A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

William Law

Westminster John Knox Press, Jan 1, 1955 - Religion - 158 pages

This devotional classic, written by William Law, an eloquent religious teacher of the eighteenth century, was designed to prod indifferent Christians into making an honest effort to live up to what they professed to believe. It has been appreciated in every succeeding generation because of its innate vigor and virility.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - booksontrial - LibraryThing

William Law in this work reminds me of Leo Tolstoy in his late writings. Both of them write with a limpid style, both make moral arguments that are undeniably logical and rational, both make severe ...

User Review  - Tuty - Christianbook.com

This reading is beyond my expectations. It stimulates to give thoughts to issues that you would otherwise consider trivial. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Stirs hunger and thirst to go deeper into God.

Contents

• Preface: 11
• The Nature and Extent of Christian Devotion 4: 19
• The Importance of Intention: 21
• The Danger of Not Intending Our Best: 25
• The Way to Please God: 31
• Requirements of the Privileged: 37
• The Wise Use of Our Estates and Fortunes: 42
• The Wrong Use of Our Estates and Fortunes: 47
• Some Effects of the Wise Use of an Estate: 55
• Some Reflections Upon the Life of Miranda: 59
• The Obligations of All Men and Women: 64
• On the Reward of Great Devotion: 71
• On the Inventions of Happiness: 77
• The Emptiness of a Life Not Governed by Devotion: 84
• On the Times and Hours of Prayer: 91
• The Singing of Psalms in Our Private Devotions: 98
• The Virtue and Discipline of Humility: 105
• The Practice of Humility: 110
• The Spirit of a Better Education: 116
• On Educating Our Daughters: 120
• Intercession as an Act of Universal Love: 129
• On the Advantages of Intercession: 135
• The Nature and Duty of Conformity to the Will of God: 140
• The Necessity and Nature of Confession: 147
• The Excellency and Greatness of a Devout Spirit: 152

About the author

William Law (1686-1761) was an influential thinker and writer of the post-Reformation era. Law's most famous work, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, has been read and studied by generations of readers.

Bibliographic information

• Title: A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life; Volume 91 of Everyman's library; Volume 91 of Everyman's library: History; Volume 91 of Everyman's library: Theology & philosophy; Half-title: Everyman's library, ed. by Ernest Rhys. Theology & philosophy. [no. 91]
• Author: William Law
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press, 1955
• ISBN: 0664248330, 9780664248338
• Length: 158 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Christian Life / General; Religion / Devotional; Religion / Prayer