A
SERIOUS CALL TO A DEVOUT AND HOLY LIFE
By
WILLIAM LAW, A.M.
Title page.
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 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.
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