Author: [AUSTIN (John)]. [DORRINGTON (Theophilus)]:
Title: Reform'd Devotions, in Meditations, Hymns, and Petitions, For Every Day in the Week, and Every Holiday in the Year. Divided into Two Parts. The Third Edition, Review'd.
Description: London, Printed by H. Clark for Richard Cumberland, at the Angel..., 1693. 12mo, 151 x 89 mms., pp.[xxii], 350, contemporary gilt-panelled sheepskin, spine gilt in compartments; short tear in fore -margin of f3 not reaching text, text a bit fingered, slight overall wear to extremities, but a good copy, with contemporary inscriptions, what looks like "Abuardalora" on the recto of the front free end-paper and "Margarett [ Poews]" on the recto of the next leaf, as well as a note signed and dated "A.S. 18.8.[19]76," abut John Austin and Theophilis Dorrington. Dorrington (1654–1715) went to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, but left without taking a degree, and, as ODNB puts it, "to preach among the presbyertians." Archbishop John Tillotson arranged for him to take up the rectory of Wittersham, Kent, where he spent the rest of his life. John Austin wrote under the pseudonym William Birchley] (1613–1669) and converted to Catholocism in the 1630. "John Austin's importance as a writer is threefold: he played a major part in the contemporary controversies about toleration for Roman Catholics; he produced one of the most influential seventeenth-century books of private devotion; and he wrote a number of hymns that found their way into prayer books of many different denominations" (ODNB). ESTC lists 21 items with this title, 16 attributed to William Birchley and five to Dorrington. This is ESTC R200497, with a different pagination and a note, "A reformation of John Austin's [i.e. William Birchley] Devotions in the ancient way of offices, 1668 (Wing A4248A). Anonymous. By Theophilus Dorrington." Copies in Cambridge, Ely Cathedral, National Library of Wales, Christ Church, Oxford; Colonial Williamsburgy and Huntington in the United States.

Keywords: religion Christianity PROSE


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