| dc.description.abstract | Samuel Johnson's view of the Atonement shifts over his lifetime, from the exemplary view with its emphasis on the strict rules of conduct which lead to salvation to the propitiatory view with its faith that Christ's death cleansed the Christian of his sin. Johnson adopts early in his life the exemplary view with all its emphasis on living a pious life. Johnson's moral writings in the period to 1750 show his emphasis on the right rules of conduct and devotion, while in his prayers he is confident that with effort and God's assistance, he can life a life which will lead to salvation. As he grows older, however, the confidence evident earlier in his prayers begins to slip. He suffers increasingly from guilt over his inability to act in a manner that will promote his salvation. In his moral writings from 1750 until 1760, we see a growing gulf between the requirements of a pious life and man's ability to live up to them. After 1759, Johnson writes very little of a moral nature, and so we must turn to his prayers and meditations. After 1760, a massive breakdown of confidence is evident in the prayers, with much guilt, self-recrimination, and despair. By 1770, the prayers become more controlled, with an emphasis no longer on strict rules of conduct but now on requests for hope, wisdom, and faith. By the late 1770's, Johnson has adopted the propitiatory view of the atonement. The cause of this shift in theology lies in Johnson's observations of the weakness of others as well as in his frustrations at living pious; he realizes that man is unable to live righteously enough to be saved. Man can only be saved through the propitiation of Christ. | en |
