Life of God in the Soul of Man

Author: Henry Scougal
Publisher: Christian Heritage, 1995

A classic on the subject of holiness and personal reflecton. This book, initally printed as a pamphlet to help a backslidden friend, was passed by Susanah Wesley to her son Charles in Oxford who in turn gave it to George Whitefield and was instrumental in bringing him to faith. The third section: 'The Aids to True Religion' is particularly helpful. J.I. Packer forwards this modern reprint sighting it as being one of the most influencial books that he has read. A quick search through the internet will show you what a great impact this book had shortly after its initial printing, influencing, I believe the Wesley Holiness Movement, particular in the early days of the Holiness Club and subsequent development and through Whitefield touched many a life in the USA. Wesley used it there also, reading from it as an alternative to the attractions of a ball that was held in Georgia.

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life

Author: Donald S Whitney
Publisher: Navpress, Colorado Springs, 1992

Don Whitney explores the various disciplines, well know to the Puritans of old, for the promotion of spiritual development. The book has good general introductory chapters on the following disciplines:-

Scripture reading; Prayer; Worship; Scripture Meditation; Evangelism; Serving; Stewardship; Scripture Application; Fasting; Silence and Solitude; Journaling and finally Learning.

He maintains that discipline without direction is drugery - who could argue? He has quite a good website, although the pictures are a bit naf!

Soul Friend by Kenneth Leech

Author:Kenneth Leech
Title: 'Sould Friend. Spiritual Direction in the Modern World'
Publisher: Darton, Longman and Todd, London, 1998.

He is an Anglican priest and community theologian. In this book he tackles what he calls the dangers of the ministry being, 'trivialised, professionalised and enclosed within an elitist and inward looking enclave.' According to George Carey, who writes the Foreword, 'It places spiritual development firmly within both the corporate and sacramenetal life of the Church.'
'Christians are not seeking a solitary walk with God, a private mystical trip, a flight of the alone to the Alone. They are involved in a corporate search for humanity, renewal, the Kingdom of God, the transfigured cosmos, the Body of Christ. It is within the context of the flock or the Body that all mystical theology is practiced, and there are very serious hazards and danger when the spiritual quest occurs outside that framework. That is not, of course, to deny the fact of spirituality outside the confines of the church. But the great teachers of the spiritual life in almost all traditions are one in warning of the dangers of the spiritual ego-trip, the search for enlightenment which ignores the common life, the human community, the demands of justice and peace. In the fourteenth century, Ruysbroeck had harsh words to say about such seekers. Whereas “the enlightened loving man flows out [1] to all men in charity in heaven and on earth…these men go their own way.”On the other hand, the spiritual masters stress that “Christian perfection is perfect justice, and perfect justice is perfect charity… If the perfecting of our spiritual life be nothing else than growth in justice and charity, then its essential law will be progress.’ [2]