NationMaster - Encyclopedia: John Wesley

John Wesley (IPA: /ˈwɛslɪ/) (June 28 [O.S. June 17] 1703 – March 2, 1791) was an Anglican minister and Christian theologian who was an early leader in the Methodist movement. Methodism had three rises: the first at Oxford University with the founding of the "Holy Club"; the second while Wesley was parish priest in Savannah, Georgia; and the third in London after Wesley's return to England. The movement took form from its third rise in the early 1740s when Wesley, along with others like George Whitefield, began itinerant field preaching and the subsequent founding of religious societies for the formation of believers. This was the first widely successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom. Wesley's Methodist connection included societies throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland before spreading to other parts of the English-speaking world and beyond. He divided his religious societies further into classes and bands for intensive accountability and religious instruction. Methodists, under Wesley's direction, became leaders in many social justice issues of the day including prison reform and abolitionism movements. Wesley's strength as a theologian lay in his ability to combine seemingly opposing theological stances. His greatest theological achievement was his promotion of what he termed "Christian perfection," or holiness of heart and life. Wesley insisted that in this life, the Christian could come to a state where the love of God, or perfect love, reigned supreme in one's heart. His evangelical theology, especially his understanding of Christian perfection, was firmly grounded in his sacramental theology. He continually insisted on the general use of the means of grace (prayer, Scripture, meditation, Holy Communion, etc.) as the means by which God transformed the believer. Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the Church of England and insisted that his movement was well within the bounds of the Anglican Church.^[1] His maverick use of church policy put him at odds with many within the Church of England, though toward the end of his life he was widely respected. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 2 - Earthquake in Aquila, Italy February 4 - In Japan, the 47 samurai commit seppuku (ritual suicide) February 14 - Earthquake in Norcia, Italy April 21 - Company of Quenching of Fire (ie. ... Epworth is a town in Lincolnshire, England. ... For other places with the same name, see Lincolnshire (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... -1... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Westminster School (disambiguation). ... and of the Christ Church College name Christ Church Latin name Ã†des Christi Named after Jesus Christ Established 1546 Sister college Trinity College, Cambridge Dean The Very Revd Christopher Andrew Lewis JCR president Laura Ellis Undergraduates 426 GCR president Tim Benjamin Graduates 154 Location of Christ Church within central Oxford... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... The Methodist movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity. ... The French word nÃ©e (feminine) or nÃ© (masculine) (or the English word nee) is still commonly used in some newspapers when mentioning the maiden name of a woman in engagement or wedding announcements. ... Samuel Wesley (1662 - 1735) is now known as the father of a great religious leader, John Wesley; in his own time he was known to many as a poet and a writer of controversial prose. ... Susanna Wesley, born Susanna Annesley, was the daughter of Dr. Samuel Annesley and the mother of John and Charles Wesley. ... -1... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Old Style redirects here. ... Events February 2 - Earthquake in Aquila, Italy February 4 - In Japan, the 47 samurai commit seppuku (ritual suicide) February 14 - Earthquake in Norcia, Italy April 21 - Company of Quenching of Fire (ie. ... -1... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The term Anglican describes those people and churches following the religious traditions of the Church of England, especially following the Reformation. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Christian theology practices theology from a Christian viewpoint or studies Christianity theologically. ... For other uses, see Methodism (disambiguation). ... The University of Oxford, located in the city of Oxford in England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... Savannah redirects here. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... George Whitefield (December 16, 1714 - September 30, 1770), was a minister in the Church of England and one of the leaders of the Methodist movement. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Relation to other religions Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Christianity Portal This box: Evangelicalism is a theological perspective in Protestant Christianity which identifies with the gospel. ... Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, aiming at a more effective penal system. ... This article is about slavery. ... For other uses, see Prayer (disambiguation). ... Many religions and spiritual movements hold certain written texts (or series of spoken legends not traditionally written down) to be sacred. ... For other senses of this word, see Meditation (disambiguation). ... The Eucharist is either the Christian sacrament of consecrated bread and wine or the ritual surrounding it. ...

Youth

John Wesley was born in Epworth, 23 miles (37 km) northwest of Lincoln, the son of Samuel Wesley, a graduate of Oxford, and a minister of the Church of England. In 1689 Samuel married Susanna Annesley, twenty-fourth child of Dr. Samuel Annesley. Both Samuel and Susanna had been raised in Dissenting homes before becoming members of the Established Church early in adulthood. Susanna herself became a mother of nineteen children. In 1696 Samuel Wesley was appointed rector of Epworth, where John, the fifteenth child, was born. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1196x1600, 1402 KB) Remember John Wesley, Wroot. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1196x1600, 1402 KB) Remember John Wesley, Wroot. ... Epworth is a town in Lincolnshire, England. ... Epworth is a town in Lincolnshire, England. ... Lincoln (pronounced Lin-kun) is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England, a bridging point over the River Witham that flows to Boston. ... Samuel Wesley (1662 - 1735) is now known as the father of a great religious leader, John Wesley; in his own time he was known to many as a poet and a writer of controversial prose. ... The University of Oxford (informally Oxford University), located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[3] in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the oldest among the communions thirty-eight independent national churches. ... Susanna Wesley, born Susanna Annesley, was the daughter of Dr. Samuel Annesley and the mother of John and Charles Wesley. ... The term dissenter (from the Latin dissentire, to disagree), labels one who dissents or disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. ... In English history, the Established Church is the Church of England, the church which is established by the Government, supported by it, and of which the monarch is the titular head; until 1920 it also held the same position in Wales. ...

At the age of five, John was rescued from the burning rectory. This escape made a deep impression on his mind; and he regarded himself as providentially set apart, as a "brand plucked from the burning."^[2]

The Wesley children's early education was given by their parents in the Epworth rectory. Each child, including the girls, was taught to read as soon as they could walk and talk. In 1714 John was admitted to the Charterhouse School, London (under the mastership of John King from 1715), where he lived the studious, methodical, and (for a while) religious life in which he had been trained at home. Charterhouse (Originally, Suttons Hospital in Charterhouse) is a famous boys English public school, located in Godalming in the county of Surrey. ...

During his early years, John Wesley had enjoyed a deep religious experience. His biographer, Tyerman, says that he went to Charterhouse a saint, but he became negligent of his religious duties, and left a sinner.

In Oxford and Georgia

In June 1720, Wesley entered Christ Church, Oxford, with an annual allowance of £40 as a Charterhouse scholar. His health was poor and he found it hard to keep out of debt. A scheme of study which he drew up for 1721 with a time-table for each day of the week is still to be seen in his earliest diary. This first diary (of many) runs from April 5, 1725, to February 19, 1727. A friend describes Wesley at this time as "a young fellow of the finest classical taste, and the most liberal and manly sentiments." He was "gay and sprightly, with a turn for wit and humour." ^[3] From [1], in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... From [1], in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... // Events January 6 - The Committee of Inquiry on the South Sea Bubble publishes its findings February 11 - Sweden and Prussia sign the (2nd Treaty of Stockholm) declaring peace. ... and of the Christ Church College name Christ Church Latin name Ã†des Christi Named after Jesus Christ Established 1546 Sister college Trinity College, Cambridge Dean The Very Revd Christopher Andrew Lewis JCR president Laura Ellis Undergraduates 426 GCR president Tim Benjamin Graduates 154 Location of Christ Church within central Oxford... is the 95th day of the year (96th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 8 - Catherine I became empress of Russia February 20 - The first reported case of white men scalping Native Americans takes place in New Hampshire colony. ... [[Media:Italic text]]{| style=float:right; |- | |- | |} is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events 1727 to 1800 - Lt. ...

He was ordained as a deacon in 1725 and elected fellow of Lincoln College in the following year. He received his Master of Arts in 1727. He was his father's curate for two years, and then he returned to Oxford to fulfill his functions as fellow.^[4] It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... and of the Lincoln College College name Lincoln College Named after Richard Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln Established 1427 Sister college Downing College, Cambridge Rector Prof. ... A masters degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded after the completion of an academic program of one to six years in duration. ... Events 1727 to 1800 - Lt. ... From the Latin curatus (compare Curator), a curate is a person who is invested with the care, or cure (cura), of souls of a parish. ...

Leading Wesley scholars point to 1725 as the date of Wesley's conversion. In the year of his ordination he read and began to seek the religious truths which underlay the great revival of the 18th century. The reading of William Law's Christian Perfection and Serious Call gave him, he said, a more sublime view of the law of God; and he resolved to keep it, inwardly and outwardly, as sacredly as possible. He pursued a rigidly methodical and abstemious life, studied the Scriptures, and performed his religious duties diligently, depriving himself so that he would have alms to give. It was during his Oxford days that Wesley began to discover the true practice of the Christian faith, an understanding, like so many others in his life, that would continue to develop both while he was in Georgia and after his subsequent return to England in 1738. William Law (1686 â€“ April 9, 1761), English divine, was born at Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire. ...

The year of his return to Oxford (1729) marks the beginning of the rise of Methodism. The famous "holy club" was formed by John's younger brother, Charles Wesley, and some fellow students, derisively called "Methodists" because of their methodical habits. This article is about the city of Oxford in England. ... For other uses, see Methodism (disambiguation). ... Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 - 29 March 1788) was a leader of the Methodist movement, the younger brother of John Wesley. ...

John left for Savannah, Georgia in 1735, several months after the death of his father, with the intent to convert the Indians and deepen and regulate the religious life of the colonists. While in Georgia, he began the first Sunday school, at Christ Church, while his brother Charles served in Governor James Oglethorpe's administration. John's time in Georgia was unfortunate and short-lived. He had an unhappy love affair, which culminated in John's refusal to serve communion to his prospective wife and her husband. Her husband charged John with slander for disgracing his wife's honor. Upon being released upon his own recognizance, John left Georgia under cover of darkness and sailed from South Carolina back to England. Fort Frederica today Fort Frederica National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service located on St. ... Savannah redirects here. ... General James Oglethorpe James Oglethorpe (December 22 1696 â€“ June 30, 1785) was a British general, a philanthropist, and was the founder of the colony of Georgia. ...

One positive result of John's time in Georgia was the relationship he developed with the Moravians, a sect of reformists dating back to Jan Hus. In the midst of a devastating storm on the way to Georgia, Wesley was deeply impressed by a group of Moravians who remained calm by singing hymns. His relationship with the Moravians, and the Arminian movement in general, deeply affected his personal life and theology. The Moravian Seal, as rendered by North Carolina artist Marie Nifong. ... Jan Hus ( ) (IPA: , alternative spellings John Hus, Jan Huss, John Huss) (c. ...

Some of the charges brought against him were on account of his unusual liturgical “experiments”. A journal entry in 1735 reports that he spent 3 hours “revising” the Book of Common Prayer. This indicates that Wesley’s intense reading of the Church Fathers and Eastern Orthodox Church writers influenced his approaches and baffled those who knew him. They only knew he did not fit into what they expected or wanted. He returned to England in 1738. For the novel, see A Book of Common Prayer. ... Orthodox icon of Pentecost. ...

The beginning of the revival

Wesley returned to England depressed and beaten. It was at this point that he turned to the Moravians. Wesley had encountered the Moravians three years earlier on his voyage to Georgia. At one point in the voyage a storm came up and broke the mast off the ship. While the English aboard all panicked the Moravians calmly sang hymns and prayed. This experience led Wesley to believe that the Moravians possessed an inner strength which he lacked.^[5] His Aldersgate experience of May 24, 1738, at a Moravian meeting in Aldersgate Street, London, in which he heard a reading of Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans, and penned the now famous lines "I felt my heart strangely warmed",^[6] revolutionized the character and method of his ministry.^[7] The previous week he had been highly impressed by the pentecostal sermon of Dr. John Heylyn whom he was assisting in the service at St Mary-le-Strand, an occasion followed immediately by news of the death of his brother, Samuel.^[8] A few weeks later Wesley preached a remarkable sermon on the doctrine of present personal salvation by faith, which was followed by another, on God's grace "free in all, and free for all." Image File history File links Download high resolution version (480x640, 269 KB) Summary John Wesleys House, City Road, Shoreditch, London. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (480x640, 269 KB) Summary John Wesleys House, City Road, Shoreditch, London. ... City Road is a road in central London, usually referred to by Londoners as the City Road. At its western extremity it starts at the Angel, Islington, as the continuation of Pentonville Road and continues roughly south-east till it passes Moorfields Eye Hospital, when it bears closer to south... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Moravian Seal, as rendered by North Carolina artist Marie Nifong. ... is the 144th day of the year (145th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 4 - Court Jew Joseph Suss Oppenheimer is executed in WÃ¼rttenberg April 15 - Premiere in London of Serse, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel. ... The current route of the A1 (red) and the historic route of the Great North Road (blue). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 â€“ February 18, 1546) was a German monk,[1] priest, professor, theologian, and church reformer. ... The Epistle to the Romans is one of the letters of the New Testament canon of the Christian Bible. ... Dr John Heylyn, DD (1685-11 August 1759) was an Anglican divine, who had a major influence on religious thought in eighteenth century England. ... St Mary-Le-Strand viewed from the West St Mary-le-Strand is a Church of England church on Strand, London, in the City of Westminster, London. ...

Though his understanding of both justification and the assurance matured, he never stopped preaching the importance of faith for salvation and the witness of God's Spirit with the spirit of the believer that they were, indeed, a child of God.

He allied himself with the Moravian society in Fetter Lane, and in 1738 went to Herrnhut, the Moravian headquarters in Germany. On his return to England he drew up rules for the "bands" into which the Fetter Lane Society was divided, and published a collection of hymns for them. He met frequently with this and other religious societies in London, but did not preach often in 1738, because most of the parish churches were closed to him. Herrnhut (Sorbian: Ochranow) is a municipality in the district of LÃ¶bau-Zittau, in the state of Saxony, Germany. ... For other uses, see Hymn (disambiguation). ... A parish church is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches. ...

Wesley's Oxford friend, the evangelist George Whitefield, upon his return from America, was also excluded from the churches of Bristol; and, going to the neighbouring village of Kingswood, preached in the open air, in February 1739, to a company of miners and later in Whitefield's Tabernacle. Wesley hesitated to accept Whitefield's earnest request to copy this bold step. Overcoming his scruples, he preached his first sermon in the open air, near Bristol, in April of that year. George Whitefield (December 16, 1714 - September 30, 1770), was a minister in the Church of England and one of the leaders of the Methodist movement. ... This article is about the English city. ... Kingswood is a town in South Gloucestershire, England; it is on the eastern outskirts of Bristol (see below). ... Whitefields Tabernacle is a church in Kingswood, a town on the eastern edge of Bristol where George Whitefield preached in the open air to coal miners. ... Open air preaching is the act of preaching to people in public places, primarily on the street corner where there is a crowd of people. ...

He was still unhappy about the idea of field preaching, and would have thought, "till very lately," such a method of saving souls as "almost a sin."^[9] These open-air services were very successful; and he never again hesitated to preach in any place where an assembly could be gotten together, more than once using his father's tombstone at Epworth as a pulpit. He continued for fifty years — entering churches when he was invited, and taking his stand in the fields, in halls, cottages, and chapels, when the churches would not receive him. Headstones in the Japanese Cemetry in Broome, Western Australia A cemetery in rural Spain A typical late 20th century headstone in the United States A headstone, tombstone or gravestone is a marker, normally carved from stone, placed over or next to the site of a burial. ... For other uses of Ambo, see Ambo, Ethiopia, Kom Ombo, ambulance Ambo (band). ...

