Detail of Portrait by George Romney (1789): National Portrait Gallery, London.
[363 pages. Completed on 2 May 2012 and published by Lulu on the same day. A contract with the Protestant / Wesleyan publisher Beacon Hill Press was signed on
17 December 2012, with publication scheduled for Fall 2013.]
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-- for purchase information, go to the bottom of the page --
CONTENTS
Dedication (p. 3)
Introduction (p. 5) [read below]
Brief Biography of John Wesley (p. 9) [from Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1911]
Bibliography and Abbreviations (p. 15)
Quotations (p. 19)
Index of Topics [see below]
INTRODUCTION
I have long felt an immense admiration for John Wesley, as a person of extraordinary “missionary zeal” and devotion to the gospel and Christianity: the man who is said to have delivered more than 40,000 sermons, and traveled more than 250,000 miles on horseback (almost the distance to the moon). As an apologist and (to some extent) evangelist myself, Wesley’s sterling example has always been a great inspiration.
My background is broadly Wesleyan / Arminian, and I was raised initially in the United Methodist Church, though I hasten to add that in those days (up to age ten) I was quite ignorant of theology. In any event, my subsequent evangelical (and “moderately charismatic”) Protestant theological and spiritual development was not all that different from what Wesley or Methodism would teach. I even had an uncle (very sadly murdered at age 40) who was an Anglo-Catholic priest.
I entered the (Roman) Catholic Church in 1991. I mention this only for the sake of “full disclosure.” My intention is to present Wesley’s full theology and spiritual outlook, as a detached editor (as much as one can possibly be). I’m simply being open and honest upfront about my own possible biases.
John Wesley (it may surprise some to discover) never ceased being an Anglican. My own favorite writers are all either lifelong or initial Anglicans (C. S. Lewis, John Henry Cardinal Newman, G. K. Chesterton, Malcolm Muggeridge, and Thomas Howard). John Wesley is also among these Anglican writers and thinkers that I respect so much and love to read.
My first goal in my selection of Wesley’s writings is to provide the reader with Wesley’s theological views as he expressed them, and to locate (to the best of my ability, in my editor’s judgment) the most representative and best-expressed portions of his writings in order to fulfill that purpose.
The second, lesser aim (in harmony with the first) is ecumenical. Much of what Wesley held and expressed can be enthusiastically accepted by those from a wide spectrum of Christianity: Arminians, Catholics, Lutherans, Orthodox, Baptists, charismatics and non-denominational Christians, or self-described “evangelicals.” Even Calvinists (the traditional opposition to Wesleyans / Arminians) disagree mainly on a relatively small number of theological points.
In a broad sense, the theology and thoughts of John Wesley are treasures for all Christians. He was a great man, whose thinking and teachings ought to be more widely known and appreciated; and that is my third goal in compiling this book.
The quotations are categorized into 245 topics (see the Topical Index at the end), with entries drawn from the entire range of Wesley’s writing: his famous journal, letters, treatises, tracts, biblical commentary, and the “Minutes” of various Methodist conferences (dominated by Wesley, and certainly reflective of his own views). They are arranged chronologically within the categories, with dates (to the day, where known) and primary and secondary bibliographical documentation.
My sincere hope is that readers will benefit from these quotations from Wesley as much as I have in finding and sharing them. May his evangelistic zeal and Christian integrity and “heart for God” spread like wildfire.
