My friends from Babylon the great are very good to me in the summer-time. They come in a delightful stream from their thousand luxuries, their great social gatherings, their brilliant talk, and their cheering and stimulating surroundings; they come from all the excitement and the whirl of London or some other huge city where men live, and they make their friendly sojourn with us here in the wilderness even for a week at a time. They come in a generous and self-denying spirit to console and...

In this engaging work, Jessopp portrays the day-to-day responsibilities of a country parson, including conducting services, managing parish affairs, and interacting with parishioners. He captures the joys and frustrations of his role, illustrating the complexities of pastoral care and the unique personalities of those he encounters. Jessopp's writing is characterized by its wit and warmth, as he navigates the often humorous situations that arise in his ministry.Beyond the personal stories,...

The coming of the friars and other historic essays traces how a movement of wandering preachers transformed spiritual life during a period marked by hardship, social tension, and widespread longing for renewal. The narrative opens with scenes of instability and hope for change, where people sought guidance beyond traditional structures, setting the tone for the arrival of devoted travelers committed to service. A figure once tied to wealth embraces poverty and compassion, becoming central ...

Sweet St. Francis of Assisi, would that he were here again! – Lord Tennyson.

To a thoughtful man watching the signs of the times, it may well have seemed that the hope for the future of civilization--the hope for any future, whether of art, science, or religion-lay in the steady growth of the towns. It might be that the barrier of the Alps would always limit the influence of Italian cities to Italy and the islands of the Mediterranean; but for the great towns of what is now Belgium and Germany what part might not be left for them to play in the history of the world...

John Donne Complete Works World's Best CollectionThis is the world’s best John Donne collection, including the most complete set of Donne’s works available plus many free bonus materials.John DonneJohn Donne was an English poet, satirist, lawyer and a cleric in the Church of England. He is considered the pre-eminent representative of the metaphysical poets, his works noted for their strong, sensual style. Vibrancy of language and in...

"The Coming of the Friars" by Augustus Jessopp explores the transformative impact of the mendicant orders on medieval society. Jessopp delves into the origins and spread of the Franciscans and Dominicans, highlighting their roles in revitalizing the Church and engaging with the laity. The book examines how these friars, through their vows of poverty and commitment to preaching, challenged the established norms of monastic life and brought a new spiritual fervor to the communities they serv...

The Life and Miracles of St. William of Norwich is a twelfth-century Latin hagiography that presents the death of a young Norwich apprentice, William, as martyrdom and records miracles attributed to his cult. Written in the conventions of saints' lives—vita, passion narrative, and miracle collection—it combines devotional rhetoric with investigative claims. Its literary and historical significance is inseparable from its role in shaping one of medieval Europe's earliest blood-libel narrati...

A Short History of England, Chesterton gives us a cutting, humorous and brilliant tour of English History; though to be honest it's more of a collection of essays and a commentary on popular histories of the day. It follows the great arc of English history from the Roman era to WWI, always with wit, charm and empathy. To get a full sense for Chesterton's philosophical romp through time, it is perhaps best to at least have a vague familiarity with the island's history before reading the boo...

Based on Joseph Sabin's famed bibliography, Bibliotheca Americana, Sabin Americana, 1500--1926 contains a collection of books, pamphlets, serials and other works about the Americas, from the time of their discovery to the early 1900s. Sabin Americana is rich in original accounts of discovery and exploration, pioneering and westward expansion, the U.S. Civil War and other military actions, Native Americans, slavery and abolition, religious history and more.Sabin Americana offers an up-close...

“When the Church does not feel pain with those that are part of them, the Church's nerves ... become dead.” —Sabrina Wurmbrand, Co-founder of The Voice of the MartyrsJohn Foxe’s 'Foxe’s Book of Martyrs', first published in 1563, is a seminal work of Protestant history and religious literature. It chronicles the persecution and suffering of Christian martyrs, particularly those who were executed for their faith during the reign of Mary I of England, also known as "Bloody Mary." The book doc...

In "Guy Fawkes; Or, A Complete History Of The Gunpowder Treason, A.D. 1605," Thomas Lathbury meticulously explores one of England's most infamous conspiracies. Employing a blend of historical analysis and narrative storytelling, Lathbury delves into the socio-political context of early 17th-century England, critically assessing the motives behind the Gunpowder Plot, the characters involved, and the subsequent fallout. The writing is both engaging and informative, fortified by Lathbury's ex...