A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy LifeHendrickson Publishers, 2021 M12 14 - 333 páginas Originally published in 1728 at the beginning of the Enlightenment when rational criticism of religious belief was at its peak, William Law’s work succeeded in inspiring the most cynical men of the age with its arguments in favor of a spiritual life. Proclaiming that God does not merely forgive our disobedience, but directly calls us to obedience and to a life completely centered in him, Law declares, “If you will here stop and ask yourself why you are not as pious as the primitive Christians were, your own heart will tell you that it is neither through ignorance nor inability, but because you never thoroughly intended it.” Law’s prose is packed with vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes that both reveal what it means to lead a Christian life and unmask the perversion of Christian tenets by secular and spiritual establishments. This challenge of conventional piety and emphasis on Christian perfection directly influenced literary critic Samuel Johnson and historian Edward Gibbon, as well as Cardinal John Henry Newman. John Wesley called Law’s work one of three books that accounted for his first “explicit resolve to be all devoted to God.” Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Henry Venn, William Wilberforce, and Thomas Scott each described reading the book as a major turning point in his life. William Law (1686-1761) was educated at Cambridge, took a teaching position there, and was also ordained in the Church of England. He lost his access to university venues and the parish ministry when he was unable to swear allegiance to the Hanoverian dynasty that replaced the Stuarts as the rulers of Great Britain. Although forbidden the use of pulpit and lecture hall, he preached through his books, including Christian Perfection, The Grounds and Reasons of Christian Regeneration, Spirit of Prayer, and Spirit of Love. |
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... and fortune, is no greater a mistake, than to be weak and foolish in relation to our prayers. And to allow ourselves in any ways of life that neither are, nor can be offered to God, is the same irreligion, as to neglect.
... and fortune, is no greater a mistake, than to be weak and foolish in relation to our prayers. And to allow ourselves in any ways of life that neither are, nor can be offered to God, is the same irreligion, as to neglect.
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... greater sign of a heathen temper. And, consequently, they who add devotion to such a life, must be said to pray as Christians, but live as heathens. Notes [1]. Julius: the suggestion is, that Caesar is the worldly power, as opposed to ...
... greater sign of a heathen temper. And, consequently, they who add devotion to such a life, must be said to pray as Christians, but live as heathens. Notes [1]. Julius: the suggestion is, that Caesar is the worldly power, as opposed to ...
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... greater than his brethren, or remove him from a shop to a life of state and pleasure; but he will consider what arts, what methods, what application can make worldly business most acceptable to God, and make a life of trade a life of ...
... greater than his brethren, or remove him from a shop to a life of state and pleasure; but he will consider what arts, what methods, what application can make worldly business most acceptable to God, and make a life of trade a life of ...
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... greater punishment, than for a man to be thrown into the state that I am in, to reflect upon it.” Penitens was here going on, but had his mouth stopped by a convulsion, which never suffered him to speak any more. He lay convulsed about ...
... greater punishment, than for a man to be thrown into the state that I am in, to reflect upon it.” Penitens was here going on, but had his mouth stopped by a convulsion, which never suffered him to speak any more. He lay convulsed about ...
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... greater damnation. Take away this from tradesmen, and shops are but so many houses of greediness and filthy lucre. Take away this from gentlemen, and the course of their life becomes a course of sensuality, pride, and wantonness. Take ...
... greater damnation. Take away this from tradesmen, and shops are but so many houses of greediness and filthy lucre. Take away this from gentlemen, and the course of their life becomes a course of sensuality, pride, and wantonness. Take ...
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A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life ; The Spirit of Love William Law Vista previa limitada - 1978 |
Términos y frases comunes
according actions affected Angels appear better Blessed body called carry charity Christ Christian clothes common condition consider contrary course creatures death desire devotion Divine doctrines dress drink duty eternal everything excellence exercise eyes follow folly fortune founded friends give glory greater greatest hands happiness heart Heaven heavenly highest holy hour human humility indulgence instances intend kind labor lawful live look Lord manner matter means mind nature necessary necessity neglect never obliged observe ourselves particular passions perfection perform persons piety pious plain pleasures poor practice praise pray prayers pride proper raise reason receive relation religion render repentance requires rules Scripture sense singing sins soul spirit suppose surely tell tempers things thoughts true turn unto vanity virtue whole wisdom wise worldly