JULY 7

The greatest hindrances … you are to expect from the rich or cowardly or lazy Methodists. But regard them not, neither stewards, leaders nor people. Whenever the weather will permit, go out, in God’s name, into the most public places, and call all to repent and believe the Gospel; every Sunday in particular.

Question: What may we reasonably expect to be God’s design in raising up the preachers called Methodists?
Answer: To reform the nation, particularly the Church; to spread Scriptural holiness over the land.
Minutes of Conversations, 1744


A little fatigue I do not regard, but I cannot afford to lose time.
Letter, 17th February, 1776

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 10:58 AM |


JULY 6

Then many of the Methodists growing rich, became lovers of the present world. Next they married unawakened or half-awakened wives, and conversed with their relations. Hence, worldly prudence, maxims, customs, crept back upon them, producing more and more conformity to the world. Hence followed gross neglect of relative duties, especially education of children. And this is not easily cured by the Preachers.
Minutes of Conversations, 1744


The poor are the Christians. Let us take care to lay up our treasure in heaven.
Letter, 30th September, 1786

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 10:57 AM |


JULY 5

What servants, journeymen, labourers, carpenters, bricklayers, do as they would be done by? Which of them does as much work as he can? Set him down for a knave that does not.

Who does as he would be done by, in buying and selling, particularly in selling horses? Write him knave that does not. And the Methodist knave is the worst of all knaves.
Minutes of Conversations, 1744


Be honest, not purloining, not secreting or privately keeping back anything for yourself; not taking, using, disposing or giving away the least thing belonging to your employer, without his leave, without his knowledge and consent first asked and then obtained. To do otherwise is no better then plain theft and cuts off all pretensions to honesty. Equally dishonest it is to hurt or waste anything, or to let it be lost through your carelessness or negligence.
Directions to Servants


The righteousness of Christ is necessary to entitle us to heaven, personal holiness to qualify us for it.
Works, vii. 314

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 10:56 AM |


JULY 4

For what avails public preaching alone, though we could preach like angels?

I heard Dr. Lupton say, my father, visiting one of his parishioners, who had never missed going to Church for forty years, then lying on his death-bed, asked him: “Thomas, where do you think your soul will go?” “Soul! Soul!” said Thomas. “Yes, do you not know what your soul is?” “Aye, surely,” said he, “Why, it is a little bone in the back, that lives longer than the rest of the body.” So much Thomas had learned by constantly hearing good sermons, for forty years!
Minutes of Conversations, 1744


It is a rule with me to take nothing ill that is well meant.
Letter, 25th September, 1757

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 10:55 AM |


JULY 3

After all our preaching, many of our people are almost as ignorant as if they had never heard the Gospel. I study to speak as plainly as I can; yet I frequently meet with those who have been my hearers for many years, who know not whether Christ be God or man; or that infant shave any original sin. And how few are there that know the nature of repentance, faith and holiness! Most of them have a sort of confidence that Christ will justify and save them, while the world has their hearts, and they live to themselves. And I have found, by experience, that one of these has learned more from an hour’s close discourse than from ten years’ public preaching.
Minutes of Conversations, 1744


You may line in and to Jesus; yea, and that continually, by simple faith, and holy, humble love.
Letter, 12th August, 1769

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 10:55 AM |


JULY 2

What cause have we to bleed before the Lord this day, that have so long neglected this great and good work! That have been preachers so many years, and have done so little by personal instruction for the saving of men’s souls! If we had but set on this work sooner, how many more might have been brought to Christ! And how much holier and happier might we have made our Societies before now! And why might we have not done it sooner? There were many hindrances in the way; and so there are still, and always will be; but the greatest hindrance was in ourselves, in our dulness [sic] and littleness of faith and love.
Minutes of Conversations, 1744


You like to be honored, but had you not rather be beloved?
Works, vii. 146

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 10:53 AM |


JULY 1

On the notice of my death, let all the preachers in England and Ireland repair to London within six weeks.

Let them seek god by solemn fasting and prayer.

Let them draw up articles of agreement to be signed by those who choose to act in concert.

Let those be dismissed who do not choose it in the most friendly manner possible.

Let them choose by votes a committee of three, five or seven, each of whom is to be Moderator in his turn.

Let the Committee do what I do now; propose preachers to be tried, admitted or excluded; fix the place of each preacher for the ensuing year and the time of the next Conference.
To The Travelling [sic] Preachers, 1769


How amiable is courtesy joined to sincerity!
Wesley Studies, p.203

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 10:52 AM |


JUNE 30

How soon may you hear “the voice that speaks Jehovah near!” Why shall it not be today?
Letter, 26th January, 1774


You are at present one body. You act in concert with each other and by united councils. And now is the time to consider what can be done in order to continue this union. Indeed, as long as I live there will be no great difficulty. I am, under God, a centre of union to all our travelling [sic] as well as local preachers. …

Those who desire or seek any earthly thing, whether honour, profit or ease, will not, cannot continue in the Connexion; it will not answer their design. Some of them, perhaps a fourth of the whole number, will secure preferment in the Church. Others will turn Independents, and get separate congregations.
To The Travelling [sic] Preachers, 1769

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 9:36 AM |


JUNE 29

Keep at the utmost distance from foolish desires, from desiring any happiness but in God.
Works, xi, 462


I find no decay in my hearing, smell, taste or appetite (though I want but a third of the food I did once), nor do I feel any such thing as weariness, either in traveling or preaching. And I am not conscious of any decay in writing sermons, which I do as readily and, I believe, as correctly as ever.