INDEX OF TOPICS
Absolution 19
Alcohol 19
Anabaptists 19
Angels 19
Anglicanism 21
Anglicanism: Faithfulness to 22
Anglicanism: Opposition to Separation and a New Denomination 26
Anglicanism: Persecution of Anglican Methodists 32
Anointing the Sick with Consecrated Oil 34
Antinomianism (Falsity of) 34
Apocrypha (Deuterocanon) 36
Apostolic Succession 36
Arminianism 37
Atonement 38
Atonement, Limited (Falsity of) 38
Atonement: Universal 42
Authority, Obedience to 47
Baptism 47
Baptism and Being “Born Again” 48
Baptism and Justification 49
Baptism and Original Sin 50
Baptism and Salvation 51
Baptism, Infant 51
Baptismal Regeneration 52
Beatific Vision 54
Bishops 54
Bishops, Liberal or Nominal 54
Bishops (Opposed in Methodism) 55
Blessings (Priestly) 55
Bowing (at the Name of Jesus) 55
Buffoonery and Fools 55
Calling (Wesley’s) 56
Calvin, John 56
Calvinism: Criticisms of 57
Catholicism (Roman); Catholics 61
Celibacy and Singleness 64
Cheerfulness (and Christianity) 66
Childkilling 66
Christian 67
Christianity and Secular Knowledge 69
Church, The 71
Clothing 72
Communion, Holy: Daily Reception 72
Communion, Holy: Means of Grace 74
Communion, Holy: Preparation and Fitness for Reception 76
Communion, Holy: Real Presence 77
Communion, Holy: Transubstantiation (Falsity of) 78
Communion, Holy: Weekly Reception 78
Concupiscence 79
Confession 79
Confirmation (Rite) 79
Conversion 80
Demoniacs 80
Dialogue and Argument 82
Ecumenism; Religious Tolerance 85
Education, Methodist 91
Education, Secularization of 94
Election, Conditional 94
Election, Unconditional (Falsity of) 95
“Enthusiasm” (Opposition to) 97
Eucharistic Adoration (Wrongness of) 104
Eucharistic Sacrifice 104
Evangelism and Preaching, Lay 104
Examination of Conscience; Self-Examination 107
Experience, Religious 108
Extreme Unction (Falsity of) 110
Faith 111
Faith Alone (Falsity of) 113
Faith and Justification 114
Faith and Reason 115
Faith and Salvation 117
Faith and Works 118
Faith: Bold and Confident 123
Fasting 124
Fathers of the Church 125
Free Will 129
Friday Abstinence 131
Gifts, Extraordinary: Cessation of 132
God 132
God: All-Holy 134
God: Eternity of 134
God: His Providence 135
God: Just Judge 138
God: Omnipotence of 138
God: Omnipresence of 138
God: Omniscience of 140
God: Outside of Time 141
God: Sovereignty of 141
God: Sustainer of Creation 142
God: Will of 144
Gospel 144
Gossip 145
Government 146
Government, Church 146
Grace 148
Grace: Degrees or Greater Measure of 150
Grace, Falling Away from (Apostasy) 151
Grace, Irresistible (Falsity of) 157
Grace, Means of 159
Grace, Prevenient 160
Hades; Sheol; Paradise; Intermediate State 162
Happiness 164
Hardening of the Heart 165
Healing, Miraculous 166
Heartfelt Conversion; Wholehearted Devotion to God 168
Heathens and Salvation 172
Heaven 173
Hell 173
Henry VIII (and His Destruction of Catholic Churches) 175
Holiness 175
Holy Days 176
Holy Spirit 176
Holy Spirit: Being Filled With 176
Holy Spirit, Indwelling of 178
Holy Spirit: Testimony and Witness of 179
Jesus Christ 182
Jesus Christ: Creator 183
Jesus Christ: Divinity of 183
Jesus Christ: Savior and Redeemer 183
Jesus Christ: Sustainer of Creation 185
Jews and Salvation 185
Joy 186
Judgment of Nations 187
Justification 187
Justification and Absolute Assurance of Pardon; Fiducial Faith 190
Justification and Being “Born Again” 191
Justification and New Birth 191
Justification and Present Assurance 192
Justification and “Receiving the Holy Spirit” 192
Justification and Regeneration 192
Justification and Sanctification 193
Justification by Faith 195
Justification by Grace Alone 196
Justification, Imputed 198
Justification, Infused 201
Kingdom of Heaven 203
Kneeling and Bowing 203
Latitudinarianism 203
Law and Gospel 205
Law, God’s 206
Lent 207
Lots, Casting of 207
Love 208
Luther, Martin 209
Man, Purpose of 209
Marriage: Not a Sacrament 210
Mary 210
