Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

William Law's masterpiece of Anglican spirituality emerged from his conviction that the Church of England had grown complacent in its pursuit of holiness. Writing in 1729 as a nonjuring clergyman who had forfeited his career prospects by refusing to swear allegiance to the Hanoverian monarchy, Law possessed both the independence and urgency to challenge the lukewarm Christianity he observed around him. The work addresses itself to all Christians, but particularly those of comfortable circumstances who had settled into a merely nominal faith.

Law constructs his argument around the premise that Christian devotion must penetrate every aspect of daily life, not merely Sunday worship or private prayer. He systematically dismantles the notion that secular and sacred spheres can be separated, insisting that true religion transforms how one conducts business, manages money, treats servants, chooses entertainment, and even approaches sleep and meals. Through a series of vivid character sketches, Law presents both positive and negative examples: the worldly Flavia who wastes her wealth on fashion while neglecting the poor, contrasted with the saintly Miranda who lives simply and gives generously. These portraits serve not as mere moral illustrations but as mirrors in which readers must examine their own lives.

The book's central theological claim rests on the idea that reason itself, properly employed, leads inevitably to a life of complete dedication to God. Law argues that since God created and redeems human beings, logic demands that every thought, word, and action should be oriented toward divine glory. This is not fanaticism but the only reasonable response to reality. He provides detailed guidance for structuring daily prayer, approaching work as vocation, practicing self-denial, and cultivating humility. His treatment of prayer particularly emphasizes regularity and intentionality, proposing specific times and methods for devotional practice.

Enduring Influence

The Serious Call shaped evangelical spirituality for generations, profoundly influencing both John Wesley and George Whitefield during their Oxford years. Wesley credited Law with teaching him the necessity of pursuing Christian perfection, though he later criticized Law's insufficient emphasis on justification by faith. The work's impact extended far beyond Methodism, affecting Anglican evangelicals, Puritan descendants in New England, and even secular writers like Samuel Johnson, who called it the finest piece of hortatory theology in English. Law's integration of mystical devotion with practical ethics created a template for serious Christian living that transcended denominational boundaries.

Who should read this: Christians seeking to move beyond casual faith to intentional discipleship will find Law's challenges both convicting and clarifying, though readers committed to maintaining sharp distinctions between spiritual and secular life may find his demands excessive. Modern believers struggling with materialism and distraction will recognize their own temptations in Law's eighteenth-century portraits.