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John Wesley was born in Epworth, 23 miles (37 km) northwest of Lincoln, the son of Samuel Wesley, a graduate of Oxford, and a minister of the Church of England and Susanna Annesley, twenty-fourth child of Dr. Samuel Annesley. In 1696 Samuel Wesley was appointed rector of Epworth, where John, their fifteenth child (of 19), was born.
At the age of six, John was rescued from the burning rectory. This escape made a deep impression on his mind; and he spoke of himself as a "brand plucked from the burning."
In 1713 John was admitted to the Charterhouse School, London. In 1720, Wesley entered Christ Church, Oxford, and received his Master of Arts in 1727. He was ordained deacon in 1725 and elected fellow of Lincoln College in the following year. He was his father's curate for two years, and then returned to Oxford to fulfill his functions as fellow.
John left for Savannah, Georgia in 1735, several months after the death of his father. This is John's journal starting with his voyage to Georgia.
(Reference: Wikipedia)Albert C. Outler (ed.), John Wesley
Albert C. Outler & Richard P. Heitzenrater (eds.), John Wesley’s Sermons: An Anthology
Thomas A. Langford, Practical Divinity, Volume 2: Readings in Wesleyan Theology
Thomas A. Langford (ed.), Doctrine and Theology in The United Methodist Church
John B. Cobb Jr., Grace and Responsibility: A Wesleyan Theology for Today
Justo L. González, Church History: An Essential Guide
Richard P. Heitzenrater, Wesley and the People Called Methodists
Randy L. Maddox, Responsible Grace: John Wesley’s Practical Theology
Albert C. Outler, Evangelism and Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit
Thomas A. Langford, Practical Divinity, Volume 1: Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition
Randy L. Maddox (ed.), Rethinking Wesley’s Theology for Contemporary Methodism
W. Stephen Gunter, et al., Wesley and the Quadrilateral: Renewing the Conversation
Theodore Runyon, The New Creation: John Wesley’s Theology Today
The Wesleys and Their Times by the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church
Christian Classics Ethereal Library
Wesley Center for Applied Theology
God Rules.net
Clipart is paid Royalty Free subscription from Clipart.com
Other artwork is from historical sources, including the Digital Library at the University of Georgia. All sources will be noted.
9 comments:
Rev. Wesley, What an honor it is to have your presence here in the blogosphere. May I say, you are sounding quite well for your age.
No doubt it is the clean living.
Dear Mr Wesley, I am curious as to your thoughts about this day celebrated as Valentine's day? I understand you had a couple of failed relationships. And one in America with some woman, are you going to write about her?
And are you sour on love and relationships or marriage?
Dear Reverend Abi,
I am delighted to hear from you on this beautiful afternoon.
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. It is good for a man - Who is master of himself. Not to touch a women - That is, not to marry. So great and many are the advantages of a single life.
Yet to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife: and let every woman have her own husband, in order to avoid fornication. His own - For Christianity allows no polygamy. Let the husband render the debt to the wife; and in like manner the wife to the husband. The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and in like manner the husband also hath not power over his own body, but the wife. Withdraw not from each other, unless it be by consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves up to fasting and prayer, and may come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence. But say this by permission not by way of precept. For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
But to the unmarried and the widows I say, It is good for them if they remain even as I. But if they have not power over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn. I would that all believers who are now unmarried would remain "eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake" St. Paul, having tasted the sweetness of this liberty, wished others to enjoy it, as well as himself. But every one hath his proper gift from God - According to our Lord's declaration, "All men cannot receive this saying, save they," the happy few, to whom it is given," Matt 19:11. That St. Paul was then single is certain and from Acts 7:58, compared with the following parts of the history, it seems probable that he always was so. It does not appear that this declaration, any more than 1Co 7:1, hath any reference at all to a state of persecution.
That being said, I do not have a poor opinion of marriage. Rather the contrary! But it is best for those who are unmarried to remain in that most blessed state in order to serve God more fully.
As for the other question, I will assure thee that I will write honestly and openly in my journal about all things, my relationships with women, meager as they are, included.
I remain God's most humble servant,
John Wesley
Thank you, kind sir, for your recent visit to my little corner of the Internet. I have been observing that you appear to be visiting with many of us in the Methoblogosphere, and I look forward to your correspondence and comments.
Be blessed!
My Dear Brother Wesley,
It is with great joy that I have recieved through the electronic post news of your arrival in the colonies. If you see your way to visit into the wilderness of South West Georgia, we would welcome you to our humble class meeting. Best wishes in your efforts to save the heathens.
Welcome Brother Wesley!
Sister Reverend Mommy delivered unto me the joyous news of your arrival in the colonies! What an honor to enjoy your company and partake of your enlightened wisdom. Forgive my boldness, but I must needs put forth a question to you. Have you heard of all the disputatious upheaval in our PCUSA of late and if so, what, in heavens name, do you make of it all? Forgive me if I speak too boldly, kind sir, but such matters are causing me great dyspepsia. Again, welcome and if you ever travel to the most dangerous and feared Wild West, I would benefit much from hearing you speak in person. And I would bring you cornbread.
Sophia Hopkey...
Thank you, dear Mr. Wesley, for visiting my pages and your kind comments on them. I look forward to brushing up on the history and theology of my chosen tradition through your correspondance.
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