John+Wesley

 

·    **John Wesley ** was born on June 28, 1703 and died on March 2, 1791.  ·  He  was an Anglican minister and Christian theologian who was the founder of the (Evangelical) Arminian Methodist movement. Methodism began as an unflattering nickname of the "Holy Club" at Oxford University founded by Charles Wesley but led by brother John. Methodism was well advanced in England through George Whitefield who had taken over the responsibility of the Holy Club while the Wesley brothers were in Savannah, Georgia British North America. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">On John Wesley's return to England in 1737 he publically criticised Whitefield for his evangelical preaching. After John's Aldersgate experience in which he felt his heart strangely warmed, he adopted what was to become known as Arminian Evangelical Methodism [John Fletcher of Madelay's later description]. The Wesley Methodist Movement began when John Wesley was asked to take over the open-air preaching started by George Whitefield at Hanham Mount, Kingswood, Bristol, U.K. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">Methodism was effectively divided into Arminian and Calvinistic groupings when George Whitefield departed for a second time in 1739 to Savannah to found the Bethleham Orphange. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">Wesley along with others [Hywel Haris, John Cennick] continued Whitefield's work and practices with Wesley forming religious societies for the care of believers. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">Methodism in both forms was a very successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom. Wesley was a brilliant organiser and formed societies throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. He divided his religious societies further into classes and bands for intensive accountability and religious instruction. His great contribution was to appoint itinerating (unordained) preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for societies. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN"> ·  <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">Methodists, under Wesley's direction, became leaders in many social justice issues of the day including prison reform and abolitionism movements. Wesley's contribution as a theologian was to propose a system of 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. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN"> ·        <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="DISPLAY: block; COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="COLOR: #f8f7f7; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #07ff00"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"> <span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"> Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the Church of England and insisted that his movement was well within the bounds of the Anglican Church. 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.

( John Wesley. (2008). In //Wikipedia.com// [Web]. Wikipedia Foundation, Inc.. Retrieved September 30, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley ) <span style="COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #26f000">

<span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> <span style="COLOR: #1bf500; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f100f5">·  <span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"><span style="COLOR: #1bf500; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f100f5"><span style="COLOR: #f8f7f7; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #07ff00"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="DISPLAY: block; COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"> **John Wesley** - (1703-1791), preacher, theologian and founder of the Methodist Church <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> <span style="COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #24f202">·         <span style="COLOR: #f8f7f7; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #07ff00"><span style="COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #24f202"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="DISPLAY: block; COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"> <span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"><span style="COLOR: #1bf500; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f100f5">  The Wesley family was made famous by the two brothers, John and Charles, who worked together in the rise of Methodism in the British Isles during the 18th century. They were among the ten children surviving infancy born to Samuel Wesley (1662 - 1735), Anglican rector of Epworth, Lincolnshire, and Susanna Annesley Wesley, daughter of Samuel Annesley, a dissenting minister. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·   John Wesley was born June 28, 1703, died Mar. 2, 1791, and was the principal founder of the Methodist movement. His mother was important in his emotional and educational development. John's education continued at Charterhouse School and at Oxford, where he studied at Christ Church and was elected (1726) fellow of Lincoln College. He was ordained in 1728. <span style="COLOR: #f8f7f7; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #07ff00"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="DISPLAY: block; COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"><span style="COLOR: #ffffff; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #24f202"><span style="COLOR: #1bf500; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f100f5"> <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·   After a brief absence (1727 - 29) to help his father at Epworth, John returned to Oxford to discover that his brother Charles had founded a Holy Club composed of young men interested in spiritual growth. John quickly became a leading participant of this group, which was dubbed the Methodists. His Oxford days introduced him not only to the rich tradition of classical literature and philosophy but also to spiritual classics like Thomas a Kempis's //Imitation of Christ//, Jeremy Taylor's //Holy Living and Dying//, and William Law's //Serious Call//. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·   In 1735 both Wesleys accompanied James Oglethorpe to the new colony of Georgia, where John's attempts to apply his then high-church views aroused hostility. Discouraged, he returned (1737) to England; he was rescued from this discouragement by the influence of the Moravian preacher Peter Boehler. At a small religious meeting in Aldersgate Street, London, on May 24, 1738, John Wesley had an experience in which his "heart was strangely warmed." After this spiritual conversion, which centered on the realization of salvation by faith in Christ alone, he devoted his life to evangelism. Beginning in 1739 he established Methodist societies throughout the country. He traveled and preached constantly, especially in the London-Bristol-Newcastle triangle, with frequent forays into Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. He encountered much opposition and persecution, which later subsided. <span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol"> ·   Late in life Wesley married Mary Vazeille, a widow. He continued throughout his life a regimen of personal discipline and ordered living. He died at 88, still preaching, still traveling, and still a clergyman of the Church of England. In 1784, however, he had given the Methodist societies a legal constitution, and in the same year he ordained Thomas Coke for ministry in the United States; this action signaled an independent course for Methodism. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ( (2008). Biorgraphy of john wesley. Retrieved October 1, 2008, from Christian Classics Ehtereal Library Web site: http://www.ccel.org/w/wesley/)

