A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

1. Devotion is a Holistic Way of Life, Not Just Rituals

Devotion signifies a life given, or devoted, to God.

Beyond mere prayers. True Christian devotion extends far beyond specific times or places of prayer; it encompasses every aspect of one's existence. It means living entirely according to God's will, considering Him in all actions, and making common life a continuous act of piety. This perspective challenges the common misconception that devotion is limited to church attendance or occasional prayers, highlighting that a life not governed by God's glory is as absurd as prayers not aligned with His will.

Integrated piety. Just as God is the measure of our prayers, He must be the measure of all our life's actions, including how we use our talents, time, and money. The author criticizes individuals like Julius, who are diligent in church attendance but live the rest of their lives driven by humor, fancy, and worldly pleasures. Such a fragmented approach makes devotion appear superficial and earns the scorn of the careless, failing to embody the consistent wisdom, holiness, and heavenly temper that true faith demands.

Scriptural mandate. The New Testament, while not explicitly commanding public worship, is replete with doctrines governing common life, urging renunciation of the world and adoption of virtues like humility, self-denial, and heavenly affection. These are not optional duties but essential components of a Christian's daily existence. If our common life does not reflect these virtues, we fail to live as new creatures in Christ, regardless of our adherence to formal religious practices.

2. Genuine Piety Stems from a Sincere Intention to Please God in All Actions

For let a man but have so much piety as to intend to please God in all the actions of his life, as the happiest and best thing in the world, and then he will never swear more.

The root of all virtue. The primary reason Christians fall short of true holiness is a lack of sincere intention to please God in all their actions. Just as a man with the intention to please his prince would not abuse him, a person truly intending to please God would naturally avoid sins like swearing or vanity. This intention is not a small matter but the fundamental principle that distinguishes a true disciple of Christ.

Transformative power. This sincere intention would revolutionize Christian life, making exemplary holiness as common as daily trade.

• A pious clergyman would prioritize saving souls over worldly preferment.
• A tradesman would conduct business as a service to God, seeking wise, reasonable, and holy methods rather than mere wealth.
• A gentleman would shun idleness and indulgence, using his estate for commendable and praiseworthy actions, not just pardonable ones.
  This intention shifts focus from what is merely permissible to what is pleasing to God.

No excuse for negligence. The author argues that many imperfections—lack of humility, charity, or diligent use of time—are not due to inherent weakness but to a lack of this sincere intention. If we fully intend to be exact in these duties, it becomes as possible as observing prayer times. Without this foundational intention, we are not in a state of common imperfection but lack the most fundamental principle of Christianity, rendering us unable to fully utilize divine grace.

3. Strive for Utmost Christian Perfection, Avoiding Spiritual Laziness

We cannot offer to God the service of Angels; we cannot obey Him as man in a state of perfection could; but fallen men can do their best, and this is the perfection that is required of us; it is only the perfection of our best endeavors, a careful labor to be as perfect as we can.

Beyond minimal effort. God's mercy covers unavoidable weaknesses, but not sins committed due to a lack of intention to avoid them. Just as a common swearer has no excuse for his avoidable sin, a Christian who falls short in virtues like humility or charity due to negligence is equally blameworthy. Salvation is a difficult path, requiring diligence, fear, and trembling, not just seeking but striving to enter the narrow gate.

Consequences of complacency. If religion is merely a formal compliance that costs no effort or imposes no restraints, it's a delusion. Living in worldly pleasures, neglecting watchings, fastings, and mortification, contradicts the call to work out salvation with fear and trembling. The author uses the example of Penitens, a prosperous tradesman who, on his deathbed, deeply regretted his life of worldly pursuits and lack of sincere intention for piety, realizing the emptiness of his achievements.

The deathbed perspective. At the hour of death, everyone wishes they had been as perfect as human nature allows. It is "excessive folly" to be content with a level of piety that we know will not satisfy us in our final moments. This perspective should motivate us to labor for perfection now, rather than face the "dreadful magnitude" of self-condemnation later, when all worldly distractions fade and only our spiritual state remains.

4. Every Aspect of Life, from Labor to Leisure, Must Be Dedicated to God

As the whole world is God’s, so the whole world is to act for God.

Universal consecration. Just as a clergyman's profession is holy, so too must worldly business be made holy by being done as a service to God. All men, regardless of their employment—whether merchant, soldier, or homemaker—are equally obliged to live wholly unto God, using their talents and faculties for His glory. This means every action, from eating and drinking to working and conversing, must be performed with a spirit of piety.

