DEMONSTRATION of the Gross and Fundamental Errors

William Law saw many changes during his lifetime: the laws and authorities of his British homeland underwent a major shift, he switched from one career to another, and his personal spiritual philosophies evolved dramatically over time. Among his many writings, Law wrote polemical tracts, practical devotional books, and, later in his life, mystical reflections. His work influenced some of the greatest minds of the 18th century, including Samuel Johnson, George Whitefield, and John and Charles Wesley. This particular essay responds to a book promoting deist and rationalist perspectives on Christianity and Christian teaching. Law argues that one cannot reduce Christian faith to mere facts and propositions. “Religion is the most plain, simple thing in the world,” he wrote, “It is only, ‘We love him, because he first loved us.’”

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff