John Wesley (1) (1703–1791)
Author of A Plain Account of Christian Perfection
For other authors named John Wesley, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
John Wesley, 1703 - 1791 English theologian John Wesley was born the 15th child, in the rectory at Epworth, Lincolnshire on June 17, 1703, to clergyman Samuel Wesley. He was also an evangelist and the founder of Methodism. He was educated at Charter House School and Christ Church, University of show more Oxford. He was ordained deacon in 1725 and admitted to the priesthood of the Church of England in 1728. In 1729, he went into residency at Oxford as a fellow of Lincoln College. While at Lincoln College, Wesley joined a group called the Holy Club, which included his brother Charles and George Whitefield, who later founded Calvinistic Methodism. It was a group of students that adhered strictly and methodically to religious precepts and practices by visiting prisons and comforting the sick, and their schoolmates called them "Methodists." In 1735, he went to Georgia as an Anglican missionary and met some German Moravians on the ship. He associated with them while in Savannah, Georgia and translated some of their hymns into English. While attending one of the Moravian's meetings on the return trip to England, he experienced a religious awakening. In 1739, Wesley joined George Whitefield in his evangelical endeavors. He preached an open-air sermon outside the church and received an enthusiastic reaction, which convinced him that this form of preaching was the most effective way to reach the masses. The Anglican Church frowned on revivalism. He attracted immense crowds because of his assurance that each person was accepted as a child of God, which was something the Anglican Church was unable to offer. On May 1, 1739, Wesley and a group of his followers formed the first Methodist society. Two similar societies were established in Bristol, and in late 1739, the London society began meeting in a building called the Foundry, which served as the headquarters of Methodism for many years. In 1740, Wesley parted with the Moravians and Whitefield because of doctrinal disagreements and the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. He also discarded many of the tenets of the Church of England, which made separation inevitable. In an effort for tighter organization of a growing Methodist movement, the societies were divided into classes, in 1742, with a leader for each class. Wesley called the first conference of the Methodist leaders in 1744 and the conferences were held annually thereafter. In 1751, he married Mary Vazeille who was a widow with four children. Their marriage eventually failed. In 1784, he issued the deed of declaration, which provided rules and regulations for the guidance of the Methodist societies, and appointed his aide Thomas Coke, an Anglican clergyman, superintendent of the Methodist organization in the United States. This empowered him to administer the sacraments with other ordinations following. The ordination was the largest step in breaking with the Anglican Church, but separation did not happen until after Wesley's death. Wesley compiled 23 collections of hymns, edited a monthly magazine, and translated Greek, Latin, and Hebrew works. He edited, under the title "The Christian Pattern," the medieval devotional work "De Imitatione Christi," generally ascribed to Thomas a` Kempis. In the latter part of Wesley's life, the hostility between the Anglican Church and Methodism had all but disappeared, and he was greatly admired. On March 2, 1791, Wesley died and was buried in the graveyard of City Road Chapel, London. In Westminster Abbey is a memorial plaque inscribed with his name. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by John Wesley
John and Charles Wesley: Selected Prayers, Hymns, Journal Notes, Sermons, Letters and Treatises (Classics of Western Spirituality) (1981) 306 copies, 1 review
John Wesley's Sunday service of the Methodists in North America (Quarterly review reprint series) (1787) 60 copies
John Wesley's Little Instruction Book: A Classic Treasury of Timeless Wisdom and Reflection (Christian Classics Series) (1996) 32 copies
John Wesley, the best from all his works (The Christian classics collection) (1989) 31 copies, 1 review
