Customer Reviews

A Testament of Devotion

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read a lot of Christian books by such authors as Augustine, Aquinas, Brother Lawrence, Pascal, Caussade, Teresa of Avila, Dostoevsky, Lewis, Tozer, Sproul, Geisler, Willard, Foster, and many more... but I'm drawn back to this little book above them all. I've come to appreciate the paradox of "nothing matters; everything matters." As Kelly said, God "gives us the royal blindness of faith, and the seeing eye of the sensitized soul, and the grace of unflinching obedience. Then we see that nothing matters, and that everything matters, and that this my task matters for me and for my fellow men and for Eternity. And if we be utterly humble we may be given the strength to be obedient even unto death, yea the death of the Cross." My goal is to write a devotional, theological book to compare to it. I am not yet up to the task. I have many notes from my many readings, but first I must make God's presence and will the deepest realities in my life as they obviously were in Kelly's. I have the head knowledge, but lack the deepest heart's passion and abandonment to divine breathings that are required to pen a masterpiece. I've learned from Kelly that it is more important that I live as God's masterpiece than pen one myself. As Kelly said, "practice comes first in religion, not theory or dogma."

One correction to my earlier review: Kelly discussed the paradox of "nothing matters; everything matters" with a Hindu monk, not a Buddhist one.

In closing, I'm somewhat surprised to find that Kelly's book is not as popular as it deserves to be. But, then again, I'm not. - Brad Clark

If you are interested in Quaker mysticism, please read this book, the thoughts of a 20th century Quaker mystic and teacher.

Thomas Kelly lived briefly - reading this work brings the reader close to Kelly's experiential relationships with the Divine.

There was not enough writing left behind - this is a treasure. A book for meditation and reading, Kelly's words have a way of bringing the Light to the dedicated reader.

I really love this book and don't know how to express that without sounding trivial. It can take your breath away, bring you to joyful tears and encourage your seeking.

Blessings.

Reading this book was a wonderful experience and one I intend to repeat many times. It contains many beautiful descriptions of the inner life of one who listens to God's call and waits in silence for the Divine Presence. It's an invaluable companion in the life of anyone who is searching and seeking for that Presence and/or has already discovered that Presence.

Call it a "classic" if you like, but to me, this book is a thing of beauty. There are few books that compare to it.

I once gave it as a graduation gift to a seminary student. She later commented that there were lots of things she agreed with. What?! There is no agrument or proposition here! You let it take you, lead you places. You immerse, wrap yourself in its beauty.

The 1941 edition with an intro/bio by Douglas Steere (also reprinted in 70s or 80s) is MUCH MUCH preferred to the Richard Foster edition. He not only adds his own intro, but does editing of the original. Blasphemy. Skip his "version" and find an original.

As I read this book, I thought, "This man had a lifetime of learning to live, think, breath and walk in the presence of God." However, at the end of the book, in the biographical section, I learned that Kelly really only began to live the life he describes the last few years of his life. It was not that it took him that long to achieve such spiritual levels, but rather, he apparently was busy with life and never tried.

I found this encouraging--that a life filled with God's presence does not have to take decades to find. Rather, it can begin to be experienced little by little day to day and in a relatively brief time, moment by moment as Kelly describes.

This is a great book. Kelly is not pretentious in any way. He plainly and simply gives clues of how to live a Christ-filled life in today's busy society.

I purchased Thomas Kelly's TESTAMENT OF DEVOTION with an Introduction by Richard Foster (1992, ISBN 0-06-064212-2) after recently reading the 1941 (First printing) edition in my parish library. I happened to have both copies at hand when I began reading the newer edition, and I noticed a number of sentences were missing in the chapter on the Eternal Now, some of which have to do with Mr. Kelly's views of Quakerism, which perhaps the editors of the later volume thought were antiquated. On closer examination, I realized that something more was missing: a lengthy passage from pages 94-96 in the original volume. In this passage, Kelly describes the experience of the NOW with such eloquence that it is inconceivable to me how it could have been cut. The dustjacket for the 1992 edition notes that it has been "updated and edited for today's readers" and that it "retains all the warmth and wisdom of Thomas Kelly's thought." Not quite. I appreciate the updating of the language, but not the elimination of some of the book's most precious mystical content.

I have read this book four times and will read it many more. This book and "Abandonment to Divine Providence" by Jean-Pierre de Caussade are my favorite Christian devotional/mystical classics. Kelly's book is prose poetry that romances and broadens the spirit at the same time as it educates the mind. I used to compartmentalize spiritual things and separate them from the "non-spiritual" mundane activities in life. This outlook is in error, according to Kelly. ALL activities in life become "spiritual" and significant as one lives within the Divine Center, listening and following the Spirit's leadings. Only within this Center is there true peace in the midst of a world full of "inevitable suffering" and people who do NOT live within the Divine Center.

Although I love this book, the biographical section does mention Kelly's interest in Eastern philosophies and his fascination with A.N. Whitehead's teachings. Whitehead promoted panentheism and not true Christian theism. Also, Kelly does occasionally seem to give credence in his book to "non-Christian" forms of spirituality. In one place he mentions a conversation he had with a Buddhist monk over the religious paradox of "everything matters; nothing matters" which he tells his reader to contemplate in religious experience. Also, his reading of devotional classics included "The Prophet" by Khalil Gibran, a non-Christian book to say the least. How much Eastern philosophies have influenced Kelly, I cannot say, but I do say that there is much in Kelly's book that has affected me both deeply and permanently; I highly recommend this book. - Brad Clark

I read this book 25 years ago and find that it gives me a feeling of the Inner Light and grounds me in what the spiritual life is all about. It is deeply Christian and yet can resonate with anyone who feels God as a living reality in all religions or no religion. It also touches upon what the Quakers call "consensus", how to let the guiding of the Spirit lead people into an understanding filled agreement about how to live, to heal, and to forgive. I have read other Quaker books, but it seems everything is here in this book. It uses less words than all the others and says everything.

What a beautiful book!! It you are into contemplative prayer, or have devoted a significant part of your life to meditation on God's purpose and direction, this book summarizes your life. Kelly has an amazing ability to describe the joys of inner peace, sifting the things of the world beyond through the sieve of the world within. Inspirational and delightful - enjoy.

Not many books cause me to want to be quiet and small. Welcome to reading Thomas Kelly's A Testament of Devotion. Simple, profound Kelly invites us to an inner journey into the presence of the holy. Words fail-buy it