Henry Venn

The Reverend Henry Venn (1725-1797) was an Anglican clergyman who became a central figure in the English evangelical revival movement of the late eighteenth century.

He was well known as the author of this work, The Complete Duty of Man (London, 1763), a work in which he intended to supplement the teaching embodied in the anonymous Whole Duty of Man from an evangelical perspective.

The introduction states: This book bears this title, The Complete Duty of Man, not from any arrogant conceit the author holds of its worth, but from its comprehending the doctrines, as well as the precepts peculiar to the church of God; from its placing things in their proper order, and preparing the way to Christian practice, by Christian faith, and to faith by conviction of sin. This treatise, therefore, written to promote holiness of life, must be deplorably defective, unless the cross of Christ be laid as the foundation, constantly kept in view, and every duty enforced, as having relation to the Redeemer.

Although the book is dated, I still found it profitable as a morning devotion.… (mer)