The Power of the Spirit

by William Law

This is a new edition of The Power of the Spirit, written in the 18th century by the esteemed English cleric, William Law, and prepared by Dave Hunt for a contemporary readership.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Theology

184 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1977

About the author

William Law (1686 – 9 April 1761) was a Church of England priest who lost his position at Emmanuel College, Cambridge when his conscience would not allow him to take the required oath of allegiance to the first Hanoverian monarch, George I. Previously William Law had given his allegiance to the House of Stuart and is sometimes considered a second-generation non-juror (an earlier generation of non-jurors included Thomas Ken). Thereafter, Law first continued as a simple priest (curate) and when that too became impossible without the required oath, Law taught privately, as well as wrote extensively. His personal integrity, as well as mystic and theological writing greatly influenced the evangelical movement of his day as well as Enlightenment thinkers such as the writer Dr Samuel Johnson and the historian Edward Gibbon. Law's spiritual writings remain in print today.

Reviews

[Encouragement · Rating 5 out of 5]

The nice thing about this book is: you don't have to read this book with your head, indeed more than that: it is in fact impossible. If you do so, you will miss the message. Only Spirit of God Himself can reveal Himself. You cannot read about Him to know Him. This book does not only talk about the power of the Spirit, it shows it clearly. You'll read not mere words but taste the Life the book talks about. William shows that we have a serious problem in our church. Although his name Law suggests something different, this brother knows to discern life from religion. It is a feast to read this.

[marian grace]

Keys to living in God's will.

Christians today would benefit from reading the old books filled with revelation knowledge like this one by William Law. What God calls us to is a sacrificial life where we deny self and seek to be pleasing to God. This can only be done in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Be forewarned however. A seeking heart that desires obedience will find plenty of insightful instruction which is sure to bring conviction. Many people will find a tool God can use in their lives where godly sorrow that brings repentance can bring a fresh start to submit to God, clear away the debris of disobedience and begin again to walk with Him in intimate fellowship on the narrow path.

[Katherynne Boham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic resource for the necessity of the Holy Spirit in living the Christian Life. I highly recommend it, especially for those feeling unsatisfied with their current walk with Jesus and who are searching for something more.

[Josh R · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all time favorite books!

[Aaron Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️❤️All the vices of fallen angels and men have their root in the proud atheism of self, which has rejected God as its only life and power. Men are dead to God because they are living to self. Self-love, self-esteem, and self-seeking are the essence and the life of pride; and the Devil, the father of pride, is never absent from these passions, nor without an influence in them. Without a death to self, there is no escape from Satan's power over us.
…all the virtues of the heavenly life are the virtues of humility. Not a joy or glory or praise of the redeemed but has its birth in humility. It is humility alone that makes the impassable gulf between heaven and hell. No angels are in heaven but because humility is in all their breath; no devils are in hell but because the fire of pride has corrupted their whole life. Humility places man in that posture before God of an open heart, thankfully receiving the inward breathings of divine life and light and love.
Pride shuts every man up to himself, bringing a death to all that is of God… Herein lies the great struggle for eternal life: pride and humility are the two master powers, the two kingdoms in strife for the eternal possession of man.
The only true humility which the world has ever seen is that of the meek and lowly Lamb of God: and no man can have the least degree of this humility, except from the redeeming life of Christ. He only fights the good fight of faith whose strife is that the self-idolatrous nature which he received from Adam may be brought to death through the power of the cross, that Christ's own supernatural humility may come to life within him.
The enemies to man's rising out of the fall of Adam are many. But the supreme enemy, called Antichrist, is self-exaltation. There has been much speculation to see where and what Antichrist is or by what marks he may be recognized. To know with certainty what he is not, one need only read this short description which Christ gives of Himself: "I can do nothing of myself; I came not to do my own will; I seek not my own glory; I am meek and lowly of heart." Now if this be Christ, then self-exaltation, being in the highest and fullest opposition, must be that spirit of Antichrist that opposes and withstands the whole nature and Spirit of Christ. And although that particular man who is to be the ultimate embodiment of this spirit may not be yet upon the earth; nevertheless, no man need look any further than his own heart to find the same Antichrist which John said was "already in the world" in his own day. What therefore has everyone so much to fear, to renounce and abhor, as every inward breathing of self-exaltation, and every outward work that proceeds from it?

[Collin Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Law reminds us of the futility of trying to know God by arguing over the minute meaning of words in scripture, or over the doctrines of different churches, and brings us back to a simpler faith that relies on the Holy Spirit. If we aren’t careful, christians with their New Testament and their churches can become just like the Pharisees with their Torah and Temple. Christ’s own words were not enough to teach or change the hearts of his closest disciples until they had received the Holy Spirit. These and other insights on the Holy Spirit’s work made this a worthwhile read. It’s fairly short, but with difficult English and many typos in this particular copy.

“A Tower of Babel may to its builders’ eyes seem to hide its head in the clouds, but as to its reaching of heaven, it is no nearer to that than the earth on which it stands. It is thus with all the buildings of man’s wisdom and natural abilities in the things of salvation; he may take the logic of Aristotle, add to that the rhetoric of Tully, and then ascend as high as he can on the ladder of poetic imagination, yet no more is done to the reviving the lost life of God in his soul than by a tower of brick and mortar to reach heaven.”

[Paige Sagach · Rating 5 out of 5]

“When the spirit of Christ is the spirit that rules the heart, there are no longer any hard sayings in the gospel; but all that the heavenly Christ taught is as meat and drink eagerly accepted. There is no other joy than walking as he walked, and saying, loving, and doing that which he said, loved, and did.”

Possibly one of the best books that I’ve ever read on the person, presence, and power of the Holy Spirit. (I would give it more stars if I could!)

[Barbara Riggenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolut Truth

Amazing book, but hard for me to read because of the Old English writing style. But his message is the foundation of a life, following Jesus in complete surrender and humility. It is all about Him, not us.

[dianne stobbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content is excellent. Many of the words were not correct. Needs to be proofread.

Good content. Thought provoking. Sloppy transition from physical book to digital media.
It is worth the effort to read even with all the errors.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The content is really deep and I found myself having to re-read a lot of the material. Lots of ideas to think and pray through.
The Kindle Edition has all sorts of errors in it, which made the read a little more challenging.

[Burdette Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good with a But

Had lot of very good, no, great stuff. But not easy to read.book appeared to be written for Pastors or Priests.

[Linda Lou Armenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

300 years old but relevant NOW

What a read. Be prepared to consider what is truly important in your personal ‘Life In Christ’ !!!!! enjoy the journey.

[KD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard read....need to engage with...Will read again. Challenging book. Christian life without the Holy Spirit is ineffective and dead. Life in the Holy Spirit is peace and joy and fruit producing, so alive. It is a life surrendered, so the life of Christ can be lived and seen.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book compiled by Dave Hunt. So many of the things William Law writes echoes the ministry on the topic of Christ vs. religion.

[Tamara]

I love William Law and enjoyed this book enough that several quotes are in my journal. I did feel it was written as a defense and felt "outside of the loop" as I read it. I would be curious to know who his critics were.