William Law: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, The Spirit of Love
Overview
Often called the greatest of the Post-Reformation English mystics, William Law’s (1686–1761) writings, included in this volume, reflect his genius of literary style and religious devotion. His writings have long been studied and have influenced countless worshippers. This volume presents several of his works for a modern audience.
For a massive collection including over a hundred and twenty of the volumes in this series, see the Classics of Western Spirituality Bundle (126 vols.).
Key Features
- A prime example of classic English mysticism
- Fully integrates and cross references with other resources from your Logos library
- Allows all interested in studying literary forms of Post-Reformation England access to primary sources
Top Highlights
“The true Christian is devout, striving to live a life wholly devoted to God, through humility and renunciation returning to Paradise.” (Page 2)
“Reform in a spiritual sense involves recovery of humanity’s lost integrity and innocence, that which was ours before Adam’s fall.” (Page 1)
“‘the infinite love, mercy and compassion of God toward fallen man is not purchased or procured for us by the death of Christ, but the Incarnation and sufferings of Christ come from and are given to us by the infinite antecedent love of God for us and are the gracious effects of His own love and goodness towards us’ (p. 433).” (Page 4)
“For any ways of life, any employment of our talents, whether of our parts, our time, or money, that is not strictly according to the will of God, that is not for such ends as are suitable to His glory, are as great absurdities and failings as prayers that are not according to the will of God.” (Page 47)
“And 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 purely because you never thoroughly intended it.” (Page 57)
- Title: William Law: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life; The Spirit of Love
- Author: William Law
- Series: The Classics of Western Spirituality
- Publisher: Paulist Press
- Print Publication Date: 1978
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Pages: 544
- Era: era:modern
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Christian life
- ISBNs: 0809121441, 9780809121441
- Resource ID: LLS:WLLMLWSRSSPRTLV
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-25T21:08:47Z
Reviews
1 rating
Richard
1/12/2023
Williams Laws’ book A SERIOUS CALL TO A DEVOUT AND HOLY LIFE · THE SPIRIT OF LOVE is a book that can stir you up towards holiness. He argues that to do God’s will is the most reasonable and satisfying thing a human being can do. Through characters, he describes how you should live and not life. Which I found an interesting manner to grab my attention. Law is extremely passionate in his book about holiness, he also gives strong insides on, how to practically live more holy. Sometimes his feels a bit dualistic in which the body stands far beneath the soul. As he sees food as something which is strictly necessary instead of one of the great enjoyments in life. As food is a great theme in the Holy Scriptures. He also gives instructions on when and what to pray at certain hours of the day. This he connects with the Biblical times which was a new concept for me. Next, the Spermatikos Logos (σπερματικός λόγος) Justin Martyr came to my mind, in the manner how he spoke concerning the philosophers of the past. “The youths that attended upon Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, and Epictetus were thus educated. Their everyday lessons and instructions were so many lectures upon the nature of man, his true end and the right use of his faculties, upon the immortality of the soul, its relation to God, the beauty of virtue and its agreeableness to the divine nature; upon the dignity of reason, the necessity of temperance, fortitude, and generosity, and the shame and folly of indulging our passions.1 1 Law, W. (1978). William Law: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life; The Spirit of Love (P. G. Stanwood & R. J. Payne, Eds.; p. 249). Paulist Press.” This book is worth to be read, however some theology in it, I put my question marks on. Probably this book is more suited for Christians with a proper Theological understanding. Still, it is always important to remember that more holiness in our lives, is always pleasing to the triune holy God. Added to that, holy living is something which is often more complex than most books and (popular) preachers try to convince us of. A final quote from Law: “We are all of us, for the most part, corruptly educated and then committed to take our course in a corrupt world, so that it is no wonder if examples of great piety are so seldom seen.2” 2 Ibid., p. 248). Let’s read and learn to be more devoted unto the Living God.