Late in 1739 Wesley broke with the Moravians in London. Wesley had helped them organize the Fetter Lane Society; and those converted by his preaching and that of his brother and Whitefield had become members of their bands. But finding, as he said, that they had fallen into heresies, especially quietism, he decided to form his own followers into a separate society. "Thus," he wrote, "without any previous plan, began the Methodist Society in England." Similar societies were soon formed in Bristol and Kingswood, and wherever Wesley and his friends made converts. A short time before the great Methodist revival of the 18th Century in England, Moravians were avidly ministering throughout London. ... For other uses, see Heresy (disambiguation). ... Quietism is a Christian philosophy that swept through France, Italy and Spain during the 17th century, but it had much earlier origins. ...

Persecutions; lay preaching

From 1739 onward, Wesley and the Methodists were persecuted by clergymen and magistrates. They were attacked in sermons and in print and at times attacked by mobs. They remained always at work among the neglected and needy. They were denounced as promulgators of strange doctrines, fomenters of religious disturbances; as blind fanatics, leading people astray, claiming miraculous gifts, attacking the clergy of the Church of England, and trying to reestablish Catholicism. The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[3] in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the oldest among the communions thirty-eight independent national churches. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ...

Feeling, however, that the church failed in its duty to call sinners to repentance, that many of the clergymen were corrupt and that souls were perishing in their sins, Wesley regarded himself as commissioned by God to bring about revival in the church; and no opposition, or persecution, or obstacles could prevail against the divine urgency and authority of this commission. The prejudices of his High-church training, his strict notions of the methods and proprieties of public worship, his views of the apostolic succession and the prerogatives of the priest, even his most cherished convictions, were not allowed to stand in the way.

Unwilling that people should perish in their sins and unable to reach them from church pulpits, he began field-preaching. Seeing that he and the few clergymen cooperating with him could not do the work that needed to be done, he was led, as early as 1739, to approve of local preachers; men and women who were not episcopally ordained were permitted to preach and do pastoral work. Thus one of the great features of Methodism, to which it has largely owed its success, was adopted by Wesley in answer to a necessity.

Chapels and organizations

As his societies needed houses to worship in, Wesley began to provide chapels, first in Bristol, at the New Room then in London and elsewhere. The Bristol chapel (1739) was at first in the hands of trustees; a large debt was contracted, and Wesley's friends urged him to keep it under his own control, so the deed was canceled, and he became sole trustee. Following this precedent, all Methodist chapels were committed in trust to him until by a "deed of declaration" all his interests in them were transferred to a body of preachers called the "Legal Hundred." The New Room (grid reference ST592733) is a historic building in Broadmead, Bristol, England. ...

When disorder arose among some members of the societies, he adopted the plan of giving tickets to members, with their names written by his own hand. These were renewed every three months. Those deemed unworthy did not receive new tickets, and dropped out of the society without disturbance. The tickets were regarded as commendatory letters.

When the debt on a chapel became a burden, it was proposed that one in twelve members should collect offerings regularly from the eleven allotted to him. Out of this, under Wesley's care, grew, in 1742, the Methodist class-meeting system. In order to keep the disorderly out of the societies, Wesley established a probationary system, and undertook to visit each society regularly: the quarterly visitation, or conference. As the societies increased, he could not keep up contact effectively; so he drew up in 1743 a set of "General Rules" for the "United Societies," which were the nucleus of the Methodist Discipline and still exist.

General Rules: It is therefore expected of all who continue therein that they should continue to evidence their desire of salvation,

Secondly: By . . . doing good of every possible sort, and, as far as possible, to all . . . ;

As the number of preachers and preaching-places increased, doctrinal and administrative matters needed to be discussed; so the two Wesleys, with four other clergymen and four lay preachers, met for consultation in London in 1744. This was the first Methodist conference. Two years later, in order that the preachers might work more systematically and the societies receive their services more regularly, Wesley appointed "helpers" to definitive circuits, each of which included at least thirty appointments a month. Believing that their usefulness and efficiency were promoted by being changed from one circuit to another every year or two, he established the "itinerancy", and insisted that his preachers submit to its rules. When, in 1788, some objected to the frequent changes, he wrote, "For fifty years God has been pleased to bless the itinerant plan, the last year most of all. It must not be altered till I am removed, and I hope it will remain till our Lord comes to reign on earth."

Ordination of ministers

As the societies multiplied, and the elements of an ecclesiastical system were gradually adopted, the space between Wesley and the Church of England widened. The question of the division from that church, urged, on the one side, by some of his preachers and societies, but most strenuously opposed by his brother Charles and others, needed to be considered. Still, Wesley refused to leave the Church of England, believing the Anglican church to be "with all her blemishes, [...] nearer the Scriptural plans than any other in Europe".^[10] In 1745 Wesley wrote that he would make any concession which his conscience permitted, in order to live in peace with the clergy, but could not give up the doctrine of an inward and present salvation by faith by itself. He would not stop preaching, nor dissolve the societies, nor end preaching by lay members. As a clergyman within the Established Church, he had no plans to go further. "We dare not," he said, "administer baptism or the Lord's Supper without a commission from a bishop in the apostolic succession." Asbury Theological Seminary is a multi-denominational, graduate institution that offers a variety of master degree and postgraduate degree programs. ... This article is about the Christian religious act of Baptism. ... For other uses, see Eucharist (disambiguation). ... In Christianity, the doctrine of Apostolic Succession (or the belief that the Church is apostolic) maintains that the Christian Church today is the spiritual successor to the original body of believers in Christ, composed of the Apostles. ...

