A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life
by
William Law
Table of Contents
About This Book
TitlePage
Chapter I. Concerning the nature and extend 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
glory
Chapter 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 great
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 Flavia
Chapter 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 XII. The happiness of a life wholly devoted to God
farther proved, from the vanity, the sensuality, and the ridiculous
poor enjoyments, which they are forced to take up with who live
according to their own humours. This represented in various
characters
Chapter XIII. That not only a life of vanity, or sensuality,
but even the most regular kind of life, that is not governed by
great devotion, sufficiently shows its miseries, its wants and
emptiness, to the eyes of all the world. This represented in
various characters
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
Chapter 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 devotions at nine o'clock in the
morning, called in Scripture the third hour of the day. The subject
of these prayers is humility
Chapter XVII. Showing how difficult the practice of humility
is made, by the general spirit and temper of the world. How
Christianity requireth us to live contrary to the
world
Chapter XVIII. Showing how the education which men generally
receive in their youth makes the doctrines of humility difficult to
be practised. The spirit of a better education represented in the
character of Paternus
Chapter XIX. Showing how the method of educating daughters
makes it difficult for them to enter into the spirit of Christian
humility. How miserably they are injured and abused by such an
education. The spirit of a better education, represented in the
character of Eusebia
Chapter XX. Recommending devotion at twelve o'clock, called
in Scripture the sixth hour of the day. This frequency of devotion
equally desirable by all orders of people. Universal love is here
recommended to be the subject of prayer at this hour. Of
intercession, as an act of universal love
Chapter XXI. Of the necessity and benefit of intercession,
considered as an exercise of universal love. How all orders of men
are to pray and intercede with God for one another. How naturally
such intercession amends and reforms the hearts of those that use
it.
Chapter XXII. Recommending devotion at three o'clock, called
in Scripture the ninth hour of the day. The subject of prayer at
this hour is resignation to the Divine pleasure. The nature and
duty of conformity to the will of God, in all our actions and
designs
Chapter XXIII. Of evening prayer. Of the nature and
necessity of examination. How we are to be particular in the
confession of all our sins. How we are to fill our minds with a
just horror and dread of all sin
Chapter XXIV. The conclusion. Of the excellency and
greatness of a devout spirit
Appendix A. From the Introduction to the Methuen edition, by
C. Bigg, DD
Appendix B. From the Introduction to the Dent Everyman
edition
Appendix C. The electronic edition
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