Beyond mere lawfulness. It's not enough for an employment to be lawful; it must be carried on with the same spirit and temper required in giving alms or prayer. If a tradesman labors solely to grow rich for personal indulgence, his trade loses its innocence and becomes a "plausible course of covetousness." The author illustrates this with Calidus, a busy merchant whose life is consumed by business and worldly pleasures, leaving no room for genuine devotion, despite his outward religious conformity.

Liberty's higher call. Those free from the necessity of labor, like Serena, have an even greater obligation to devote themselves to God. Their liberty demands a wise use of time and fortune for all kinds of virtue, aspiring to eminent holiness. They are called to imitate angels, making their own soul the object of daily care, nourishing it with good works, prayer, reading, and meditation, rather than squandering their blessings on idle pursuits.

5. Worldly Pursuits Without Piety Lead to Emptiness and Self-Inflicted Misery

I say invented, because those things which make up the joy and happiness of the world are mere inventions, which have no foundation in nature and reason, are no way the proper good or happiness of man, no way perfect either in his body, or his mind, or carry him to his true end.

Illusory happiness. The world's definitions of joy and happiness are "mere inventions," lacking foundation in nature or reason. They fail to perfect man's body or mind and do not lead to his true end. The author presents characters like Flatus, who restlessly pursues happiness through a series of fleeting worldly pleasures—fine clothes, gaming, diversions, drinking, hunting, building, travel, and academic fads—only to find constant dissatisfaction and a life devoid of true meaning.

The cycle of dissatisfaction. Flatus's life demonstrates that seeking happiness in external things leads to an endless cycle of desire, temporary gratification, and ultimate disappointment. Each new pursuit promises much but delivers little, leaving him perpetually uneasy and searching. Similarly, Feliciana's life is a "poor repetition" of superficial pleasures like dress, social events, and gossip, which, though seemingly glamorous, offer no lasting contentment or spiritual depth.

Sensuality's dullness. Even seemingly stable worldly lives, like Succus, whose greatest happiness revolves around good food and rest, reveal a profound emptiness. His life is ordered around bodily indulgence, avoiding anything that might disturb his comfort, and his thoughts rarely rise above the mundane. Such characters highlight that without religion, even the most "successful" or "comfortable" worldly lives are ultimately foolish, restless, and miserable, failing to address the soul's true needs.

6. Cultivate Profound Humility to Counteract Natural Pride and Worldly Education

Humility does not consist in having a worse opinion of ourselves than we deserve, or in abasing ourselves lower than we really are; but as all virtue is founded in truth, so humility is founded in a true and just sense of our weakness, misery, and sin.

Unlearning pride. Practicing humility requires unlearning deeply ingrained habits and opinions absorbed from a "corrupt world." Pride is as natural to fallen human nature as self-love, making Christianity's call to a "new birth" and "new spirit" essential. The world's values—wealth, status, beauty, power—are often contrary to true greatness, which lies in not desiring them.

Education's role. Modern education often exacerbates pride by encouraging ambition, envy, and a desire for distinction from childhood. Children are taught to "scorn to be outdone" and to pursue worldly honors, even in sacred professions. This creates a profound disconnect when they later encounter Christian doctrines of humility. The author contrasts this with the education of Paternus's son, who is taught to:

• Reverence God as the ultimate Father and Friend.
• Despise human glory as "human folly."
• Love humility in all its forms, rejoicing in others' excellences.
• Employ his estate for the common good and charity.
• Live plainly, soberly, and industriously, with truth and plainness as his only ornament.

The blind spot of pride. Many, like Cecus, sincerely believe they love humility and abhor pride, yet live in its full expression, failing to recognize it in themselves. This self-deception is a sign of "confirmed pride." True humility begins with acknowledging one's own deep-seated pride and committing to daily, deliberate practice, watching for its subtle approaches in every thought, word, and action.

7. Practice Universal Love Through Constant Intercession for All Mankind

For a frequent intercession with God, earnestly beseeching Him to forgive the sins of all mankind, to bless them with His providence, enlighten them with His Spirit, and bring them to everlasting happiness, is the divinest exercise that the heart of man can be engaged in.

Christ's example. Intercession, praying for our fellow creatures, is a fundamental and necessary part of Christian devotion, mirroring Christ's continuous intercession for us. The early Christians fostered deep mutual love through constant prayers for one another, a practice that should be revived. Daily, earnest intercession for all mankind cultivates a generous heart, delighting in others' happiness and eradicating "little, ill-natured passions."

Transformative intercession. Praying for others, especially those in our immediate circle (neighbors, family, servants), profoundly impacts our own hearts. It makes us:

• Courteous, civil, and condescending.
• Unable to speak or act rudely towards those we pray for.
• Ready to forgive and bear with others' faults.
• United in stronger bonds of love and tenderness.
• More zealous in our own duties, as seen in Ouranius, the holy priest who became exemplary through interceding for his flock.

