The Works of William Law

William Law

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But when the fallen Soul of Man, had awakened in itself, a wrathful, self-tormenting Fire, which could never be put out by itself, which could never be relieved by the natural Power of any Creature whatsoever, then the Son of God, by a Love, greater than that which created the World, became Man, and gave his own Blood, and Life into the fallen Soul, that it might through his Life in it, be raised, quickened, and born again into its first State of inward Peace and Delight, Glory and Perfection, never to be lost any more. Can the World resist such Love as this?

Or can any Man doubt, whether he should open all that is within him, to receive such a Salvation? O unhappy Unbelievers, this Mystery of Love compels me in Love, to call upon you, to beseech and entreat you, to look upon the Christian Redemption in this amiable Light. And from The Letters of William Law 4.

Works published about William Law

Thus it was, and to this end, that "God was in Christ Jesus" in his whole process. Unreasonably therefore have our scholastic systems of the gospel, separated the sacrifice of Christ's death, from the other parts of his process, and considered it as something chiefly done with regard to God, to alter, or atone an infinite wrath, that was raised in God against fallen man, which infinity of just vengeance, or vindictive justice, must have devoured the sinner, unless an infinite satisfaction had been made to it, by the death of Christ.

All this, is in the grossest ignorance of God, of the reason and ground, and effects of Christ's death, and in full contradiction to the express letter of scripture.

William Law

For there we are told, that God is love, and that the infinity of his love was that alone, which showed itself towards fallen man, and wanted to have satisfaction done to it; which love-desire could not be fulfilled, could not be satisfied with anything less than man's full deliverance from all the evil of his fallen state. That love, which has the infinity of God, nay, which is God himself, was so immutably great towards man, though fallen from him, "that he spared not his only begotten Son"; and why did he not spare him?

It was because nothing but the incarnate life of his eternal Son, passing through all the miserable states of lost man, could regenerate his first divine life in him. Can you possibly be told this, in stronger words than these, "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son"; how did he give him? Why, in his whole process.

And to what end did he give him? Why, "that all who believe in him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. Away then with the superstitious dream, of an infinite wrath in God towards poor fallen man, which could never cease, till an infinite satisfaction was made to it.

All scripture denies it, and the light of nature abhors it. The birth, the life, the death of Christ, though so different things, have but one and the same operation, and that operation is solely in man, to drive all evil out of his fallen nature, and delight the heart of God, that desires his salvation. It has high merits of style, being lucid and pointed to a degree.

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Though the least popular, by far the most interesting, original and suggestive of all Law's works are those which he wrote on mysticism in his later years, after he had become an enthusiastic admirer not a disciple of Jacob Boehme, the Teutonic theosophist. From his earliest years he had been deeply impressed with the piety, beauty and thoughtfulness of the writings of the Christian mystics, but it was not till after his, accidental meeting with the works of Boehme, about , that pronounced mysticism appeared in his works.

Law's mystic tendencies divorced him from the practical minded Wesley. William Law saw many changes during his lifetime: Among his many writings, Law wrote polemical tracts, practical devotional books, and, later in his life, mystical reflections. His work influenced some of the greatest minds of the 18th century, including Samuel Johnson, George Whitefield, and John and Charles Wesley.

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An Appeal to all that Doubt the Truths of the Gospel was the last piece he published before his shift toward mysticism nine years later. As well as a devotional book, it serves as a work of apologetics to the lay reader. Law defends the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Just as he emphasizes holy living and obedience to Christ in his published works, so also does Law emphasize it in his everyday affairs.

This particular essay responds to a book promoting deist and rationalist perspectives on Christianity and Christian teaching. Law argues that one cannot reduce Christian faith to mere facts and propositions. This short essay, addressed to deists, argues that God does not merely exist, but that human beings need a relationship with him.

Only being born again into a new life in Christ can vindicate people of their sin. One cannot reduce Christian faith to mere facts and propositions. Law sent his last work, his Address to the Clergy , to the press just a few days before his death in With the mystical passion of his later years, he entreats Christian leaders to focus on the fundamentals of the faith: Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted, to God.

William Law

Originally published in , Law's book stands as a powerful challenge to Christians. Law teaches that if God is "our greatest good," then the wisest way to live is to please God through a life of worship, adoration, and devotion. Since many fail to live this way, Law diagnoses why and suggests certain concrete practices as a remedy.

Thus, no one interested in becoming more devout can ignore this dynamic book. Law's call has encouraged several generations, and does not fail to encourage believers even today with a serious call to a devout and holy life. Influenced by the writings of German mystic, Jacob Boehme, William Law wrote two related works of mysticism: The Spirit of Prayer contains a series of prayers and dialogues which focus on the profound love of God.

The answers to these questions will be given to a great extent in the words of that most surprising product of the English eighteenth century , William Law Law is honoured on 10 April with a feast day on the Calendar of saints , the Calendar of saints Episcopal Church in the United States of America and other Anglican churches. In it Law urges that every day should be viewed as a day of humility.

The Complete Works of William Law (in-1) by William Law

And how does he suggest that we do this? By learning to serve others.

Celebration Of Discipline, p. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This article is about the British theological writer. For other people, see William Law disambiguation. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources.

Catalog Record: The works of the Reverend William Law, M.A. | Hathi Trust Digital Library

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. June Learn how and when to remove this template message. When at Oxford, I took up Law's Serious Call, expecting to find it a dull book as such books generally are , and perhaps to laugh at it. But I found Law quite an overmatch for me; and this was the first occasion of my thinking in earnest of religion after I became capable of rational inquiry. Chatto and Windus

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