The Eternal Promise: A Sequel to a Testament of Devotion

by Thomas R. Kelly

This edition adds "Have You Ever Seen a Miracle?" and "Children of the Light." In addition, an introduction by Howard Macy and an index of all three of Kelly's works make this edition especially valuable. Sequel to A Testament to Devotion.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, Spirituality, Nonfiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Thomas Raymond Kelly (1893-January 17, 1941) was an American Quaker educator. He taught and wrote on the subject of mysticism. His books are widely read, especially by people interested in spirituality.

Reviews

[Suzanne Beaumont · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Call to Authentic Holiness

Drawing from his personal struggle to live out of the depth of The God within, Kelly powerfully calls the listeners to his talks as well as the reader to do the same. He does not shy away from facing those who claim to be religious with the necessity of living not just talking about humble surrender to God's call. He makes it very clear that social justice performed from merely human desire lacks the power to effect true change. Lives overcrowded with activity fail to have the quiet moments needed to discern God's will and allow God's presence to empower one's actions. Kelly speaks with a passion and sincerity that can only come from years of personal struggle to find what it means to be faithful. His writing calls the reader to honest and perhaps difficult self reflection. But that calling is embraced by one who truly wants to follow a similar although personal path.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was introduced to Eternal Promise in the spring of 2024 by Renovaré book club. This book club chooses 4 Christian books annually for our reading, then dividing each book to be read and discussed throughout 5 weeks. We three ladies agreed that this one was excellent and touched our lives in a special way.
Since I recently read Kelly's first book "A Testament of Devotion", I must say that Eternal Promise clarifies some of the questionable statements of Kelly's first book, A Testament of Devotion. The Eternal Promise was written as he had matured in his faith in the Lord. Together they are definitely more understandable.

[Marlene M. Oaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Will Change Your Life

Many decades ago, his "Testament of Devotion" changed my life. He introduced me to mystics and led me to understand my own experiences of Light. I just became aware of this book, and I eagerly downloaded it. It touched me so very deeply. It addresses my concerns about spiritual decline and the inner hunger to know God. Often I have said that my goal is to help people know God, not just know about God. I treasure this book and plan to read it again from time to time.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels good to learn from authors outside my church tradition. As a Quaker, Kelly talks about powerfully experiencing God's presence personally - both as an individual and in a group of Friends.

"Another dawning insight which broke in upon him [George Fox, founder of Quakerism] was that there was no substitute for immediacy of revelation. Each individual soul must be and can have direct illumination inside himself, from the living, revealing Spirit of God, now, today, for He is active in the world." (p 65)

"Four fabrics, at least, must converge... if... a profound awakening of spiritual religion is to take place. The basic condition is the soul-shaking discovery that God Himself is active, is dynamic, is here, is brooding over us all, is prompting and instructing us within, in amazing immediacy. This is not something to believe, it is something to experience, in the solemn, sacred depths of our beings." (p 106)

Many times while reading, I have stopped to pray and invite God to work within me by his Spirit and to allow me to experience his immediate presence. I have felt a sense of peace and calmness as I spend time with God in those moments.

I read The Eternal Promise as part of the Renovaré book club. This review first appeared on Instagram @sarah_brightsidecoach

[Michael Picconatto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Kelly's thoughts - in many ways they are extraordinarily applicable 75 years after they were first presented.

His thoughts have been very helpful for me as I continue to explore what a deep, developing, holistic, spiritual life looks like, especially separated from a program-centered, frantic expression of faith that is often very active, but also shallow in its ability to deal with the real problems and challenges of life.

Highly reccomend.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A set of essays and reflections from the Quaker Thomas Kelly, which function as a kind of sequel to his Testament of Devotion. Testament of Devotion is a bit more uniform in its presentation of essays, whereas Eternal Promise changes genre from essay to essay from historical sketches of George Fox, to reflections given at retreats, to brief theological treatises. Nevertheless, this little book is a treasure of Quaker theology. Particularly insightful were the middle essays, "The Quaker Discovery" (which reflects on George Fox's teachings), "Quakers and Symbolism" (which gives a Quaker understanding of the sacraments), and "The Gathered Meeting" (which is a theology of the Quaker gathering). However, the spiritual beauty of the other essays cannot be discounted.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another in a long line of books with the same "un-selfing" message God keeps giving me. I am the hungry one Kelly writes about! But also so naturally turned away from the source of life: ".. with what shame we look upon our wasted years of yearning to be somebody" (!!)

