The Life of God in the Soul of Man: Real Religion

This book is an amazing description of the true Christian life. The idea that The God of the universe would live in a man is amazing. I highly recomend it to anyone who wants to know what Christianity really is.

In his book, Henry Scougal concisely, yet powerfully, spells out what a true Christian looks like. Though our society is mostly a Christian one, not many (including me) live their lives like Scougal's generation of true believers did. Our society has taught us to be relative - as long as we are more "holy" than most of the others in society, we are ok. Scougal teahces us how to be objective - with our focus on God and who He wants us to be. I highly recommend this book for those believers who have realized that their watered-down faith needs to be made strong in the Lord's eyes.

If anyone claims to be a Christian or has an interest in what it means to become one, he or she should read this book. Scougal, who began his illustrious ministerial and academic career in his teenage years and only lived into his late twenties, has some of the deepest insights into the definition of being a Christian that have ever been printed. He discusses a person's conversion, thoroughly describing the roles of God and man in justification. Scougal then goes into great detail concerning the ramifications of that experience into a Christian's life: he dives deep into the effect of a person's new-found way of life upon his or her mind, will, and affections. His ability to describe the process of sanctification in an orderly, vivid, descripitive, and passionate way in unparalleled. The book is actually a long letter from Scougal to one of his theological peers who had recently lost heart in his pursuit of God, so the book itself challenges the reader to grow, yet reads warmly and is uplifting. The only obstacle is that most editions of this book (if not all) are in the original Middle English, making the full meaning of the words and phrases a little difficult at times for the modern reader. The author's logical flow and warmth of spirit make up for that, though, and make this book one of the most thorough and challenging descriptions of Christian justification and sanctification theology ever.

This one little book written back in the 1600's will challenge any one who professes to love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. It will open one's eyes to what true religion or true Christianity is. It isn't rituals. It isn't legalistic rules. Christianity is about being united in soul and spirit with the Holy One.