion and belief.
The bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a century and a half after the first gutenberg bibles and 20 years after the pilgrims had landed at plymouth. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. The bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first book length publication in. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america.
Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse.
Introduction first edition of the bay psalm book, or new england version of the psalms, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, has the distinction of being the first book printed in. Book printed material the vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. Jan 29, 2017 the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first book length publication in the north american colonies. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england. The decision to print a book of psalms metered for singing may seem an odd choice as the first book to be printed by the settlers of massachusetts bay, but this modest book served the larger purpose of the colonyto live within the reformed church. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Psalm 98 bay psalm book, 1640, by thomas ravenscroft ca. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. Jean ferguson carr classroom issues and strategies. This is a good example of the puritan notion of exclusive psalmody singing just the psalms.
As an electroniconly publication offered as a downloadable pdf, the digital bay psalm book takes advantage of digital technology to offer meticulously rendered photographs of the 7. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The bay psalm book and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. The bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein.
Today, only eleven copies are still in existence and fetch as much as fourteen million dollars at auction, making it also the most expensive book in the world. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. First book printed in what is now the united states. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. The bay psalm book is a religious and cultural manifesto of the puritan fathers and a towering icon of the founding of the united states. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The book of psalms is the first and main book of the third part of the hebrew bible, of the writings hebr. Title from the bay psalm book, a facsim, reprint of the first ed. The bay psalm book the bay psalm book, wilberforce eames the bay psalm book.