But the next year he read Lord King on the Primitive Church. Wesley was impressed by this that apostolic succession was a fiction, in fact that he was "a scriptural episkopos as much as many men in England." Many years later Stillingfleet's Irenicon led him to renounce the opinion that neither Christ or his apostles prescribed any form of church government, and to declare ordination valid when performed by a presbyter. It was not until about forty years later that he ordained by the laying on of hands, and even then only for those who would serve outside of England. Edward Stillingfleet (1635 - 1699) was a British theologian. ... Catholic deacon candidates prostrate before the altar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles during a 2004 diaconate ordination liturgy In a general sense, the term Holy Orders refers to those in the Christian religion who have been ordained in Apostolic Succession. ... Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, a synonym of episkopos, which has come to mean bishop. ...

When he had waited long enough, but the Bishop of London still refused to ordain a minister for the American Methodists who were without the sacraments, in 1784 Wesley ordained preachers for Scotland and England and America, with power to administer the sacraments. Though Thomas Coke was already a presbyter in the Church of England, Wesley consecrated, by laying on of hands, Dr. Thomas Coke to be superintendent in America. He also ordained Richard Whatcoat and Thomas Vasey as presbyters. He intended that Coke, and Asbury (who Coke would subsequently consecrate in America) should ordain others in the newly founded Methodist Episcopal Church. This alarmed his brother Charles, who begged him to stop before he had "quite broken down the bridge," and not embitter his [Charles'] last moments on earth, nor "leave an indelible blot on our memory." Wesley replied that he had not separated from the church, nor did he intend to, but he must and would save as many souls as he could while alive, "without being careful about what may possibly be when I die." Although he rejoiced that the Methodists in America were free, he advised his English followers to remain in the established church; and he himself died within it. Arms of the Bishop of London The Bishop of London is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury. ... A sacrament is a Christian rite that mediates divine grace. ... For other persons of the same name, see Thomas Coke. ... For other persons of the same name, see Thomas Coke. ...

Advocacy of Arminianism

Wesley was a strong controversialist. The most notable of his controversies was that on Calvinism. His father was of the Arminian school in the church; but John decided for himself when he was in college and expressed himself strongly against the doctrines of Calvinistic election and reprobation. The term Conditional Preservation of the Saints is used to describe the belief that a Christians salvation can be lost. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Relation to other religions Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Luther Â· Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Calvinism... Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought in Protestant Christian theology founded by the Dutch theologian Jacob Hermann, who was best known by the Latin form of his name, Jacobus Arminius. ...

Whitefield inclined to Calvinism. In his first tour in America, he embraced the views of the New England School of Calvinism; and then Wesley preached a sermon on Freedom Of Grace, attacking the Calvinistic understanding of predestination as blasphemous, representing "God as worse than the devil," Whitefield asked him (1739) not to repeat or publish the discourse, not wanting a dispute. Wesley's sermon was published, and among the many replies to it was one by Whitefield. Separation followed in 1741. Wesley wrote that those who held to unlimited atonement did not desire separation, but "those who held particular redemption would not hear of any accommodation."^[11] Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Relation to other religions Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Luther Â· Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Calvinism... Predestination (also linked with foreknowledge) is a religious concept, which involves the relationship between the beginning of things and their destinies. ...

Whitefield, Harris, Cennick, and others, became the founders of Calvinistic Methodism. Whitefield and Wesley, however, were soon back on friendly terms, and their friendship remained thenceforth unbroken, though they travelled different paths. Occasional publications appeared on Calvinistic doctrines, by Wesley and others; but in 1770 the controversy broke out anew with violence and bitterness. Toplady, Berridge, Rowland, Richard Hill, and others were engaged on the one side, and Wesley and Fletcher on the other. Toplady was editor of The Gospel Magazine, which was filled with the controversy. Wesley in 1778 began the publication of The Arminian Magazine, not, he said, to convince Calvinists, but to preserve Methodists and to teach the truth that "God willeth all men to be saved." A "lasting peace" could be secured in no other way. Howell Harris Howell Harris (1714-1773) was one of the main leaders of the Welsh Methodist revival in the 18th century, along with Daniel Rowland and William Williams Pantycelyn. ... John Cennick John Cennick (DeÂcemÂber 12, 1718-JuÂly 4, 1755) was an early Methodist and Moravian evangelist and hymnwriter. ... The Presbyterian church of Wales (Welsh: Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru), also known as The Calvinistic Methodist Church (Welsh: Yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd Galfinaidd), is a denomination of Protestant Christianity. ... Augustus Montague Toplady (November 4, 1740 â€“ 1778), Anglican divine, was born at Farnham, Surrey, and educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Dublin. ... Categories: People stubs | Christian history | History of Wales ... Richard Hill may be one of two English rugby union footballers: Richard Hill (born 1961) played scrum-half for Bath and England, and later coached Gloucester Richard Hill (born 1973) plays flanker for Saracens, England and has represented the British Lions. ... The Gospel Magazine is a Calvinist, evangelical magazine from the United Kingdom, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. ...

