The Works of the Rev. Henry Scougal contains his most well-known work, The Life of God in the Soul of Man, along with nine of Scougal’s discourses. Scougal writes about purity before God and devotion to his will, and he calls his readers toward a life of piety and devotion to God. His writings profoundly affected John and Charles Wesley and George Whitefield—one of the key leaders of the Great Awakening. In fact, Whitefield later wrote of The Life of God in the Soul of Man, “I never knew what true religion was till God sent me this excellent treatise.” Scougal’s Works were also influential in the spread of Methodist revival during the nineteenth century.
Although The Life of God in the Soul of Man was first written for a private audience, Scougal allowed it to be published in 1677—a year before his death. It quickly became a bestselling work, and was reissued five times between 1677 and 1727. In 1735 it was reprinted, and nine discourses added, along with a sermon by George Garden preached at Scougal’s funeral. This combined edition was re-titled The Works of the Rev. Henry Scougal, and it has remained the standard edition of The Life of God in the Soul of Man for nearly three centuries.
The Works of the Rev. Henry Scougal contains the following writings and discourses:
- The Life of God in the Soul of Man
- Nine Discourses
- The Superior Excellency of the Religious
- The Indispensable Duty of Loving Our Enemies
- The Necessity and Advantage of Early Afflictions
- That There Are But a Small Number Saved
- The Duty and Pleasure of Praise and Thanksgiving
- On the Nativity of Our Savior
- On the Passion of Our Savior
- A Preparation for the Holy Sacrament
- On the Importance and Difficulty of the Ministerial Function
- A Sermon Preached at the Funeral of the Rev. Henry Scougal