John Wesley's England: A 19th-century pictorial history based on an 18th-century journal (1981) 20 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume IX (Letters and Essays): The First Complete Unabridged Edition in Nearly 100 Years (1959) 17 copies
Wesley's 52 Standard Sermons with Introductions, Analysis, and Notes by Rev. N. Burwash (1955) 15 copies
The Works of John Wesley (Volumes 5-6: Sermons Volumes 1-2, First Series of Sermons (1-39) A Life of John Wesley, Third Edition, Complete and Unabridged) (2007) 14 copies
The Works of John Wesley (Volumes 3-4: Journals from May 6, 1760 to September 12, 1773, Third Edition, Complete and Unabridged) (2007) 13 copies
How to Live a Life of Prayer: Classic Christian Writers on the Divine Privilege of Prayer (2018) 12 copies
The Works of John Wesley (Volumes 13-14: Letters, Grammars, Music, Indexes, Third Edition, Complete and Unabridged) (2007) 12 copies
John Wesley's New Testament 11 copies
The Works of John Wesley (Volumes 9-10: Letters, Essays, Dialogs and Addresses, Third Edition, Complete and Unabridged) (2007) 11 copies
Writings of John Wesley (Upper Room Spiritual Classics) (Upper Room Spritual Classics) (2017) 10 copies
The Works of John Wesley Volume 10: The Methodist Societies, The Minutes of Conference (2011) 10 copies
The Works of John Wesley (Volumes 11-12: Thoughts, Addresses, Prayers, Letters, Third Edition, Complete and Unabridged) (2007) 9 copies
A survey of the wisdom of God in the creation;: Or, A compendium of natural philosophy, Volume 1 (2010) 8 copies
Notes on the New Testament 8 copies
Sermons on several occasions in three volumes: volume II. with the last corrections of the author (2010) 8 copies
The Complete Works of John Wesley: Volume 1, Sermons 1-53 (The Compete Works of John Wesley) (2014) 7 copies
The works of John Wesley: vol III 6 copies
The appeals to men of reason and religion, and certain related open letters Volume II (1975) 5 copies
The works of John Wesley, Volume IV, Journal from September 13, 1773, to October 24, 1790 (End); Also Wesley's Last Will and Testament (1958) 5 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume 6 5 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume 5 5 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume 7 5 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume 10 4 copies
The Saints' Everlasting Rest: or, A Treatise of the Blessed State of the Saints, In Their Enjoyment of God in Glory (1841) 4 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume 12 4 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume 13 4 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume 8 4 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume 9 4 copies
The Journal of the Rev. John Wesley: Enlarged From Original Mss., With Notes From Unpublished Diaries, Annotations, and (2010) 4 copies
The works of John Wesley: vol XI 3 copies
Works of John Wesley vol xi 3 copies
The works of John Wesley: vol XIII 3 copies
The works of John Wesley: vol XII 3 copies
The works of John Wesley: vol X 3 copies
The works of John Wesley: vol VIII 3 copies
The works of John Wesley: vol V 3 copies
The works of John Wesley: vol IV 3 copies
A collection of forms of prayer for every day in the week (Library of Methodist classics) (1992) 3 copies
John Wesley in Wales, 1739-1790 entries from his journal and diary relating to Wales (1971) 3 copies
A sermon on original sin 3 copies
Selected Letters Of John Wesley 3 copies
The Works of John Wesley, Volume VIII (Addresses, Essays, Letters): The First Complete Unabridged Edition in Nearly 100 (1958) 3 copies
The Wesleys in Cornwall: Extracts from the journals of John and Charles Wesley and John Nelson (1964) 2 copies
Doctrinal standards; part 1, The sermons. With introductions, analysis and notes by N. Burwash (2011) 2 copies
An extract of the Rev. Mr. John Wesley's journal from his embarking for Georgia to his return to London (2010) 2 copies
The Standard Sermons Of The Rev. John Wesley, A.M. Edited By Edward H. Sugden. Vol 1 Of 2. London : 1955 (1955) 2 copies
John Wesley's First Tune Book, A Collection Of Tunes Set To Music As They Are Commonly Sung At The Foundery (2011) 2 copies
A letter to a Roman Catholic, Dublin, 18 July 1749 ; also included inside : ECT Statement I ... 2 copies
Wesley's Hymns 2 copies
Works of John Wesley vol x 2 copies
The Works of John Wesley Volume X (10) - The First Complete Unabridged Edition in Nearly 100 Years! 2 copies