Doctrines and theology

20th century Wesley scholar Albert Outler argued in his introduction to the 1964 collection John Wesley (ISBN 0-19-502810-4) that Wesley developed his theology by using a method that Outler termed the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. In this method, Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture; and the Bible was the sole foundational source of theological or doctrinal development. The centrality of scripture was so important for Wesley that he called himself "a man of one book" -- meaning the Bible -- although he was a remarkably well-read man of his day. However, doctrine had to be in keeping with Christian orthodox tradition. So, tradition became in his view the second aspect of the so-called Quadrilateral. Albert Cook Outler (1908-1989) was a 20th century American Methodist theologian and philosopher. ... The Wesleyan Quadrilateral is a methodology for theological reflection that is credited to John Wesley, leader of the Methodist movement in the late 18th Century. ...

Believing, as he did, that faith is more than merely an acknowledgment of ideas, Wesley contended that a part of the theological method would involve experiential faith. In other words, truth would be vivified in personal experience of Christians (overall, not individually), if it were really truth. And every doctrine must be able to defended rationally. He did not divorce faith from reason. Tradition, experience and reason, however, were subject always to scripture, Wesley argued, because only there is the Word of God revealed 'so far as it is necessary for our salvation.'^[12]

The doctrines which Wesley emphasized in his sermons and writings are prevenient grace, present personal salvation by faith, the witness of the Spirit, and sanctification. Prevenient Grace was the theological underpinnings of his belief that all persons were capable of being saved by faith in Christ. Unlike the Calvinists of his day he did not believe that some persons had been elected by God for salvation and others for damnation. However, he understood that Christian orthodoxy insisted that salvation is only possible by the sovereign grace of God. Hence, he came to express his understanding of humanity's relationship to God as utter dependence upon God's grace. God was at work to enable all people to be capable of coming to faith by empowering humans to have actual existential freedom of response to God. Prevenient grace is a Christian theological concept rooted in Augustinian theology[1] and embraced primarily by Arminian Christians who are influenced by the theology of John Wesley and who are part of the Methodist movement. ...

He defined the witness of the Spirit as: "an inward impression on the soul of believers, whereby the spirit of God directly testifies to their spirit that they are the children of God." He based this doctrine upon certain biblical passages (see Romans 8:15-16 as an example). This doctrine was closely related to his belief that salvation had to be "personal." In his view, a person must ultimately believe the Good News for himself or herself; no one could be in relation to God for another.

Sanctification he spoke of (1790) as the "grand depositum which God has lodged with the people called `Methodists'." Wesley taught that sanctification was obtainable after justification by faith, between justification and death. He did not contend for "sinless perfection;" rather he contended that a Christian could be made "perfect in love." This love would mean, first of all, that a believer's motives would be guided by the deep desire to please God. One would be able to keep from committing what Wesley called, "sin rightly so-called." By this he meant a conscious or intentional breach of God's will or laws. A person could still be able to sin, but intentional or willful sin could be avoided. Sanctification or in its verb form, sanctify, literally means to set apart for special use or purpose, that is to make holy or sacred (compare Latin sanctus holy). Therefore sanctification refers to the state or process of being set apart, i. ...

Secondly, to be made perfect in love meant, for Wesley, that a Christian could live with a primary guiding regard for others and their welfare. He took as the basis for this Christ's quote that the second great command is "to love your neighbor as you love yourself." In his view, this orientation would cause a person to avoid any number of sins against his neighbor. This love, plus the love for God that could be the central focus of a person's faith, would be what Wesley referred to as "a fulfillment of the law of Christ."

He was anxious that this doctrine should be constantly preached in England of his day, especially among the people called Methodists. In fact, he contended that the very purpose of the Methodist movement was to "spread scriptural holiness across [England]." His system of thought has become known as Wesleyan Arminianism, the foundations of which were laid by Wesley and Fletcher (see Jacobus Arminius, Arminianism). Jacobus Arminius Jacobus Arminius (aka Jacob Arminius, James Arminius, and his Dutch name Jacob Harmenszoon or Jakob Hermann) (1560â€“1609) was a Dutch heretical theologian and (until 1603) professor in theology at the University of Leiden. ... Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought in Protestant Christian theology founded by the Dutch theologian Jacob Hermann, who was best known by the Latin form of his name, Jacobus Arminius. ...

Two comparatively recent works which explain Wesley's theological positions are Randy Maddox's 1994 book Responsible Grace: John Wesley's Practical Theology (ISBN 0-687-00334-2) and Thomas Oden's 1994 book John Wesley's Scriptural Christianity: A Plain Exposition of His Teaching on Christian Doctrine (ISBN 0-310-75321-X). Dr. Thomas C. Oden Thomas Clark Oden (October 21, 1931 - ) is an American Christian theologian associated with Drew University in New Jersey. ...

Personality and activities

Wesley travelled constantly, generally on horseback, preaching two or three times a day. He formed societies, opened chapels, examined and commissioned preachers, administered aid charities, prescribed for the sick, helped to pioneer the use of electric shock for the treatment of illness,^[13] superintended schools and orphanages, received at least £20,000 for his publications, but used little of it for himself. His charities were limited only by his means. He died poor. He rose at four in the morning, lived simply and methodically, and was never idle if he could help it. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (457x640, 198 KB) Summary John Wesley statue, City Road, Shoreditch, London. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (457x640, 198 KB) Summary John Wesley statue, City Road, Shoreditch, London. ... Wesleys Chapel was opened in 1778 by the founder of Methodism, John Wesley to replace his earlier London chapel, The Foundery. ... City Road is a road in central London, usually referred to by Londoners as the City Road. At its western extremity it starts at the Angel, Islington, as the continuation of Pentonville Road and continues roughly south-east till it passes Moorfields Eye Hospital, when it bears closer to south... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also known as electroshock, is a controversial psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in anesthetized patients for therapeutic effect. ... For other uses, see Orphanage (disambiguation). ...

