The Beauty of Holiness: The Caroline Divines and Their Writings offers an expansive and detailed portrait of the continued maturation of Anglican theology and devotion in the central half of the seventeenth century. The Caroline Divines have long been hailed as the patrons of an Anglican 'golden age'. Their emphasis upon liturgical renewal and development, like their emphases upon learning and piety, have had a pervasive influence on the Anglican ethos that extends down to our own day. The Beauty of Holiness includes selections from key figures such as Lancelot Andrewes, John Cosin, and Jeremy Taylor, but also expands the canon of Caroline divinity to include lay writings, some of which were published posthumously. Traditional topics such as sacramental theology and private devotion are complimented by readings on poetry as a spiritual discipline, natural theology, and the importance of family prayers. Chapters survey diverse facets of Anglican orthodoxy such as liturgical practice, the cult of King Charles the Martyr, and defenses of the celebration of Christmas, while an introductory essay sets these developments within the historical context. The Beauty of Holiness thus functions as both an introduction to the Anglican past and a catechism for the Anglican present.

Synopsis: The proposed Anglican Covenant impinges not only upon the future of the Anglican Communion but upon global Christianity as well. Pro Communione: Theological Essays on the Anglican Covenant is the first volume that considers the completed text of the Covenant and its congruity with the Anglican tradition. Contributors across the Anglo-American world appraise the Covenant within a holistic framework defined by liturgical, historical, and ecumenical perspectives. These essays transcend current debates by illuminating abiding theological themes within Anglicanism. Creative and edifying, rigorous and hopeful, Pro Communione envisions a revival of the Anglican imagination within the context of a covenanted Anglican Communion. Endorsement: "We need to get under the skin of the Anglican Covenant . . . and explore how it can help us learn to have] relationships of mutuality and reciprocity within the body of Christ. This book challenges us to receive the Covenant as a gift to be lived into, through which we can grow in faithfulness to one another and the God whom we serve." --Thabo Cecil Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa "This is a timely book of pertinent, interweaving essays on the Anglican Communion Covenant . . . The authors are young theologians of profound promise. They love the Communion, and provide historical perspectives on the current discussions of the shape of the Church. The essays are erudite without being esoteric, and learned without being obscurantist. They are full of insight and wisdom." --Graham Kings, Bishop of Sherborne, Church of England "This collection of essays highlights some deep patterns in Anglican thought and practice. Those in favor of the Covenant will find their viewpoint endorsed by a wide range of new perspectives on the Covenant process. Those who reject the Covenant, because they consider it as undermining the Anglican tradition, may here discover that the Covenant aims to preserve and develop the Anglican tradition. I warmly commend it." --Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, Church of England "Faced with the decision of whether or not to adopt the proposed Anglican Covenant, the worldwide Communion needs guides with theological acumen and cultural sensitivity. The contributors to this volume are such guides. Coming from across the Communion and beyond, holding a variety of positions within church and academy, they have come together in support of the Covenant. What sets this volume apart from others is the youthful perspective of these contributors, who bring fresh eyes to the riches they all see within the Christian tradition." --Benjamin King, Sewanee: The University of the South "This volume of theological essays, drawn from a generation of young Anglican theologians, speaks of God's gracious purposes for the Anglican family of churches in post-Christendom times. Their theological horizons merit our attention." --Michael Nai Chiu Poon, Trinity Theological College "These essays are a splendid, varied, and important contribution to the discussion of the Anglican Covenant. They shed light on our Anglican past, point to the promise and richness of a covenanted way in the future, and contain insights for our ecumenical partners about the unity and identity of the Anglican Communion. They deserve to be widely read." --Dame Mary Tanner, President for Europe, World Council of Churches Author Biography: Benjamin M. Guyer is an MA/PhD student in the Department of History at the University of Kansas. He is the editor of The Beauty of Holiness: The Caroline Divines and Their Writings (2012).