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John Wesley John Wesley (1703-1791) was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who became the principal founder of Methodism. Wesley was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1728. Wesley, along with his brother Charles, led a revival movement within the Church of England that eventually became Methodism. He was a prolific preacher, delivering an estimated 40,000 sermons and traveling over 250,000 miles on horseback throughout his ministry. Wesley emphasized personal faith, social holiness, and the doctrine of Christian perfection. "Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can." |
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John Wesley was born on June 28, 1703, in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, and died on March 2, 1791, in London. He was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who became the principal founder of Methodism.
Wesley was raised in the Church of England and was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1728. However, he is best known for his role in establishing Methodism as a distinct movement within Christianity. After experiencing a spiritual awakening in 1738, Wesley dedicated his life to evangelism and social reform.
Notable Achievements
Co-founder of the Methodist movement
Prolific writer and preacher, delivering an estimated 40,000 sermons
Advocate for social reform, including opposition to slavery
Developed the concept of Christian perfection or entire sanctification
Major Works
"The Journal of John Wesley"
"A Plain Account of Christian Perfection"
"Forty-Four Sermons"
"Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament"
"The Desideratum; or, Electricity Made Plain and Useful"
Wesley was a prolific author, producing hundreds of sermons, biblical commentaries, letters, and treatises on various subjects including theology, music, marriage, medicine, and politics.
Ten Quotes by John Wesley
"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."
"The best of all is, God is with us."
"I look upon all the world as my parish."
"Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can."
"Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion?"
"What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace."
"Prayer is where the action is."
"The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion."
"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn."
"Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can."
John Wesley's legacy continues to influence millions of people worldwide through the Methodist Church and its various offshoots. His emphasis on personal faith, social holiness, and practical Christianity remains a cornerstone of Methodist theology and practice
Wesley was raised in the Church of England and was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1728. However, he is best known for his role in establishing Methodism as a distinct movement within Christianity. After experiencing a spiritual awakening in 1738, Wesley dedicated his life to evangelism and social reform.
Notable Achievements
Co-founder of the Methodist movement
Prolific writer and preacher, delivering an estimated 40,000 sermons
Advocate for social reform, including opposition to slavery
Developed the concept of Christian perfection or entire sanctification
Major Works
"The Journal of John Wesley"
"A Plain Account of Christian Perfection"
"Forty-Four Sermons"
"Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament"
"The Desideratum; or, Electricity Made Plain and Useful"
Wesley was a prolific author, producing hundreds of sermons, biblical commentaries, letters, and treatises on various subjects including theology, music, marriage, medicine, and politics.
Ten Quotes by John Wesley
"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."
"The best of all is, God is with us."
"I look upon all the world as my parish."
"Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can."
"Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion?"
"What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace."
"Prayer is where the action is."
"The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion."
"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn."
"Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can."
John Wesley's legacy continues to influence millions of people worldwide through the Methodist Church and its various offshoots. His emphasis on personal faith, social holiness, and practical Christianity remains a cornerstone of Methodist theology and practice
The "Aldersgate Experience"
The Aldersgate experience refers to a pivotal spiritual event in John Wesley's life that occurred on May 24, 1738, in London. Wesley, an Anglican priest and the founder of Methodism, attended a prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street where he had a profound spiritual awakening. During this meeting, while listening to a reading of Martin Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans, Wesley felt his heart "strangely warmed." He described the experience in his journal, stating, "I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
This event marked a significant turning point in Wesley's life and ministry:
It transformed his understanding of faith and salvation.
It shifted his motivation from fear of judgment to joyful obedience out of gratitude for God's love.
It provided him with a new sense of assurance that he was indeed a child of God.
It led to a renewed emphasis on personal faith and the doctrine of Christian perfection.
The Aldersgate experience is considered the true source of English Methodism and is commemorated annually by Methodist Christians on May 24, known as Aldersgate Day or Wesley Day.
The Aldersgate experience refers to a pivotal spiritual event in John Wesley's life that occurred on May 24, 1738, in London. Wesley, an Anglican priest and the founder of Methodism, attended a prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street where he had a profound spiritual awakening. During this meeting, while listening to a reading of Martin Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans, Wesley felt his heart "strangely warmed." He described the experience in his journal, stating, "I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
This event marked a significant turning point in Wesley's life and ministry:
It transformed his understanding of faith and salvation.
It shifted his motivation from fear of judgment to joyful obedience out of gratitude for God's love.
It provided him with a new sense of assurance that he was indeed a child of God.
It led to a renewed emphasis on personal faith and the doctrine of Christian perfection.
The Aldersgate experience is considered the true source of English Methodism and is commemorated annually by Methodist Christians on May 24, known as Aldersgate Day or Wesley Day.