Curing ill tempers. Intercession is a powerful antidote to envy, resentment, and contempt. If one prays for a person's prosperity in the very area that sparks envy, the "venom of that poisonous passion" is expelled. Similarly, praying for those with whom we have disagreements quickly reconciles differences, as it's impossible to genuinely despise someone for whom we sincerely implore God's blessings. This practice reveals the true state of our hearts, exposing hidden uncharitable tempers.

8. Embrace Resignation and Thankfulness to God's Infinite Wisdom in All Circumstances

Resignation to the Divine will signifies a cheerful approbation, and thankful acceptance of everything that comes from God.

God's perfect will. The will of God is the sole source of all wisdom, holiness, and justice. All beings, from angels to humans, achieve virtue and perfection only by conforming to this will. To think our will can differ from God's is as absurd as denying our dependence on Him. We are to consider ourselves as beings whose only business is to fulfill God's requirements, without self-designs, in thankful resignation to His pleasure.

Thankfulness in all things. True resignation is not mere patient submission but a cheerful approval and thankful acceptance of everything from God's providence. Just as we would be thankful to a wise physician, we must be thankful to God, whose infinite wisdom and love govern all events for our benefit. Complaining about circumstances, seasons, or the state of the world is an implicit accusation against God's wisdom or goodness.

Personal providence. Every individual is a particular object of God's providence, born at a specific time, to specific parents, and in particular circumstances, all by God's express design for His glory and our happiness. Uneasiness at our state stems from comparing ourselves to others, which is as unreasonable as a sick person resenting different treatments. To murmur at our lot is to be ungrateful for what might be the very means of our salvation, as God's wisdom chooses what is best for us, even when we cannot see it.

9. Daily Self-Examination and Particular Repentance are Essential for Spiritual Growth

For if it be necessary to repent of all our sins, if the guilt of unrepented sins still continue upon us, then it is necessary, not only that all our sins, but the particular circumstances and aggravations of them, be known, and recollected, and brought to repentance.

The necessity of self-accounting. Evening prayer is the proper time for self-examination, reviewing all behavior from the day's first action. This is crucial because repentance requires knowing the specific sins and their circumstances. A general confession of being a "sinner" is insufficient; it's like confessing sins weekly instead of daily, or forgetting specific transgressions. Without particular remembrance and contrition, sins remain unrepented and their guilt persists.

Deepening contrition. Detailed self-examination awakens the conscience, fostering a horror and detestation of sin. When specific faults—like a hasty prayer or idle conversation—are fully acknowledged and condemned before God, it creates a powerful deterrent against repeating them. This process, especially for repeated sins, cultivates humility, sorrow, and a genuine desire for amendment, unlike a formal, general confession that has little effect on the heart.

Targeted improvement. Each person has particular inclinations to certain vices or infirmities. These "right eyes" must be severely tried in evening repentance.

• If anger is a prevailing temper, every slip in thought, word, or action must be confessed.
• If vanity dominates, every vain thought or act of self-adornment must be shamed before God.
  Similarly, one must examine how they've avoided or succumbed to sins common to their state of life (e.g., a poor man's repining, a rich man's indulgence, a tradesman's dishonesty). This methodical approach ensures that repentance is effective and leads to tangible spiritual progress.

10. Structured Prayer and Praise Elevate the Soul and Deepen Devotion

For singing is as much the proper use of a psalm as devout supplication is the proper use of a form of prayer, and a psalm only read is very much like a prayer that is only looked over.

Awakening the spirit. To enhance devotion, all prayers should begin with chanting or singing a psalm. This practice, accessible to all, awakens holy desires, purifies the soul, and sets the heart in a posture of worship. Singing transforms a psalm from mere words into an experience, engaging emotions and kindling a "holy flame" that carries prayers to God. The author argues that the inability to sing praises often stems from a lack of true joy in God, not a lack of musical talent.

Body and soul in union. The union of soul and body means outward actions influence inward states. Just as anger produces angry words, which in turn increase anger, so too do outward acts of praise and prayer cultivate inward joy and devotion. Singing psalms is a natural means of raising the heart to delight in God, just as vocal prayer supports the spirit of devotion. Neglecting this is akin to neglecting prayer itself because one's heart isn't "affected enough."

Cultivating thankfulness. Singing psalms is crucial for fostering a spirit of thankfulness, the "highest perfection of a Divine and holy life." A complaining spirit, even in religious individuals, contradicts faith in God's infinite goodness. To be truly thankful means praising God for everything that happens, turning calamities into blessings. This constant practice of praise, especially through psalms, makes the heart habitually thankful, preventing murmuring and discontent from taking root.