The Spirit of Prayer and the Spirit of Love By William Law The mature expression of the theology and religion of the 18th century spiritual thinker. ISBN-13: 9780718891350 Specifications: 216x140mm, 300pp, Paperback Price: £18.00 • US$38.50 Publication: June 2003 Order this Title Now

About this Book

William Law is best remembered today for his Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. To those interested in his spirituality, however, other works have greater impact, in particular The Spirit of Prayer and The Spirit of Love, which are considered the finest and most appealing. In the years in which they were written, his vision had reached its fullest and most characteristic development, and his literary power was at its height. It is in these books that the profound influence of Jacob Boehme can be most clearly seen. His great synthesis of the mystical outpourings and orthodox Christian theology, provide an English spiritual classic.

Law's understanding and interpretation of mysticism was more original than traditional, being dynamic and creative. He believed in the life of God working from within, and the flame of divine love being a link with and an understanding of God. He conceived that mysticism was a matter of life, that relied on willing rather than knowing, and that ultimately rested on trust in God.

Despite holding no official position he was widely regarded in his own time and later as a spiritual guide, and his trilogy The Spirit of Prayer, The Spirit of Love and The Way to Divine Knowledge was the mature expression of his theology and religion.

About the Author

Born at King's Cliffe near Stamford and the son of a grocer, William Law was elected a fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, but, declining to take the oath of allegiance to George I, lost his fellowship. Edward Gibbon made him the tutor of his son, the father of the historian Gibbon, in c.1727 and he remained as an honoured friend of the family in their Putney home until 1740, when he returned to King's Cliffe and became the centre of a small spiritual community which included the historian's aunt Hester.