The Life of God in the Soul of Man

By Henry Scougal
The Great Spiritual Classic that Changed two Nations

It was the homeschooling mother of John and Charles Wesley, who found great spiritual insight into the truths of a lively and authentic faith in this little book by a philosophy professor from Aberdeen Scotland. Susanna Wesley was busy with a full house of children, but kept her heart and mind engaged in the deep waters of profound spiritual writers. This book sparked a deep hunger in John and Charles to pursue an authentic Christian experience of faith. Charles handed a copy of the book to another young seeker by the name of George Whitefield who hung around the outskirts of their “holy club” at Oxford. The book led to the conversion of Whitefield, and he became the great preacher and revivalist of the 18th Century which historians declare changed the moral and social landscape of America and England. It is my hope that by offering this updated version in my own paraphrase, I can get others to reading this classic, which I’ve found not easily accessible for modern readers. Language changes, and I know that purists will not like what I’ve done, but I trust that my bringing the language down into contemporary style and wording will at least open the door for new readers who like the missionaries and evangelists of centuries ago, will be ignited with a true love for Christ and not settle for anything less.
This will appear in a series over the next several weeks as I work through the book. It was written as a letter to a friend, offering spiritual direction and advice. I substitute the word “religion” for spirituality, because the use of the word religion meant something different than it does today.

An Abridged Paraphrase by Todd Baucum

The Reason for this Book
My Dear Friend:

It is my desire is to help you in the exercise of your spiritual life and to offer friendly advice on helping you to grow in grace and personal holiness. So, now I can show my affection and express my gratitude for you, by not delaying what I had promised in offering this assistance. Though you most likely have better helps of this nature than I can offer you, nor is this something you’ve never heard before; yet I am hopeful, that coming from one whom you honor as a friend, it will be accepted by you in and in God’s providence prove useful to you. Forgive me for starting at a basic level of what is the authentic spiritual life, offering some of my thoughts and things helpful with you in mind.

Mistakes about Authentic Spirituality
I cannot speak about authentic spirituality without lamenting that there are so many who are just playing games at it, and so few understand what it means. Some place it in the intellect, in orthodox beliefs and opinions; and all the evidence of their spirituality is found in that they are of this or that school of thought, and have joined in one of the many off-shoots of a Christianity that is so tragically divided.

Others place it in the outward activities, and a constant display of external duties, and an exhibit of performances; so if they live at peace with their neighbors, keep a moderate diet, attend worship, go to church activities, observe their daily devotion, and give an occasional dollar to the poor, they think they have met the requirement.

Others again put their spiritual life in their emotions, with rapturous warm feelings and ecstatic devotion; and all they aim at is to pray with passion, to think of heaven with pleasure, and to be exuding those nice buttery expressions of love for their Savior, till they persuade themselves that they are truly in love with Him, and therefore assume the assurance of their salvation, which they value as the highest of all Christian gifts.

All these may have some aspect of a true spiritual life (they are really just a means of living it), but in of themselves should not be mistaken as the whole of the truth. Our wicked hearts can fabricate these things, and we can do better than pagans in consecrating our sinful habits, and sanctifying our corrupt emotions, and our hard opinions and pride, then pass them off as Christian devotion. So that a hard, unkind personality is then called a holy zeal and stubborn rebellious hearts be called courage and commitment.