Scougal's Occasion for Writing

Scougal tells his friend (remember, this was written as a letter) that his purpose in writing is to advance "virtue and holiness." A life of Christian sanctity was the goal of every Puritan; their sermons and books are full of exhortations, encouragements, and advice regarding personal holiness. They took to heart Peter's admonition to holiness based on the holiness of God--as he is holy, so Christians are called to holiness. R. C. Sproul has recognized that a problem afflicting the contemporary church in the West is the lackadaisical attitude many professing Christians have toward sin. They simply don't dwell on the holiness of God and God's command to be like him, or upon the repeated exhortation in the Scriptures to imitate Christ. If Scougal can help us in this regard, he will have done us a great service.