William Law (1686 – 1761) was a British author and theologian whose writings have influenced many Christians down through the centuries. His most famous work, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, was widely read all across Europe and is still popular today. This classic urged its readers to reject worldly pursuits and follow a life dedicated to prayer, meditation, and a passion for spiritual matters.
Near the end of his life, Law moved to a remote village, removing himself from public life, so he could focus more on his writings and drawing closer to God. May these quotes below, from this brilliant man of God, fill your heart with a deeper yearning to draw closer to our Lord and make a deeper commitment to pursuing a life of holiness.1
“Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of Him that we are capable of in this life.”
“There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him.”
“If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, it will in the end make no difference what you have chosen instead.”
“God smiles when we praise and thank Him continually. Few things feel better than receiving heartfelt praise and appreciation from someone else. God loves it, too. An amazing thing happens when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God. When we give God enjoyment, our own hearts are filled with joy.”
“Grant that I may worship and pray unto Thee with as much reverence and godly fear, as if I saw the heavens open and all the angels that stand around Thy throne. Amen.”
“Nothing harms or destroys us but the wrong use of that liberty of choice which God has entrusted to us.”
“He who has learned to pray has learned the greatest secret of a holy and happy life.”
“All people desire what they believe will make them happy. If a person is not full of desire for God, we can only conclude that he is engaged with another happiness.”
“Whenever a man allows himself to have anxieties, fears, or complaints, he must consider his behavior as either a denial of the wisdom of God or as a confession that he is out of his will.”
“He who complains of the weather, complains of the God who ordained the weather!”
“Hell is nothing else but nature departed or excluded from the beam of divine light.”
“The greatest saint in the world is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives alms, or is most eminent for temperance, chastity or justice. It is he who is most thankful to God.”
“All that is sweet, delightful, and amiable in this world, in the serenity of the air, the fineness of seasons, the joy of light, the melody of sounds, the beauty of colors, the fragrancy of smells, the splendor of precious stones, is nothing else but Heaven breaking through the veil of this world.”
“If our life is not a course of humility, self-denial, renunciation of the world, poverty of spirit, and heavenly affection, we do not live the lives of Christians.”
“When therefore the first spark of a desire after God arises in thy soul, cherish it with all thy care, give all thy heart into it; it is nothing less than a touch of the divine loadstone, that is to draw thee out of the vanity of time, into the riches of eternity.”
“The greatest advantage of Christianity is its ability to transform lives.”
“True religion is not about rituals, but about a sincere heart and a genuine relationship with God.”
“God’s love is not dependent on our performance or achievements, but on His grace and mercy.”
“To live a truly fulfilling life, one must prioritize eternal values over temporary pleasures.”
“The pursuit of material wealth often leads to emptiness, but seeking spiritual riches brings true fulfillment.”
“The path to true happiness lies in obedience to God’s will.”
1 All of these quotes are from the websites below:
Inspirational Quotes by William Law
56 William Law Quotes | ChristianQuotes.info
William Law Quotes (Author of A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life)
“This classic urged its readers to reject worldly pursuits.”
“Law moved to a remote village, removing himself from public life.”
“If our life is not a course of humility, self-denial, renunciation of the world, poverty of spirit, and heavenly affection, we do not live the lives of Christians.”
God gave us our commission by covenant at the beginning of time, that is stated in Genesis, commanding man to have dominion and subdue the earth. That does not sound like God wanted us to “remove” ourselves and “renounce” the world to pursue the Christian life.
When he says we must pursue a course of action of ”humility” “self-denial” and “renunciation,” it would have been more accurate to quote Micah 6:8, which summarizes the call to justice, kindness, and humility: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Justice is achieved by the application of the moral law to all of life, including civil government.
Humility and mercy ( kindness) are virtues that are exercised when we interact with the world.
Christians have far too long excluded themselves from the creation covenant, which is a retreat from our obligation to help carry out Christ’s Kingdom work: 1Corinthians 15:25
For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
This will not be achieved from a cabin in the woods or turning away from Kingdom work.
Otherwise, he had good things to say about prayer and devotion to God.
These quotes were especially meaningful to me today. Many are what I needed to hear. Great reminders to ponder today and beyond.
Good one! Amen. Please Pray for Vince and I. We are going for blood work now. Thank you