The Seventeenth-Century Resolve: A Historical Anthology of a Literary Form

Among the literary innovations of the seventeenth century—a period of rich development in English prose—was the resolve. Generally of religious inspiration, the resolve was intended as the instrument of reform of private and public morals to assist in attaining individual perfection and in establishing the ideal Christian state.

John L. Lievsay has brought together an anthology of resolves from the pens of eighteen writers, some —like Bishop Joseph Hall and Owen Feltham—familiar names to stu...