A Letter to a Friend Concerning Tea 2 copies
A Compendium of Natural Philosophy, Being a Survey of the Wisdom of God in the Creation (2009) 2 copies
SERMOES - VOL 5 2 copies
Wesley's sermons. Sin in believers.--Repentance in believers.--Scripture way of salvation.--Patience.--Perfection (1903) 2 copies
Sermons on several occasions in three volumes: volume III. with the last corrections of the author 2 copies
The Works of JOHN WESLEY Volume I, Journal from October 14, 1735 to November 29, 1745 (1958) 2 copies
Clásicos de la fe: John Wesley (Clásicos De La Fe / Classics of the Faith) (Spanish Edition) (2021) 2 copies
Works of John Wesley, Volume 3 2 copies
Works of John Wesley vol xiv 1 copy
John Wesley's journal, from October 14, 1735, to February 1, 1737, covering his visit to America. 1 copy
Explanatory Notes on the Old Testament & Explanatory Notes on the New Testament (Two Books With Active Table of Contents) (2011) 1 copy
Works of John Wesley vol xii 1 copy
The Wesley Hymn Book 1 copy
Una clara explicación de La Perfección Cristiana: Como la Creyó y Enseñó el pastor John Wesley (Spanish Edition) (2017) 1 copy
The Beauties of the Rev. J. Wesley, M. A.: Containing the Most Interesting Passages Selected ... 1817 [Leather Bound] (2019) 1 copy
Wesleyana 1 copy
John Wesley on the Sermon on the Mount: The Standard Sermons in Modern English (Volume II, 21-33) 1 copy
A Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield. Preached at the Chapel in ... (2009) 1 copy
De katholieke gezindheid 1 copy
Wesley's Sermons 1 copy
Velikan duhovnog probuđenja 1 copy
Jedini put 1 copy
Works of John Wesley vol v 1 copy
Works of John Wesley vol i 1 copy
John Wesley on Christian Practice: The Standard Sermons in Modern English (Volume III, 34-53) 1 copy
On dress and evil speaking 1 copy
An extract of Mr. Richard Baxter's Aphorisms of justification Publish'd by John Wesley, — Author — 1 copy
La pureza de la intención 1 copy
On Raising Children 1 copy
The works of the Rev. John Wesley: volume X. with the last corrections of the author: treatises 1 copy
The works of the Rev. John Wesley: volume V. with the last corrections of the author: sermons vol. I 1 copy
Works of John Wesley vol vii 1 copy
An extract of the Rev. Mr. John Wesley's journal, from January 1, 1776, to August 8, 1779. XVIII 1 copy
First Believe 1 copy
Salvation by faith. A sermon preached at St. Mary's Oxford, before the university, on June 18, 1738. (2010) 1 copy
Johannes Wesleys Tagebuch 1 copy
Building Faith Journal 1 copy
The journal of the Reverend John Wesley, A.M., sometime fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford volume 2 (1855) 1 copy
Wesley's Commentary 1 copy
The desideratum: or, electricity made plain and useful. By a lover of mankind, and of common sense 1 copy
Christian theology 1 copy
Covenant Renewal Service 1 copy
Sermons On Several Occasions...in three volumes. Vol. III, Second series concluded, third, fourth and fifth series. (1865) 1 copy, 1 review
The works of the Rev. John Wesley: volume I. with the last corrections of the author: sermons vol.I 1 copy
The Works of John Wesley, Volume XIII (Letters): The First Complete Unabridged Edition in Nearly 100 Years (1959) 1 copy
John Wesley's The Book of Common Prayer: The Digital Reprint of: The Sunday Service of the Methodists in North America (2017) 1 copy
Sermons By John Wesley 1815 1 copy
The Poetical Works Of John And Charles Wesley V1: Together With The Poems Of Charles Wesley (1868) (2010) 1 copy
Associated Works
The Assassin's Cloak: An Anthology of the World's Greatest Diarists (2000) — Contributor, some editions — 623 copies, 9 reviews
The Company of Preachers: Wisdom on Preaching, Augustine to the Present (2002) — Contributor — 199 copies, 2 reviews
The Imitation of Christ: Selections Annotated & Explained (SkyLight Illuminations) (2012) — some editions — 12 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Wesley, John
- Birthdate
- 1703-06-28
- Date of death
- 1791-03-02
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Christ Church College, Oxford
- Occupations
- cleric
theologian - Organizations
- Methodist Church (founder)
Anglican Church
Lincoln College, Oxford - Relationships
- Wesley, Charles (brother)
- Nationality
- Great Britain
- Birthplace
- Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, UK
- Place of death
- London, Middlesex, England, UK
- Map Location
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
