Ladder of Perfection

by Walter Hilton

Vol 1 of the Contemplative Series

Price: $22.00
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Book description:

One eternal situation of Christianity is that the popularity of false mysticism and questionable spirituality will constantly blind honest seekers to the truth, which is the gift of God. Today, when there is a revival of interest in the mystics of the 14th century, it is unlikely that the works of Walter Hilton will top any best seller lists. The scope of Walter’s work is far beyond the limitations of this essay, but several outstanding points, illustrated in his works, are both inspiring and delightful, if our 21st century blinders are removed. Walter dealt with many problems in his readership that continue to exist and had existed for fourteen centuries in his day! He presented eternal truths and sought to clarify equally eternal confusion.

Walter is the truly learned man, and his works include hundreds of references to the Scriptures and the works of the Fathers and theologians which spanned many centuries. His gift was for relating them to the current situation (and 14th century England was a tough proving ground for faith and virtue!) without compromising their eternal truths. Hilton's effort here is the first work of ascetic and mystic theology in the English language, and composing this in the vernacular was a massive undertaking, particularly in a time when there was a vague notion that theological works in the common tongue were dangerous. Adapting theological terms to a constantly evolving vernacular terms, minus the previous precision of Latin and Greek,  presented the irony of causing as many problems of understanding as it remedied, which still exists with the terminology of law, medicine, psychology, and theology in particular.

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