To what causes can I impute this, that I am as I am? First, doubtless to the power of God, fitting me for the work to which I am called, as long as he pleases to continue me therein; and next, subordinately to this, to the prayers of His children.
Journal, 28th June, 1782

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 9:32 AM |


JUNE 28

I entered into my eightieth year; but, blessed be God, my time is not “labour and sorrow.” I find no more pain or bodily infirmities than at five-and-twenty.
Journal, 28th June, 1782


I this day enter on my eighty-fifth year. And what cause have I to praise God as for a thousand spiritual blessings, so for bodily blessings also! How little have I suffered yet by “the rush of numerous years.” It is true, I am not so agile as I was in times past; I do not run or walk so fast as I did. My sight is a little decayed. My left eye is grown dim and hardly serves me to read. I have daily some pain in the ball of my right eye, as also in my right temple (occasioned by a blow received some months since), and in my right shoulder and arm, which I impute partly to a sprain and partly to the rheumatism. I find likewise some decay in my memory. …
Journal, 28th June, 1788

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:28 AM |


JUNE 27

Nothing but the mighty power of God can enable him (John Howard) to go through his difficult and dangerous employments. But what can hurt us, if God is on our side?
Journal, 28th June, 1787


Without putting on spectacles (which, blessed be God, I do not wear) I can read a little Latin still.
Freeman’s Journal, 1780


I can face the north wind at seventy-seven better than I could at seven and twenty.
to Samuel Bradburn, 1781


This is the last day of my seventy-eighth year; and (such is the power of God) I fell as if it were my twenty-eighth.
to Charles Wesley, 1781


I am half blind and half lame; but by the help of God I creep on still.
to Thomas Greathead, 1791

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:27 AM |


JUNE 26

You are encompassed with ten thousand mercies; let these sink you into humble thankfulness.
Letter, 26th April, 1777


How impossible it is for a man to see things right when he is angry? Does not passion blind the eyes of the understanding as smoke does the bodily eyes? And how little of the truth can we learn from those who see nothing but through a cloud?

Correction must not be given in anger; if it be so, it will lose its effect on the child, who will think he is corrected, not because he has done a fault, but because the parent is angry.
The Duties of Husbands and Wives, 1770

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:26 AM |


JUNE 25

Beware of indulging gloomy thoughts: they are the bane of thoughtfulness.
Letter, 26th April, 1777


I know not that you have anything to do with fear. Your continual prayer should be for faith and love. I admire a holy man in France who, considering the state of one who was full of doubts and fears, forbade him to think of his sins at all, and ordered him to think only of the love of God in Christ. The fruit was, all his fears vanished away, and he lived and died in the triumph of his faith.
to Mary Bishop, 1770


You fear when no fear is.
to Zachariah Yewdall, 1782


Do right and fear nothing.
to William Holmes, 1788

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:24 AM |


JUNE 24

I abhor the thought of giving to twenty men the power to place or displace the preachers in their congregations. How would he then dare to speak an unpleasing truth? And if he did, what would become of him? This must never be the case, while I live, among the Methodists. … The point must be carried for the Methodist preachers now or never; and I alone can carry it; which I will, God being my helper.
to Samuel Bradburn, 1782


Many years ago, one informed me at London: “The stewards have discovered they are not your stewards, but the people’s, and are to direct, not be directed by you.” The next Sunday I let them drop, and named seven other stewards.

No contentious person shall for the future meet in any Conference. They may dispute elsewhere if they please.
to Thomas Wride, 1785


Still be ready to do and to suffer the whole will of God.
Letter, 21st January, 1777

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:23 AM |


JUNE 23

As long as I live the people shall have no share in choosing either stewards or leaders among the Methodists. We have not and never had any such custom. We are no republicans and never intend to be. It would be better for those that are so minded to go quietly away. I have been uniform both in doctrine and discipline for above these fifty years; and it is a little too late for me to turn to a new path now I am grey-headed.
to John Mason, 1790


It is not possible to avoid all pleasure even of sense, without destroying the body; neither doth God require it at our hands.
Works, xi. 461

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:22 AM |


JUNE 22

I must declare what I find in the Book.
Journal, 2nd November, 1772


Can any man seriously think I despise learning who has ever heard of the school at Kingswood? especially if he knows with how much care and expense and labour I have kept it on foot these twenty years? Let him but read the rules of Kingswood School, and he will urge this objection no more. …

I do not depreciate learning of any kind. The knowledge of the languages is a valuable talent, so is the knowledge of the arts and sciences. Both the one and the other may be employed to the glory of God and the good of man. But yet I ask, Where hath God declared in His Word that He cannot or will not make us e of men that have it not? … You know the apostles themselves, all except St. Paul, were common, unphilosophical, unlettered men.
to Dr. Thomas Rutherford, 1768

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:21 AM |


JUNE 21

I have sometimes thought you are a little like me. My wife used to tell me: “My dear, you are too generous. You don’t know the value of money.” I could not wholly deny the charge. Possibly you may sometimes lean to the extreme. I know you are of a generous spirit. You have an open heart and an open hand. But may it no sometimes be too open, more so than your circumstances will allow.

