Grace Abounding: With Other Spiritual Autobiographies( Series - Oxford World's Classics )

A classic of spiritual autobiography--a genre which flourished in 17th-century England, as anxiety over one's spiritual state encouraged rigorous self-scrutiny and the sharing of spiritual experiences. This edition contrasts the work with four other contemporary autobiographies, making its cultural milieu more meaningful to the modern reader.

Grace Abounding (1666) is a classic work of spiritual autobiography--a genre which flourished in Calvinist England as anxiety over the state or destiny of one's soul led to rigorous self-scrutiny and the sharing of holy experiences. This edition sets that book alongside other highly interesting and varied contemporary spiritual autobiographies, making its cultural milieu more meaningful to the modern reader. The search for proof of God's favor, in all its personal and psychological intensity, is offered not only from John Bunyan's perspective, but likewise from those of Richard Norwood, John Crook, Lawrence Clarkson, and Agnes Beaumont. Also featured are an introduction, a bibliography, several explanatory notes, and a useful appendix entitled Radical and Nonconformist Groups in 17th-Century England.