 John Wesley (1703-1791)
This year is the 300th anniversary of John Wesleys birth. The Wesleyan Exhibition presents a small sampling of the works of John Wesley drawn from VictoriaUniversitys Wesleyana Collection. The letters and artifacts are from the United Church Archives located in the Birge-Carnegie building on the Victoria campus. John Wesley was born on June 28, 1703 at Epworth, England, the fifteenth of nineteen children of Samuel and Susanna Wesley. John received his early education at Charterhouse school and entered Christ Church College, Oxford University in 1720. He was ordained deacon in 1725, and priest in the Church of England in 1728. In 1726, he was elected a Fellow of Lincoln College and lectured in Greek and New Testament Studies. Between 1727 and 1729, he assisted his ailing father at Epworth, but returned to Oxford at the insistence of the authorities, where he joined his brother Charles and several other young scholars in the Holy Club a discussion group interested in holy living, charity and theological inquiry. In 1733, he published a book of prayers for each day of the week, and in 1735, published an edition of Thomas A. Kempis, Imitation of Christ, thus beginning a publishing and writing career that spanned half a century. After the death of his father in 1735, John accepted the chaplaincy in the Colony of Georgia and that same year left with his brother for the Americas. With his knowledge of French, German and Spanish, his mission went well beyond the English settlers in the colony. He translated several German hymns and published a hymn book in Charleston in 1737. However, Wesleys high-church stance and an unfortunate love affair forced him to leave Georgia and return to England in 1738. On May 24, 1738, John Wesley had a major conversion experience at Aldersgate in London which stimulated a renewed interest in holy living, and his trust in personal salvation By grace are you saved through faith. His study of Moravian and Arminian theology, as well as the Bible and the Church Fathers, further strengthened this trust. In 1739, Wesley began what became a Methodist hall mark field preaching. Many Church of England churches were closed to Methodist preachers and Wesley followed George Whitefields example and preached to the miners near Bristol. For fifty years Wesley preached throughout Great Britain in chapels, collieries and farmers fields, stirring an unimagined religious revival. Denouncing both Anglican formalism and Presbyterian exclusiveness, he redirected Protestantism throughout the English-speaking world. In 1744, he called together preachers committed to the Wesleyan revival and organized the first annual conference to forge strategy and establish a discipline for the Methodist Society. After his death this conference continued to rule the church organization under the leadership of the Legal One Hundred. During his lifetime, Wesley would not permit the society to form a church distinct from the Church of England or to hold services which competed with Anglican worship. An exception was made in America however, to meet the specific circ*mstances of post-revolutionary conditions. In 1784, Wesley ordained Thomas co*ke as Superintendent for North America with power to ordain other bishops and priests. At Christmas in 1784, co*ke established the Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia and this church oversaw Methodist missions in both the United States and what would later become Canada. Over his long career, Wesley published hundreds of volumes of sermons, correspondence, journals, hymns and church services. He also edited and published a fifty volume Christian Library of important theological works. He edited the Arminian Magazine from 1778 until his death and continued to write on historical, literary, scientific and theological topics. Wesley founded Kingswood school, helped organize the Sunday school movement, worked to abolish slavery in the British Empire and the United States. He fought to improve social conditions of eighteenth century England and to overcome the social immorality of his times. The bulk of his time, however, continued to be taken up with constant traveling and preaching. His life represents an amazing account of service and tireless activity. For more information on the life and work of John Wesley or on Methodist history in Canada, contact: |
FAQs
John Wesley was a Methodist traveling preacher, organizer of the Methodist Conference, and founder of the Methodist Church. After his conversion in 1738 he dedicated himself to promoting “vital” and “practical” religion and to preserving and increasing the life of God in men's souls.
What was John Wesley's most famous quote? ›
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.
Why did John Wesley leave the Church of England? ›
Wesley felt that the church failed to call sinners to repentance, that many of the clergy were corrupt, and that people were perishing in their sins.
What is the difference between Wesleyan and Calvinism? ›
In a lot of ways, such as the way predestination is understood, the way the death of Christ is understood, and the way perseverance is understood, Wesleyans are on a different page than Calvinists. In addition, most Wesleyans today affirm women in church leadership, while most reformed Calvinists do not.
What is the famous John Wesley prayer? ›
I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you, Praised for you or criticized for you.
What are the problems with Wesleyan theology? ›
Wesleyanism has been criticized for its perceived lack of orthodoxy, emphasis on an experiential faith, and tendency to be overly emotional in its worship services. It has also been criticized for its conservative stance on social issues such as LGBTQ rights, abortion, and the role of women in the church.
Why was John Wesley not allowed to preach in church? ›
After his heartwarming spiritual experience at a German prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street in London on May 24, 1738, John Wesley was soon banned from preaching in most of the churches in London. The pastors did not want him telling their congregations that we are saved by faith, not good works.
What was John Wesley's theology? ›
John Wesley's primary focus was upon the doctrine of salvation and the relationship between grace, faith, and holiness of heart and life. Wesley identified three doctrines in “A Short History of Methodism” (1765) that summed up the core of Methodist and Wesleyan-Holiness teaching.
What did John Wesley say about Jesus? ›
Wesley, on the other hand, as will be clear in the sermon today, read Jesus not as an idealist but as One who reveals the will of God to us. Consequently, Wesley read every teaching of Jesus as a revelation of the will of God—almost as a new law by which we should govern our lives.
Are Wesleyan and Methodist the same? ›
The Wesleyan Church, also known as the Wesleyan Methodist Church and Wesleyan Holiness Church depending on the region, is a Methodist Christian denomination in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Indonesia, and Australia.
The Particular Baptists adhered to the doctrine of a particular atonement—that Christ died only for an elect—and were strongly Calvinist (following the Reformation teachings of John Calvin) in orientation; the General Baptists held to the doctrine of a general atonement—that Christ died for all people and not only for ...
Is Methodist a rejection of Calvinism? ›
Methodists, beginning with our founder John Wesley, have held to a different position called Arminianism. John Wesley strenuously opposed Calvinistic theology because he believed it distorts God's goodness and undermines the importance of holiness in the Christian life.
What was John Wesley contribution to Christianity? ›
John Wesley's primary focus was upon the doctrine of salvation and the relationship between grace, faith, and holiness of heart and life. Wesley identified three doctrines in “A Short History of Methodism” (1765) that summed up the core of Methodist and Wesleyan-Holiness teaching.
What is the legacy of John Wesley? ›
John Wesley left a legacy of living selflessly by investing his wealth in the lives of others instead of spending his wealth on himself. He understood that it wasn't his money but it all belonged to the Lord of heaven and earth.
What was John Wesley Powell known for? ›
John Wesley Powell (1834-1902) was historic and heroic for being first to lead a daring expedition down the Colorado River in 1869. Ninety nine days later, he emerged from the Grand Canyon to acclaim. A major who lost an arm in the Civil War, he was an explorer, geologist, geographer and ethnologist.
Why was John Wesley important to the Enlightenment? ›
He created a system of reading, writing, and speaking that violated prevailing 18th century practices that promoted flamboyance and elitism in public speaking. Wesley, instead, advocated egalitarianism and natural speech.
John Wesley (1703-1791)