Mary: Perpetual Virginity of 210
Merit 210
Methodism 211
Methodism: American 214
Methodism: Danger of Liberalism and Nominalism 216
“Methodist” (Title) 216
Miracles 217
Miracles, Cessation (Falsity of) 219
Miracles, Demonic 220
Miracles: Unreasonable Demand for, as Proof of Methodism 220
Moravians 222
Music (Superiority of Melody to Harmony) 223
New Birth 224
New Birth and Sanctification 228
New Birth: Wesley’s Own 229
Nudity (in Art) 240
Ordination (Holy Orders); Priesthood 240
Original Sin 242
Orthodoxy (Correct Beliefs) 243
Peace of God 247
Peer Pressure 248
Pelagianism; Works Salvation (Falsity of) 248
Penance 250
Perfection (Entire Sanctification) 250
Perseverance, Unconditional (Falsity of) 259
Polemics; Controversy 259
Popes; Papacy 262
Popularity (in Old Age) 263
Prayer 263
Prayers for the Dead 265
Prayers, Extemporary 267
Prayers, Formal 267
Preaching 268
Preaching and Opposition (Riots, Etc.) 270
Preaching in the Fields 272
Predestination (Conditional) 278
Priests 279
Private Judgment 279
Purgatory; Preparation for Heaven in the Afterlife (and This Life) 280
Puritans 282
Quakers 282
Reading 283
Reformation, Protestant 283
Regeneration 284
Repentance 285
Reprobation, Unconditional (Falsity of) 286
Reproof; Rebuke 291
Revival 291
Revolution, American 295
Rewards in Heaven 296
Riches; Love of Money 296
Righteousness of Faith 298
Rule of Faith 299
Sabbath 301
Sacraments 302
Saints, Communion of 303
Saints, Honoring of 304
Saints, Intercession of 304
Salvation 304
Salvation and Invincible Ignorance 306
Salvation: Assurance of Final (Falsity of) 306
Sanctification 311
Sanctification and Salvation 313
Satan and His Demons (Fallen Angels) 314
Schism; Separation 319
Scripture and Learning 320
Scripture and Patristic Interpretation 321
Scripture: Chapter Divisions 321
Scripture, “Difficulties” in 322
Scripture: Formal Sufficiency 322
Scripture: Hermeneutics (Interpretation) 322
Scripture, Inspiration and Infallibility of 324
Scripture: Material Sufficiency 324
Scripture: Old Testament 325
Scripture: Unreasonable Demand for Explicit Prooftexts 326
Self-Defense 326
Sin 327
Sins, Forgiveness of 328
Slander 328
Slavery 329
Society and Christianity 332
Soul 333
Spirit (of Man) 333
Suffering 333
Talking 336
Temptation 336
Tongues, Gift of 337
Total Depravity 337
Tradition, Apostolic 339
Traditions of Men 340
Trinity, Holy 340
Trust in God 341
Truth 341
Unconditional Election (Falsity of Calvinist Version) 342
War 343
Whitefield, George (Calvinist Differences) 343
Works and Grace; Co-Laborers with God 344
Works (in Grace) and Salvation 348
Worship 350
Worship, Methodist 351
Writing 352
Zeal (Christian) 354
EXCERPTS
John Wesley's Belief in an Intermediate State After Death
John Wesley's Espousal of Prayer for the Dead
John Wesley on Scripture and Patristic Interpretation [Facebook thread]
John Wesley Regarded Luther's Commentary on Galatians (Emphasizing "Faith Alone") as Blasphemy [Facebook thread]
John Wesley Was Opposed to Experiential "Enthusiasm"? Yes, He Was [Facebook thread]
Wesley's Reductio ad Absurdum Argument Against Calvinist Unconditional Election [Facebook thread]
John Wesley's Remarkable Tolerance Towards Catholics (Ecumenism) [Facebook thread]
John Wesley Explains Exactly What He Means by Perfection or Entire Sanctification [Facebook thread]
John Wesley on the American Revolution [Facebook thread]
John Wesley's Remarkable Observation About Christianity and Secular Learning [Facebook thread]
John Wesley on Polemics and Controversy [Facebook thread]
Methodist Education in 1768 [Facebook thread]
John Wesley: Unconditional Reprobation is Contrary to God's Justice and Mercy [Facebook thread]
Wesley on Sanctification and Salvation [Facebook thread]
BOOK REVIEWS
Brent Stubbs (5-17-12)
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Last revised on 21 March 2013.
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