John Wesley (1703-1791) logically and calmly lays out his Scriptural reasons for opposing the Calvinistic belief of "unconditional election." He explains that "unconditional election" necessarily implies "unconditional reprobation", which cannot be reconciled (by Scripture) with God's justice, wisdom, love, sincerity, etc. It was enlightening, though not easy reading. The print in this version is tiny, and there are numerous punctuation errors that make it hard to read at times. But it was a show more worthwhile investment of time to read it. My father-in-law recommended this book, as there has been a lot of discussion about Calvin's theology in our extended family. show less
This slight book has several devotionals in much the same format as the classic My Utmost For His Highest, taking a verse of the Bible and then a portion of John Wesley's writings. Most are on prayer, but many others are simply on living the Christian life. I really liked some and others left me less than enthused, but it was a worthwhile read. The large downside is that there's no indication of where the original writings were taken from so if I liked one I have no way of pursuing the book show more or larger work of sermons it came from. show less
First, I wasn't fond of the annotation. I felt there was much I was missing. However, this did give me an overview of Wesley's life, focusing on his traveling and preaching. Second, I know Wesley was a great man and highly used of God - but I have a feeling, from his journal, that I would NOT like him in person. He struck me as pompous and holier-than-thou. I download on my kindle a collection of his sermons. I also intend to find another edition of his journal, with the hope my first show more impression of his is wrong. show less
his is an exceptional collection, edifying and encouraging. It is not the light, fluffy nonsense one often find in the modern Christian works. Wesley did not believe in false sentimentality or positive-thinking or self-help - he taught the unerring nature of God's Word and the sinful nature of humans, with strong admonishment to seek God through obedience and sacrifice, with a single-minded devotion.
Favorite Quotes:
"Love rejoices to obey, to do in every point whatever is acceptable to one's show more beloved. A true lover of God hastens to do His will on earth at it is in Heaven." 5-19 pg. 150
"The sign of the love of God, the proof of our keeping the first and greatest commandment is to all the rest of His commandments also! True love, once poured into our hearts, will constrain us to keep them, for whoever loves God with all his heart cannot help but serve Him with all his strength." 6-23 pg. 185
"From this principle of grateful love to God arises love to our brother. Nor can we avoid loving our neighbor if we truly believe the love with which God has loved us. This love to others, grounded on faith and love to God, does no wrong to our neighbors." 9-5 pg. 259
"Consider the cross lying in your path with all its circumstances. It has a quality specific to you. It is prepared by God for you. It is given by God to you. And He gives it to you as a token of His love. If you receive it as such, it is ordered by Him for your good." 9-20 pg. 274 show less
Favorite Quotes:
"Love rejoices to obey, to do in every point whatever is acceptable to one's show more beloved. A true lover of God hastens to do His will on earth at it is in Heaven." 5-19 pg. 150
"The sign of the love of God, the proof of our keeping the first and greatest commandment is to all the rest of His commandments also! True love, once poured into our hearts, will constrain us to keep them, for whoever loves God with all his heart cannot help but serve Him with all his strength." 6-23 pg. 185
"From this principle of grateful love to God arises love to our brother. Nor can we avoid loving our neighbor if we truly believe the love with which God has loved us. This love to others, grounded on faith and love to God, does no wrong to our neighbors." 9-5 pg. 259
"Consider the cross lying in your path with all its circumstances. It has a quality specific to you. It is prepared by God for you. It is given by God to you. And He gives it to you as a token of His love. If you receive it as such, it is ordered by Him for your good." 9-20 pg. 274 show less
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