William Law calls prayer plus disobedience “absurd,” “lip service,” or even “flagrant hypocrisy,” giving examples like praying while hoarding treasures or living in “foolish pleasures”; which of his examples lands most uncomfortably on your conscience, and how would changing the “common course” of your life need to look for your prayers to match their own “spirit”?
Another way to ask: William Law says praying while disobeying is fake, like just giving God empty words. Which example hits you the hardest, and what would need to change in your usual daily life so your prayers match what you say you want?
Direct Answer
Law’s point (as quoted by Bercot) is that the overall pattern—the “common course” of life—must match the humility, charity, and holiness you claim in prayer; otherwise prayer becomes empty words or hypocrisy.
Support from Transcript:
Law challenges mismatches: “Bended knees, while you are clothed with pride? Heavenly petitions, while you are hoarding up treasures upon earth?”
He attacks worldly living alongside devotion: “Holy devotions, while you live in the follies of the world?”
He highlights inner contradictions: “Prayer is a meekness and charity, while your heart is the seat of pride and resentment.”
He includes time and priorities: “Spending hours of prayer, while you give up years to idle amusements… foolish pleasures.”
He defines the needed alignment: “Unless the common course of our lives is according to the common spirit of our prayers… They are nothing but lip service… flagrant hypocrisy.”
Discussion Follow-ups
What would it look like this week for the “spirit” of your prayers (meekness, charity, surrender) to become the “common course” of your decisions and time?
