Prepared by
William Law (1686-1761) when he was about 20 years old
1. TO FIX IT deep in my mind, that
I have one business upon my hands – to seek for eternal happiness, by doing the
will of God.
2. To examine everything that relates to
me in this view, as it serves or obstructs this only end of life.
3. To think nothing great or desirable,
because the world thinks it so; but to form all my judgments of things from the
infallible Word of God, and direct my life according to it.
4. To avoid all concerns with the world,
or the ways of it, but where religion and charity oblige me to act.
5. To remember frequently, and impress it
upon my mind deeply, that no condition of this life is for enjoyment, but for
trial; and that every power, ability, or advantage we have, are all so many
talents to be accounted for, to the judge of all the world.
6. That the greatness of human nature
consists in nothing else but in imitating the Divine Nature. That therefore, all the greatness of this world
which is not in good actions, is perfectly beside the point.
7. To remember, often and seriously, how
much of Time is inevitably thrown away, from which I can expect nothing but the
charge of guilt; and how little there may be to come, on which an Eternity
depends.
8. To avoid all excess in eating and
drinking.
9. To spend as little time as I possibly
can, among such persons as can receive no benefit from me, nor I from them.
10. To be always fearful of letting my time
slip away without some fruit.
11. To avoid all idleness.
12. To call to mind the Presence of God,
whenever I find myself under any temptation to sin, and to have immediate
recourse to prayer.
13. To think humbly of myself; and with great
charity of all others.
14. To forbear from all evil speaking.
15. To think often of the life of Christ, and to propose it as a pattern to myself.