The Devout Life

William Law was born in Northamptonshire and educated at Emmanuel College Cambridge of which he became a fellow in 1711. On the accession of George I Law refused the oath of allegiance, was deprived of his fellowship and became a Nonjuror. His classic work, "A Serious Call To a Devout and Holy Life", is one of the most influential post-reformation spiritual books. Later in life he became influenced by the writings of Jakob Boehme, the German Protestant mystic and this development of his spirituality estranged many of his former disciples. William Law was schooled as a puritan, but through the influence of the mystical tradition emerged from a shell of exclusiveness to an over-arching love and comprehensiveness.