He is described as below medium height, well proportioned, strong, with a bright eye, a clear complexion, and a saintly, intellectual face. He married very unhappily at the age of forty-eight to a widow, Mary Vazeille, and had no children. Vazeille left him fifteen years later. He died peacefully, after a short illness, leaving as the result of his life-work 135,000 members, and 541 itinerant preachers under the name "Methodist." He is buried in a small graveyard behind Wesley's Chapel in City Road, London. Wesleys Chapel was opened in 1778 by the founder of Methodism, John Wesley to replace his earlier London chapel, The Foundery. ... City Road is a road in central London, usually referred to by Londoners as the City Road. At its western extremity it starts at the Angel, Islington, as the continuation of Pentonville Road and continues roughly south-east till it passes Moorfields Eye Hospital, when it bears closer to south... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

Despite his achievements, he never quite overcame profound self-doubt. At the age of 63, he wrote to his brother, "I do not love God. I never did. Therefore I never believed, in the Christian sense of the word. Therefore I am only an honest heathen...And yet, to be so employed of God!"^[14]

Wesley died on Wednesday March 2, 1791, in his eighty-eighth year. As he lay dying, his friends gathered around him, Wesley grasped their hands and said repeatedly, "Farewell, farewell." At the end, summoning all his remaining strength, he cried out, "The best of all is, God is with us," lifted his arms and raised his feeble voice again, repeating the words, "The best of all is, God is with us."^[15]-1... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Literary work

Wesley was a logical thinker, and expressed himself clearly, concisely and forcefully in writing. His written sermons are characterized by spiritual earnestness and simplicity. They are doctrinal but not dogmatic. His Notes on the New Testament (1755) are enlightening. Both the Sermons (about 140) and the Notes are doctrinal standards. Wesley was a fluent, powerful and effective preacher. He usually preached spontaneously and briefly, though occasionally at great length.

As an organizer, a religious leader and a statesman, he was eminent. He knew how to lead and control men to achieve his purposes. He used his power, not to provoke rebellion, but to inspire love. His mission was to spread "Scriptural holiness"; his means and plans were such as Providence indicated. The course thus mapped out for him he pursued with a determination from which nothing could distract him.

Wesley's prose Works were first collected by himself (32 vols., Bristol, 1771–74, frequently reprinted in editions varying greatly in the number of volumes). His chief prose works are a standard publication in seven octavo volumes of the Methodist Book Concern, New York. The Poetical Works of John and Charles, ed. G. Osborn, appeared in 13 vols., London, 1868–72.

Besides his Sermons and Notes already referred to, are his Journals (originally published in 20 parts, London, 1740-89; new ed. by N. Curnock containing notes from unpublished diaries, 6 vols., vols. i.-ii., London and New York, 1909-11); The Doctrine of Original Sin (Bristol, 1757; in reply to Dr. John Taylor of Norwich); "An Earnest Appeal to Men of Reason and Religion (originally published in three parts; 2d ed., Bristol, 1743), an elaborate defence of Methodism, describing the evils of the times in society and the church; a Plain Account of Christian Perfection (1766). work in progress influenced John Wesley and Joseph Priestley John Taylor (1694-1761) went to Norwich in 1733; where he founded the Octagon Chapel, 1754. ...

Wesley adapted the Book of Common Prayer for use by American Methodists. In his Watch Night service, he made use of a pietist prayer now generally known as the Wesley Covenant Prayer, perhaps his most famous contribution to Christian liturgy. For the novel, see A Book of Common Prayer. ... This article is about the current Christian denomination based in the United States. ... New Years Eve is a celebration held the day before New Years Day, on December 31, the final day of the year. ... Pietism was a movement, in the Lutheran Church, lasting from the late-17th century to the mid-18th Century. ... What is known generally as the Wesley Covenant Prayer or A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition is a pietist prayer adapted by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, for use in Watch Night dedication services. ... A liturgy is the customary public worship of a religious group, according to their particular traditions. ...

In spite of the proliferation of his literary output, Wesley was challenged for plagiarism for borrowing heavily from an essay by Samuel Johnson, publishing in March 1775. Initially denying the charge, Wesley later recanted and apologized officially [See Abelove, H. 1997. John Wesley’s plagiarism of Samuel Johnson and its contemporary reception. The Huntington Library Quarterly, 59(1) 73–80].

