Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life
This examination of the Christian life constitutes one of the most remarkable books of devotion ever written. William Law's book dates from 1728, a decade before England's great evangelical revival, during which it exercised a significant influence on the movement's leaders. A Serious Call has been praised by readers as varied as Samuel Johnson, Edward Gibbon, and John Wesley. "If Mr. Law finds a spark of piety in a reader's mind, he will soon kindle it into a flame," declared Gibbon, and Wesley pronounced Law's work as one of the books that formed his "explicit resolve to be all devoted to God." Three hundred years after its initial publication, this volume continues to win accolades from modern readers who appreciate its guidelines on prayer, personal holiness, and charity. Simple but profound, it features brief chapters that make it particularly suitable for daily devotions
Early works
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9781306327497, 9780486320786, 1306327490, 0486320782
868278996
Print version:
Cover Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; General Introduction to the Series by the Bishop of London; Preface to Law's Serious Call by Canon Overton; Contents; CHAPTER I. Concerning the nature and extent of Christian devotion; CHAPTER II. An inquiry into the reason, why the generality of Christians fall so far short of the holiness and devotion of Christianity; CHAPTER III. Of the great danger and folly of not intending to be as eminent and exemplary as we can, in the practice of all Christian virtues. CHAPTER IV. We can please God in no state, or employment of life, but by intending and devoting it all to His honour and gloryCHAPTER V. Persons that are free from the necessity of labour and employments, are to consider themselves as devoted to God in a higher degree; CHAPTER VI. Containing the great obligations, and the advantages of making a wise and religious use of our estates and fortunes; CHAPTER VII. How the imprudent use of an estate corrupts all the tempers of the mind, and fills the heart with poor and ridiculous passions through the whole course of life. Represented in the character of FlaviaCHAPTER VIII. How the wise and pious use of an estate naturally carrieth us to great perfection in all the virtues of the Christian life; represented in the character of Miranda; CHAPTER IX. Containing some reflections upon the life of Miranda, and showing how it may, and ought to, be imitated by all her sex; CHAPTER X. Showing how all orders and ranks of men and women of all ages are obliged to devote themselves unto God; CHAPTER XI. Showing how great devotion fills our lives with the greatest peace and happiness that can be enjoyed in this world. CHAPTER XIV. Concerning that part of devotion which relates to times and hours of prayer. Of daily early prayer in the morning. How we are to improve our forms of prayer, and how to increase the spirit of devotion, 143CHAPTER XV. Of chanting or singing of Psalms in our private devotions. Of the excellency and benefit of this kind of devotion. Of the great effects it hath upon our hearts. Of the means of performing it in the best manner; CHAPTER XVI. Recommending devotion at nine o'clock in the morning, called in Scripture the third hour of the day. The subject of these prayers is humility
English