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English Methodist leader Charles Wesley is renowned for his prolific hymn writing and prominence in the church; his journal sheds ample light into his life as a young student and believer.This volume takes us to when Wesley was thirty-one years old in 1739. It offers profound insight into the attitude and daily life of the young Christian, at a time prior to his gaining great renown both as a prodigious songwriter and a man of distinction in the Methodist church. It is clear from the outset that Wesley was a caring man concerned with the well-being of parishioners and his fellow Christian; he describes those he encounters and converses with in a sensitive, graceful manner.Upon these pages is ample evidence of the determination and vigor contained within the character of Charles Wesley. The impressive quotations of scripture, and the easy flow with which he recounts events and principles of Christian spirituality, form a picture of a motivated and talented young believer who would go on to be one of the most prolific hymnists ever. Used as a source in later biographies, the Journal of Charles Wesley nevertheless stands on its own as a worthwhile read.

Deborah Sampson was a young woman who enlisted and served in the Continental Army during the American War of Independence; this biography tells her remarkable story.Born in 1760 in the town of Plympton, Massachusetts, Sampson and her family strived through hardship, their poverty worsening after Deborah's father abandoned them. In her formative years, Deborah helped maintain the household; bright and capable, she became literate thanks to committed readings of the Bible with a local widow, becoming proficient at several practical skills such as weaving and carpentry. These abilities would later prove useful in her army service.The rebellion of the Thirteen Colonies against British rule shook the region. Deborah's sense of duty extended to the fight for independence; disguising her gender, she enlisted to the army early in 1782. Her initial service was short; a chapter of the Baptist church discovered her and threatened disavowal. By May 1782 she had enlisted a second time in a different regiment; in total she served a total of 17 months with valor; treatment for injuries sustained revealed her gender, and she was honorably discharged.In the modern day, Deborah Sampson is an icon of patriotism and for women's right to military service. After the war she gave lectures on her soldiery and was awarded a military pension.

P. T. Forsyth explains the importance of the Atonement; by perishing in agony upon the crucifix, Christ atoned for the sins of humanity.The Gospels of the New Testament tell of how Jesus lived His life, the teachings He delivered and how He came to be sentenced to death. Yet the essence and depth of the message carried within the death of the Lord Jesus is not necessarily understood by all believers who read their Bible. Thus the author wrote this book, that the vital lessons of Jesus Christ and the atonement He undertook upon the crucifix are understood. The moral and ethical implications of the death of Christ are great; it is these which P. T. Forsyth explains with superb clarity.As one of Scotland's appreciated theologians, P. T. Forsyth's knowledge and study of the Bible and the history of Christianity is renowned. He sought to explain and clarify the most important lessons and beliefs of the Biblical for the modern believer. Passionate and lively in his explanations, Forsyth's works remain read and in print more than a century on, with Christians eager for a deeper connection with their faith turning to the works of this learned scholar.

Writing from the perspective of Satan, this book demonstrates the dark nature and cunning techniques of the Devil through the advice and sermons he gives to Earthly mortals.The Devil's seductive and tempting qualities are displayed ingloriously. Satan advises ordinary humans to live lives of sin and reckless indulgence, with callous disregard for oneself and others. To make his counsel more alluring and convincing, the Devil employs a variety of rhetorical techniques, noting the short term gratification and pleasure a person can enjoy by behaving in an injurious way. Examples include imbibing alcohol, tobacco, a rejection of Christian virtues, declining God's call, and promotion of atheism.The author himself was a committed Reverend who, by writing this book, strived to act as a literal 'Devil's Advocate'. Writing at the turn of the 20th century, the sermons Harris conceived also represent Christian outlooks emblematic of the time, with movements such as temperance represented in the chapters, and styles of dress shown in the illustrations. In all, we witness how a talented preacher's knack for words and speaking were adeptly purposed into a unique guide for believers eager to avoid the pitfalls of bad conduct.

Sydney G. Fisher describes the arrival and settlement of the Quaker denomination in colonial North America during the 17th and 18th centuries.The initial chapter of Fisher's work is enmeshed with the establishment of the Quaker movement within the United Kingdom. Formed in opposition to the Puritan ideas, Quakerism formed in the wake of the chaos of the English Civil War. At the same time, colonists were encouraged to travel to North America, that Britain's holdings be expanded in size and the new continent's great wealth be enjoyed by the settlers and the wider Empire.Second only to the Puritans in terms of number, many Quakers departed England after suffering persecution - eager for a fresh start, it was thus that thousands acted to bolster the settlements of Philadelphia, New Jersey as well as smaller towns on the Delaware river. They became successful traders and planters, and the presence of the Society of Friends in the modern cities is clear to behold to this day. The cover photograph of this edition is of a Quaker almshouse in Philadelphia, built in 1713.A clearly written and easily digested history, Fisher wrote to entertain and inform ordinary Americans seeking to know about their nation's colonial history.