Legacy

Today, many people talk about Wesley's; often known as the little gremlin, teachings. He continues to be the primary theological interpreter for Methodists the world over; the largest Wesleyan bodies being the United Methodist Church, the Methodist Church of Great Britain and the Wesleyan Church. The teachings of Wesley also served as a basis for the Holiness movement, from which Pentecostalism, parts of the Charismatic movement, the Church of the Nazarene and the Christian and Missionary Alliance are offshoots. Wesley's call to personal and social holiness continues to challenge Christians who struggle to discern what it means to participate in the Kingdom of God. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1135x946, 211 KB) Summary Photo by User:Adam Carr, December 2005 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1135x946, 211 KB) Summary Photo by User:Adam Carr, December 2005 Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Wesley Church, Melbourne Wesley Church is a Uniting Church in Australia church in the centre of Melbourne, Australia. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ... For other uses, see Methodism (disambiguation). ... This article is about the current Christian denomination based in the United States. ... The Methodist Church of Great Britain or British Methodist Church is the largest Wesleyan / Methodist body in the United Kingdom, with congregations across Great Britain (although more limited in Scotland). ... Logo of The Wesleyan Church For the former Wesleyan Methodist Church of Great Britain, see Methodist Church of Great Britain The Wesleyan Church is a religious denomination associated with the holiness movement that has roots in Methodism and the teachings of John Wesley. ... The Holiness movement is composed of people who believe and propagate the belief that the carnal nature of man can be cleansed through faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit if one has had his sins forgiven through faith in Jesus. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Ecumenism Â· Relation to other religions Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Athanasius Â· Augustine Â· Constantine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Calvin Â· Luther Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Pentecostal... The charismatic movement begins with the adoption of certain beliefs typical of those held by Pentecostal Christians â€” specifically what are known as the biblical charisms or spiritual gifts: glossolalia (speaking in tongues), prophesying, supernatural healing â€” by those within mainstream Protestant and Roman Catholic churches. ... The Church of the Nazarene, more commonly called the Nazarene Church, is an Christian evangelical denomination. ... The Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) is an Evangelical Protestant denomination within Christianity. ... Kingdom of Heaven redirects here. ...

Wesley's legacy is also preserved in Kingswood School which he founded in 1748 in order to educate the children of the growing number of Methodist preachers. He is also commemorated in the Calendar of Saints of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on March 2 with his brother Charles Wesley and in some calendars of churches of the Anglican Communion. One of the four form houses at The St Marylebone Church of England School, London are named after John Wesley. Kingswood School is a day and boarding school in Bath, Somerset. ... The Lutheran Calendar of Saints is a listing which details the primary annual festivals and events that are celebrated liturgically by the Lutheran Church. ... The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. ... Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 - 29 March 1788) was a leader of the Methodist movement, the younger brother of John Wesley. ... Main article: Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is a world-wide affiliation of Anglican Churches. ...

Wesley is listed as #50 on the BBC's list of the 100 Greatest Britons. // Not to be confused with the later ITV Greatest Britons show. ...

Trivia

John Wesley applied to become the headmaster of Ermysted's Grammar School in Skipton, the seventh oldest state school in Britain, but was rejected.

References

^ Thorsen, Don (2005). The Wesleyan Quadrilateral. Emeth Press, p. 97. ISBN 1-59731-043-3.
^ Wallace, Charles Jr (1997) Susanna Wesley : the complete writings, New York : Oxford University Press, p. 67, ISBN 0-19-507437-8
^ Watson, Richard (1857). The Life of Rev. John Wesley. L. Swormstedt & A. Poe, p. 11.
^ Encyclopedia Britannica (1911) John Wesley (1703-1791), Available online, [Accessed 8 May 2007]
^ Ross, Kathy W.; Stacey, Rosemary. John Wesley and Savannah. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
^ Dreyer, Frederick A. (1999). The Genesis of Methodism. Lehigh University Press, p. 27. ISBN 0-934223-56-4.
^ Hurst, J. F. (2003). John Wesley the Methodist. Kessinger Publishing, pp. 102-103. ISBN 0766154467.
^ Journal of the Rev. John Wesley
^ Tomkins, Stephen (2003). John Wesley: A Biography. Eerdmans, p. 69. ISBN 1-8028-2499-4.
^ Thorsen 2005, p. 97.
^ Stevens, Abel (1858). The History of the Religious Movement of the Eighteenth Century, called Methodism: Volume I. Carlton & Porter, p. 155.
^ United Methodist Church (1984) The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 1984, Nashville, TN : United Methodist Publ. House, p. 77, ISBN 0-687-03702-6.
^ Johnstone, Lucy (2000). Users and Abusers of Psychiatry: A Critical Look at Psychiatric Practice. Routledge, p. 152. ISBN 0-415-21155-7.
^ Eerdmans 2003, p. 168.; Letter to His Brother on June 27, 1766; cp. Journal, October 14, 1738; January 4, 1739
^ Hurst 2003, p. 298.

1913 advertisement for the 11th edition, with the slogan When in doubt â€” look it up in the EncyclopÃ¦dia Britannica The EncyclopÃ¦dia Britannica (properly spelled with Ã¦, the ae-ligature) was first published in 1768â€“1771 as The Britannica was an important early English-language general encyclopedia and is still... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Book of Discipline constitutes the law and doctrine of the United Methodist Church[1]. It follows similar works for its predecessor denominations. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1766 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 4 - Court Jew Joseph Suss Oppenheimer is executed in WÃ¼rttenberg April 15 - Premiere in London of Serse, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel. ... is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... // About the number 1739 1739 is the smallest integer that can be written as sum of three perfect cubes, in two ways. ...

Contents

Youth

In Oxford and Georgia

The beginning of the revival

Persecutions; lay preaching

Chapels and organizations

Ordination of ministers

Advocacy of Arminianism

Doctrines and theology

Personality and activities

Literary work

Legacy

Trivia

References

See also

External links

Contents

Youth GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

In Oxford and Georgia

The beginning of the revival

Persecutions; lay preaching

Chapels and organizations

Ordination of ministers

Advocacy of Arminianism

Doctrines and theology

Personality and activities

Literary work

Legacy

Trivia

References

See also

External links

Youth