<span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff">---   <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN">

<span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"><span style="COLOR: #f8f7f7; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #07ff00"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="DISPLAY: block; COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">John Wesley started a movement of practical piety-- a movement that continues today. //John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life// is one of a series of spiritual growth studies produced annually. We invite you to: <span style="COLOR: #f8f7f7; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #07ff00"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="DISPLAY: block; COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> §  <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"> Deepen your Christian walk in word and deed. <span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> §  <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"> Follow John Wesley's disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and fasting. <span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> §  <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"> Discover the roots of mission, spirituality, and justice. <span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"> §  <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"> Act with Wesley on issues of poverty, slavery, substance abuse, education of children, women's leadership. <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN"> <span style="COLOR: #00ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f900ff">Read about Mr. Wesley's tireless, faithful leadership in this spiritual growth book, available in three different translations, Korean, Spanish, or English. Find additional resources for reading, inspiration, and group study on this website, including background on women and Wesley's times. ( Yrigoyen, C (1996). John wesley: holiness of heart and life. Retrieved October 1, 2008, Web site: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/ )

<span style="COLOR: #38ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">- <span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="DISPLAY: block; COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">

<span style="DISPLAY: block; COLOR: #ff0000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <span style="COLOR: #38ff00; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">**1738:** English clergyman **John Wesley** founds **Methodism**, religious faith to come from within oneself, not from books, priests or tradition (Webster, C (1985). //Encyclopeida, Vol. XIV//. )

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John Wesley was born on June 28, 1703 and died on March 2, 1791. He was an Anglican minister and Christian theologian who was the founder of the Arminian Methodist movement. Methodism began as an unflattering nickname of the "Holy Club" at Oxford University founded by Charles Wesley but led by brother John. Methodism was well advanced in England through George Whitefield who had taken over the responsibility of the Holy Club while the Wesley brothers were in Savannah, Georgia British North America. On John Wesley's return to England in 1737 he publically criticised Whitefield for his evangelical preaching. After John's Aldersgate experience in which he felt his heart strangely warmed, he adopted what was to become known as Arminian Evangelical Methodism. The Wesley Methodist Movement began when John Wesley was asked to take over the open-air preaching started by George Whitefield at Hanham Mount, Kingswood, Bristol, U.K. Methodism was effectively divided into Arminian and Calvinistic groupings when George Whitefield departed for a second time in 1739 to Savannah to found the Bethleham Orphange. Wesley along with others [Hywel Haris, John Cennick] continued Whitefield's work and practices with Wesley forming religious societies for the care of believers. Methodism in both forms was a very successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom. Wesley was a brilliant organiser and formed societies throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. He divided his religious societies further into classes and bands for intensive accountability and religious instruction. His great contribution was to appoint itinerating preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for societies. Methodists, under Wesley's direction, became leaders in many social justice issues of the day including prison reform and abolitionism movements. Wesley's contribution as a theologian was to propose a system of 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 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. 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.