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The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal

The book instrumental in George Whitefield’s conversion The Life of God in the Soul of Man (1677), was originally written as a private letter to a ‘dear’ friend, to explain Christianity. It was never intended for publication. Yet it has become a classic Puritan text and one of the most read and influential treatises ever written for the comfort of God’s saints.

The book instrumental in George Whitefield’s conversion The Life of God in the Soul of Man (1677), was originally written as a private letter to a ‘dear’ friend, to explain Christianity. It was never intended for publication. Yet it has become a classic Puritan text and one of the most read and influential treatises ever written for the comfort of God’s saints.

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midst <strong>of</strong> an <strong>in</strong>f<strong>in</strong>ite globe <strong>of</strong> light, which compasses us<br />

about both beh<strong>in</strong>d and before, and pierces to <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>nermost corners <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soul. <strong>The</strong> sense and<br />

remembrance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> div<strong>in</strong>e presence is <strong>the</strong> most ready<br />

and effectual means, both to discover what is unlawful,<br />

and to restra<strong>in</strong> us from it. <strong>The</strong>re are some th<strong>in</strong>gs a<br />

person could make a shift to palliate or defend, and yet<br />

he dares not look Almighty <strong>God</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> face, and<br />

adventure upon <strong>the</strong>m. If we look unto him we shall be<br />

lightened; if we "set him always before us, he will guide<br />

us <strong>by</strong> his eye, and <strong>in</strong>struct us <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> way where<strong>in</strong> we<br />

ought to walk.”<br />

This care and watchfulness over our actions must be<br />

seconded <strong>by</strong> frequent and serious reflections upon <strong>the</strong>m,<br />

not only that we may obta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> div<strong>in</strong>e mercy and<br />

pardon for our s<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>by</strong> an humble and sorrowful<br />

acknowledgment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m; but also that we may reenforce<br />

and streng<strong>the</strong>n our resolutions, and learn to<br />

decl<strong>in</strong>e or resist <strong>the</strong> temptations <strong>by</strong> which we have been<br />

formerly foiled. It is an advice worthy <strong>of</strong> a Christian,<br />

though it did first drop from a hea<strong>the</strong>n pen, that before<br />

we betake ourselves to rest, we renew and exam<strong>in</strong>e all<br />

<strong>the</strong> passages <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> day, that we may have <strong>the</strong> comfort <strong>of</strong><br />

what we have done aright, and may redress what we f<strong>in</strong>d<br />

to have been done amiss, and make <strong>the</strong> shipwrecks <strong>of</strong><br />

one day be as marks to direct our course <strong>in</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r. This<br />

may be called <strong>the</strong> very art <strong>of</strong> virtuous liv<strong>in</strong>g, and would<br />

73 <strong>of</strong> 102

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