//
"And we've chafed in our tiny unnoticed niches because of wounded self-pride, because secretly we believed we were a bigger person than we got credit for being. Self-love, self-pride, self-seeking, self-inflation that would cover up its own poverty by accumulating an array of glittering earth garments of doctor's degrees and titles and honors and successes!" (p. 103)

"Until we grow rich and mature in God and become persons who have utterly died to themselves and are actually hid away with Christ in God, we shall have missed the inner wells of living water which spring up and make life miraculous, and the desert to bloom like the rose." (p. 99)

"Teach us to slough off our earthy, time-born pettiness, and walk in simplicity and lowly love all our days." (p. 95)

Kelly's got a fire in him in these stand-alone essays, and I love him for it.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I am not Quaker and there are things about Quaker theology that do not quite sit right with me, I always find myself bearing a deep appreciation for the way that their writers identify an immediacy of God's Presence that is sometimes lost to those of us in other Protestant traditions. I also think, particularly with Kelly, there is this innate sense of the duality of timelines coursing through the Christian life- the eternal and the now, that speaks to me in seasons where I fell bound by an evangelical church always enthralled to chronos at the expense of kairos. While cobbled together from talks and speeches of Kelly written and delivered almost a hundred years ago there is so much here that continues to reverberate down the hallways of time. The struggles are real and they continue and Kelly's challenge to decenter the self and receive the God who is seeking is a call to humility and surrender that remains extremely and necessarily relevant.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is fairly clear, both from comments about the book and from Kelly’s writing itself, that this is the work of a spiritual master. However, I cannot help but notice the number of comments that demonstrate Quakerism’s dangerous tendency to focus on “the inner Light” at the expense of everything, including orthodoxy and biblical faithfulness. Maybe I was just not in the best place mentally to read this work. Maybe I need to read Kelly’s other, more famous work first. But this just wasn’t the spiritual masterpiece that I expected. It’s a good read, worth reading to understand Quakerism at the very least.

[Leonard Gladden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Stay With Me For a Long Time

Wow! Just....wow. I've felt a draw over the last few years to classical Quakerism. This book definitely moves that needle even more. I MUST read more Thomas Kelly!

[Craig Dove · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay. It has some good parts. But it really feels like leftovers - does not compare to Testament of Devotion.

[Eli Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing!

So much deep spiritual food. A feast! I ordered it in paperback to underline and write all over it. Inspired.

[Tony Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful books I have ever read. The antidote to the hectic world we live in. I have returned to it several times and undoubtedly will again. Food for the soul.

[Gregory Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive and platitudinous in spots, but overall a compelling picture of an ideal Quaker life and meeting/ fellowship.

[Carol Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. I agree with everything in this book. So spot on!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So enjoyed this. Amazingly applicable to today. Renovare Book Club picked another winner.

[Stephen G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book; so relevant today. Just what I needed.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prophetic book, in that it was written in the late 1930s, but speaks to the Church still in contemporary times.

[Neil Saltmarsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just re-read this book and I am glad that I did. Many of the things I overlooked originally, now stand out to me. Besides a lot of great quotes, this book seeks to engage us in rekindling the fire of the Spirit that is within us. There is not much in the way of problem solving but a pointing to God to be foremost and an almost prophetic zeal for those who are serious about being on fire for God. The world that Thomas Kelly is describing is eerily like mid 2020s with its craziness of supposedly strong and egotistical men in the political arena. Having seen Germany pre WWII, he has seen the discrimination against Jews, and the effect it has had both on those oppressed and on those who are creating a culture of fear. The world is waiting for sincere people who truly believe and live the gospel with a fiery intensity because the church at that time was lukewarm and more concerned with social welfare. Social welfare being good when it is anchored in a practice of contemplative waiting for God and his agenda.

I did a review of this on the Kindle version but this is the edition I read. This later book is not as well rounded and complete as A Testament of Devotion but is still challenging to read and a spur to the real spiritual life in God as first and foremost before we can go out and do things in God's name. There are very few writers like Thomas R. Kelly who really have a real experience of God and it shows in the deep insights and contrasts he shares. Highly recommended.

[Mark Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Thomas Kelly at his best. Simply profound at every line. I had to read this book one chapter at a time because he gives too much to think about to move on to the next chapter.