DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3689#0002
Prefatory Advertisement.
A Serious Call
to A
Devout and Holy Life.
THE SERIOUS CALL to a Devout and Holy Life,
is William Law's fifth work in the order of publi-
cation, printed in the year 1729, when he was about
forty-three years of age. It was written by him
during the early portion of his ten years' residence
with the Gibbon family at Putney, with whom he resided in the
capacity of Spiritual Director, and by whom, as most readers
know, he was greatly esteemed.
The ' Serious Call' is the most widely and generally known
of all William Law's works ; and is undoubtedly his fame-
piece : if not, as some think in a certain sense, his master-
piece. It has passed through some hundreds of editions by
various Publishers, from the year of its publication to the present
time; and has, more than any other religious work, attracted—
as it will ever continue to do—the notice and admiration, and
its precepts the emulation, of successive generations of the
wisest and best among men. Of such, various authoritative
opinions have been quoted, in acknowledgment and support of
the great excellence of this work: which excellence, the most
ordinary reader may at once by its perusal, discern for himself.
It is supposed that the Character of ' Paternus ' described in
this work, was that of William Law's father; and that
' Eusebia' represented his widowed-mother; but this is mere
conjecture: both portraits, as that of Ouranius'—which is like-
wise supposed to be William Law himself—being, more pro-
bably, ideals of his own. These and other ' Characters,' are
cleverly and humorously described—in particular that of ' Mun-
danus,' who ' has made a great figure in business,' which he has
carried to its greatest improvement and perfection. ' The only
' one thing which has not fallen under his improvement nor re-
1 ceived any benefit from his judicious mind, is his devotion.
A Serious Call
to A
Devout and Holy Life.
THE SERIOUS CALL to a Devout and Holy Life,
is William Law's fifth work in the order of publi-
cation, printed in the year 1729, when he was about
forty-three years of age. It was written by him
during the early portion of his ten years' residence
with the Gibbon family at Putney, with whom he resided in the
capacity of Spiritual Director, and by whom, as most readers
know, he was greatly esteemed.
The ' Serious Call' is the most widely and generally known
of all William Law's works ; and is undoubtedly his fame-
piece : if not, as some think in a certain sense, his master-
piece. It has passed through some hundreds of editions by
various Publishers, from the year of its publication to the present
time; and has, more than any other religious work, attracted—
as it will ever continue to do—the notice and admiration, and
its precepts the emulation, of successive generations of the
wisest and best among men. Of such, various authoritative
opinions have been quoted, in acknowledgment and support of
the great excellence of this work: which excellence, the most
ordinary reader may at once by its perusal, discern for himself.
It is supposed that the Character of ' Paternus ' described in
this work, was that of William Law's father; and that
' Eusebia' represented his widowed-mother; but this is mere
conjecture: both portraits, as that of Ouranius'—which is like-
wise supposed to be William Law himself—being, more pro-
bably, ideals of his own. These and other ' Characters,' are
cleverly and humorously described—in particular that of ' Mun-
danus,' who ' has made a great figure in business,' which he has
carried to its greatest improvement and perfection. ' The only
' one thing which has not fallen under his improvement nor re-
1 ceived any benefit from his judicious mind, is his devotion.