The Inner Life

The Inner Life reflects upon the Christian principle of the soul and nourishing one's spiritual essence, as viewed from the Quaker perspective of Rufus M. Jones.

Populating this treatise with a variety of sources and inspirations, Rufus M. Jones advances the view that Christians may seek and find the very core of God's strength laying within themselves. To illustrate this central point, he examines the life of Jesus Christ, plus various prophets and sainted figures who achieved closeness to God through inner contemplation of the divine present within and around all of humanity. 

With occasional recourse to poetic passages, Jones delves through the Bible, quoting parts which allude to the concept of the inner life. Both the Old and New Testament texts feature, while modern works of scholarship by authors such as Percy Gardner also receive discussion. Such scrutiny culminates in the book's final chapter, which attempts to answer how all of these religious experiences shed light onto God and the nature of the divine. 

Not content with merely quoting or discussing the theory of the inner life, Jones offers the reader practical steps to cultivate their own spiritual growth. Prayer is foremost among his methods, but he is also careful to acknowledge the 'mystery of goodness' - the process whereby a person spurns the powerful force of selfishness to live a truly altruistic life. Being mindful of Christ's deeds and words, and the principles of the Holy Spirit, are vital in achieving a lasting and meaningful inner growth.