joshg2fl's Full Review: William Law - A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy ...
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life handcuffs you to a wooden chair, shines bright lights in your face, and grills you. “Examine your life”, it says, “changes need to be made.” As you read you see that William Law is on to something. His point - If you’re choosing to follow the truths of the Bible, you might as well follow them 100%. Over the course of Law’s 316 pages he sweeps his magic wand over your physical and spiritual life and helps point out what your weak areas are.
The first thing on Law’s checklist for holy living is consistency. His issue is with the type of people who claim one thing on Sunday morning and live in an opposite manner the other six days of the week. He tries to point out the absurdity of that mindset. Here is how Law puts it:
If we were to see a man pretending to act wholly with regard to God in everything that he did, that would neither spend time nor money, nor take any labor or diversion, but so far as he could act according to strict principles of reason and piety and yet at the same time neglect all prayer, whether public or private, should we not be amazed at such a man and wonder how he could have so much folly along with so much religion?
For it is as great an absurdity to suppose holy prayers and Divine petitions, without a holiness of life suitable to them, as to suppose a holy and Divine life without prayers.
Basically what Law is saying (in case I caught you skimming) is that we should think it just as hypocritical to imagine a pastor that doesn’t pray as to imagine a person who prays (and, I’ll throw in ‘goes to church’) and then lies or steals at work.
This introductory concept in A Serious Call is typical of most of Law’s arguments in the book. They are simple concepts, but spoken in a way that force the reader to think deeper about the issues at hand. I think this is why A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life is still around today over 275 years after it was written (first publishing date was 1728).
Two devices show up frequently in the book. One, Law uses this act of comparison that I used as an example above. He’ll say something to the effect of: “Observe the hypocrisy of obeying ‘A’ and ignoring ‘B’”.
Another example… A = ”observing good works” B = “spending money”…..
For if it is necessary to do good works, as far as you are able, it must be as necessary to renounce those needless ways of spending money which render you unable to do works of charity.
The other device that shows up frequently is the use of stories. Law will tell the story of an aptly named character who illustrates the point he is trying to make. This works well, because it gives the reader a chance to get a double dose of what Law has already said in the chapter without feeling like Law is repeating himself.
The obvious problem most people will have with the book is that Law calls for a life of perfection, this leads toward a bit of a legalism by almost everyone’s standards today. But, it’s sort of like your Grandfather telling you, “Son, you really should get to bed now, it’s getting close to 9:30.” You just sort of smile and understand that he wants what is best for you. There aren’t any hard feelings, but…you don’t have any plans of heading to bed.
It’s that way with William Law. He makes some pretty bold, concrete statements, but I don’t remember them for too long, because in the next paragraph my highlighter is out splashing yellow all over the place.
My biggest problem with the book was the fact that he calls for this life of perfection because he believes that heaven is out of the question without it. Of course, this is the big gulf between Catholicism and Protestantism; so, I’m not going to spend my last few paragraphs trying to tackle the issue.
…but, since I’m not Catholic…and, since I’m the author here…I guess I can spend a paragraph propagating my views. Here’s what William Law says: "It seems plain that our salvation depends upon the sincerity and perfection of our endeavors to obtain it.” (pg 21)
Okay, my paragraph starts here instead. My first thought is…with this standard how can anyone make it into heaven? My second thought is that this seems like a fairly man-centered theology. If I’m focused on working to stay out of hell, then the focus keeps coming back to me; my situation, my state, “have I made it out of hell yet?”. But, if I can comprehend the awfulness of my sin, the love of God in Christ’s death and resurrection, and the splendor of God’s grace in offering us eternal life…then, I’m provoked to a life of holiness in a manner that is dedicated/focused on what God has done.
Well, maybe in merely a paragraph I don’t do anyone justice. Regardless, Law is a “work for your salvation” type of guy, and for some people (myself included) that’s a big issue. On the other hand, the lifestyle that sprouts from Law’s beliefs is highly commendable and it’s my opinion that no one should shy away from this book based on salvation theology. The “devout and serious life” that Law calls for is something that all folks intent on perfecting their faith (for whatever motives) will be interested in.
Law offers us hundreds of thought provoking ideas. He gives us an outline of how to live our day in a fashion that causes us to think on God at all times. He gives us a very worthwhile example of how a person can improve their prayer life. But, perhaps the most helpful aspect of the book is spending time with a person so dedicated to a life fully focused on God. This wears off on you, and while you won’t leave the book desiring to adopt all of Law’s ideas, you will likely leave the book with an urgent sense to spend your life more profitably.
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life is worth any Christian’s time and effort to get through. I’m not promising that every page will inspire a changed life, but the book brought together as a whole will make you want to take your life more seriously.
--------------
Here are a few quotes from the book as an example of some of Law’s thoughts:
“Would we therefore make a real progress in religion, we must not only abhor gross and notorious sins, but we must regulate the innocent and lawful parts of our behavior and put the most common and allowed actions of life under the rules of discretion and piety.” (pg. 66)
“Let us but intend to see and hear, and then the whole world becomes a book of wisdom and instruction to us.” (pg. 134)
“A man is not to be reasonable and holy because he is a priest, or a father of a family; but he is to be a pious priest, and a good father, because piety and goodness are the laws of human nature.” (pg. 92)
“You would think it very absurd, for a man not to value his own health because he was not a physician; nor the preservation of his limbs because he was not a bonesetter. Yet it is more absurd for you, Claudius, to neglect the improvement of your soul in piety because you are not an Apostle or a bishop.” (pg. 243)
------------------------------
You can read this book on the internet at:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/law/serious_call.html
This devotional classic, written by William Law, an eloquent religious teacher of the eighteenth century, was designed to prod indifferent Christians ...More at Christianbook.com
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.