The classic of Christian ministerial thought by Charles Bridges is presented to the reader anew in this superb edition, complete with the author's annotations.For the author, the curious point that the ministry failed in many of its core duties was sufficient genesis for a book. Why did this failure occur? Had modern priests and ministers lost their way from the tradition and essence of Christian belief? Were corruptions of the heart frequent and getting commoner? These questions are answered with unflinching sincerity: humans, including the ordained, have shortfalls which can only be assuaged by opening one's heart completely to God.The later parts of the text focus upon the essential duties of the churchman: preaching with the aim of uniting the congregation and community in an unstinting belief in the Lord is not a simple matter. Rather we discover it to be a diverse practice; the preacher must not only incorporate aspects of the doctrinal and scriptural truths, but be sensitive to the emotions of his churchgoers. The virtues of faith, be it a celebration of diligence or steadfastness against adversity, should be balanced against the human needs for well-being and spiritual contentment.A further element of ministerial duty is the pastoral work in the local community. This can be appealing to the unbelievers or infidels in the locality, visiting the sick or dying and offering comfort to their family, and being a source of spiritual counsel. A ready guard against backsliding, wherein members of a community gradually renounce their beliefs in God, equates to a need of vigilance in the minister.A lifelong man of God, Bridges was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge. Graduating with honors, he entered the ministry and spent decades as a vicar in Old Newton, Suffolk and - in later life - Weymouth in Dorset. Together with his pastoral duties, he delved into the Bible and other ancient texts, becoming a theologian of great repute. Popular in his lifetime for his commentaries of scripture, the famed 19th century preacher C. H. Spurgeon declared one of Bridges' works to be "worth its weight in gold".

This superb, illustrated history reveals Rome's conquest and rule over Israel and Judea, and how the Roman occupation deeply influenced the culture, law and religious establishment of the Jews.

Duncan's Masonic Ritual is a superb guide to the historic rituals and practices of the Freemason societies, for the initiation of new members and the ceremonies of the Masonic lodges.First published in 1866, this book arranges the Freemason customs according to the rank of the member they involve. Beginning with the initiate ranking, known as the 'Entered Apprentice', we are told the dialogue which must take place between the newcomer and the existing members. The arrangement of people in the Masonic building, and the various gestures and signals each must give to one another, are shown in detailed diagrams. The tiers of Master each involve new symbolic gestures and rituals, intended to signify the member's depth of understanding and loyalty to the society.The formal operations of a Masonic society require a variety of meetings and orders of business to take place sequentially. These arrangements are accompanied by a range of handshakes, gestures between members, and even a series of tools that must be held by a certain Mason, or handed from one ranking member to another.Since this book is concerned entirely with the ceremonial traditions of Freemasonry, the social and informal aspects of membership, whereby members hold discussions or organize participation in local events, are scarcely mentioned. The notes included in the appendix and at the end of each part discuss the origins, regional variations in the traditions, and related miscellany.

Eugen Von Böhm-Bawerk, economist of the Austrian school, wrote this incisive critique of Marxist economics amid rising public support for socialism, communism and state-controlled markets in Europe.Published in 1896, this work criticizes Marxist theory from two angles: firstly, that the notion of value which Marx puts forward contradict his own ideas. The author asserts that the link between the price of producing goods and the value produced by labor are not consistently dealt with in Marx's works. This inconsistency in assigning value to economic production leads onto the second critique:Supply and demand is a theory whereby an equilibrium between goods supplied to a market and goods demanded by consumers in said market is established, with changes in the quantity or price of a good being in reaction to demand. Böhm-Bawerk discusses how Marx underestimates this law, and how his lack of appreciation for an economy which flexibly meets the shifting demands of consumers undermines his notions of price and value. From the perspective of a free market capitalist, Marxist theory is inadequate and insufficient as a system of economics.

Max Weber's celebrated thesis, which explores the relationship between Protestant work ethic and the emergence of capitalist enterprise, is presented here inclusive of his lengthy notes.In coining the phrase 'Protestant work ethic', Weber demonstrates a series of parallels between certain Protestant denominations and the modern business. The veneration of hard work, discipline, and carefulness with money birthed a culture that led over generations to the establishment of capitalism; with enough workers sharing in these beliefs, entrepreneurs were able to create large businesses that could consistently deliver a profit.Using examples such as Martin Luther and Calvinist doctrines, Weber demonstrates how ideas of the virtues of diligence were placed parallel with God and morality. By working hard, every man was contributing to a better world and society, in the name of the Lord. However, Weber asserts that over time the religious connotations behind capitalist enterprise largely disappeared; the famous writings of Benjamin Franklin are cited as example, whereby notions of diligence were expressed eloquently but no longer cited God and holy virtue.Though controversial, Weber's work remains much-consulted by sociologists. The notion that Protestantism contributed to or accelerated the development of capitalism is popular in the modern day.