Evaluating the Evidence 18.3: Advice to Methodists
598
Advice to Methodists
John Wesley (1703–1791) was the fifteenth child of an Anglican rector and a strict mother. As a small child, he was rescued from certain death in a house fire; in later years, he saw this moment as a sign of providential grace. Along with his brother Charles, John Wesley is recognized as the founder of Methodism, an evangelical movement that began within the Church of England and was influenced by German Pietism. In the passage below, Wesley offers his advice to followers of the new religious movement he had inspired, who had been dubbed “Methodists” for their scrupulous and methodical approach to religious worship.
By Methodists I mean, a People who profess to pursue (in whatsoever Measure they have attained) Holiness of Heart and Life, inward and outward Conformity in all Things to the revealed Will of God: Who place Religion in an uniform Resemblance of the great Object of it; in a steady Imitation of Him they worship, in all his inimitable Perfections; more particularly, in Justice, Mercy, and Truth, or universal Love filling the Heart, and governing the Life. . . .
Your Name is new (at least, as used in a religious Sense), not heard of, till a few Years ago, either in our own, or any other Nation. Your Principles are new, in this respect, That there is no other Set of People among us (and, possibly, not in the Christian World) who hold them all, in the same Degree and Connection; who so strenuously and continually insist on the absolute Necessity of universal Holiness both in Heart and Life; of a peaceful, joyous Love of God; of a supernatural Evidence of Things not seen; of an inward Witness that we are the Children of God, and of the Inspiration of the Holy Ghost, in order to any good Thought, or Word, or Work. And perhaps there is no other Set of People (at least not visibly united together), who lay so much, and yet no more Stress than you do, on Rectitude of Opinions, on outward Modes of Worship, and the Use of those Ordinances which you acknowledge to be of God. . . .
Your Strictness of Life, taking the whole of it together, may likewise be accounted new. I mean, your making it a Rule, to abstain from fashionable Diversions, from reading Plays, Romances, or Books of Humour, from singing innocent Songs, or talking in a merry, gay, diverting Manner; your Plainness of Dress; your Manner of Dealing in Trade; your Exactness in observing the Lord’s Day; your Scrupulosity as to Things that have not paid Custom; your total Abstinence from spirituous Liquors (unless in Cases of Extreme Necessity); your Rule, “not to mention the Fault of an absent Person, in Particular, of Ministers, or of those in Authority,” may justly be termed new.
EVALUATE THE EVIDENCE
- What elements of the Methodist faith does Wesley identify as “new” in this document? To what or whom is he comparing Methodists?
- To what changes under way in English society does this document appear to be responding? What social practices do Methodists oppose, according to Wesley?
Source: John Wesley, Advice to the People Call’d Methodists (Bristol: Felix Farley, 1745), pp. 3, 5–6.