John Wesley, by George Romney (1789): National Portrait Gallery, London.
[book currently in progress]
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
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 development was not all that different from what Wesley or Methodism would teach. I even had an uncle (unfortunately murdered at age 40) who was an Anglican (Anglo-Catholic) priest.
I became persuaded of the theology of the Catholic Church in late 1990. 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 (as I think everyone should be).
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 (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.
There is a broad sense in which the theology and thoughts of John Wesley are treasures for all Christians. He was a great man, whose thinking ought to be more widely known and appreciated; and that is my third goal in compiling this book.
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.
EXCERPTS
John Wesley on Scripture and Patristic Interpretation [Facebook thread]
John Wesley on the Eucharistic Sacrifice [Facebook thread]
John Wesley on Eucharistic Adoration [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]
PURCHASE INFORMATION
[to be added as soon as available]
Uploaded on 5 April 2012.
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