Is it not an instance of Christian (as well as worldly) prudence, to cut our coat according to our cloth? If your circumstances are a little narrower, should you not contract your expenses too? I need but just give you this hint, which I doubt not you will take kindly.
to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Charles Wesley, 1788


On Scripture and common sense I build all my principles.
to Samuel Sparrow, 1773

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:20 AM |


JUNE 20

It is a stated rule in interpreting Scripture, never to depart from the plain, literal sense, unless it applies an absurdity.
The Church


There are two general ways wherein it pleases God to lead His children to perfection: Doing and Suffering. And let Him take one or the other, we are assured His way is best.
Letter, 17th February, 1774

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:19 AM |


JUNE 19

This is my answer to them that trouble me, and will not let my grey hairs go down to the grave in peace. I am not a man of duplicity; I am not an old hypocrite, a double-tongued knave. … I have no temporal end to serve. I seek not the honour that cometh of men. It is not for pleasure that at this time of life I travel three or four thousand miles a year.
to The Dublin Chronicle, 1789


Leisure and I have taken leave of one another; I propose to be busy as long as I live, if my health is so long indulged to me. In health and sickness I hope I shall ever continue with the same sincerity.
to his brother Samuel, 1726


Dost thou love and serve God? It is enough. I give thee the right hand of fellowship.
Works, viii. 347

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:18 AM |


JUNE 18

I advise you: (1) be electrified (if need be) eight or ten times. (2) keep your body always open, and that by food (as baked, boiled or roasted apples) rather than by physic. (3) Wash your head every morning with cold water, and rub it well with coarse hempen towel. (4) I advise you and Sister Taylor to breakfast three or four weeks on nettle tea. Then you will find preaching, especially in the morning, one of the noblest medicines in the world.
to Thomas Taylor, 1775


O John, pray for an advisable and teachable temper.
Letter, 28th July, 1775

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 8:17 AM |


JUNE 17

I am glad you come a little nearer the good old Emperor’s advice: “Throw away that thirst for books.”* That thirst is the symptom of an evil disease; and “his own indulgence makes the dreadful dropsy grow.”** What is the real value of a thing but the price it will bear in eternity! Let no study swallow up or entrench upon the hours of private prayer. Nothing is of so much importance. Simplify both religion and every part of learning as much as possible. Be all alive to God, and you will be useful to men.
to Joseph Benson, 1770

* - Marcus Aurelius ** - Horace


O what a deal of work has our Lord to do here on earth! And may we be workers together with Him!
to Letter, 13th May, 1774

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 5:27 AM |


JUNE 16

I impose my opinions on none. … I make no opinion the term of union with any man; I think and let think. What I want is holiness of heart and life.

. . . . . . . . .

I desire to have a league offensive and defensive, with every soldier of Christ. We have not only one faith, one hope, one Lord, but are directly engaged in one warfare. We are carrying the war into the devil’s own quarters, who therefore summons all his hosts to war. Come then, ye that love Him, to the help of the Lord against the mighty!
to the Rev. J. Venn, 1763


You work for a generous Master. Fight on and conquer all.
Works, xii. 395; Letter, 16th December, 1772

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 5:33 AM |


JUNE 15

In the evening I went to a Society in Wapping, weary in body and faint in spirit. I intended to speak on Romans 3:19, but could not tell how to open my mouth; and, all the time we were singing, my mind was full of some place, I knew not where, in the Epistle to the Hebrews. I begged God to direct, and opened the book on Hebrews 10:19: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh, – let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Journal, 15th June, 1739


This is the work which I know God has called me to; and sure I am that His blessing attends it.
Journal, 11th June, 1739

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 5:32 AM |


JUNE 14

A true Protestant believes in God, has a full confidence of His mercy, fears Him with a filial fear, and loves Him with all his soul. He worships God in spirit and in truth; in everything gives Him thanks; calls upon Him with his heart as well as his lips at all times and in all places; honours His holy Name and His Word, and serves Him truly all the days of his life.
To A Roman Catholic


The doing all which religion requires will not lessen, but immensely increase, our happiness.
Works, vii. 500

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 5:31 AM |


JUNE 13

When I had lived upwards of thirty years, I looked upon myself to stand just in the same relation to my father as I did when I was ten years old. And when I was between forty and fifty, I judged myself fully as much obliged to obey my mother in everything lawful, as I did when I was in my leading-strings.

. . . . . . . . .

Do nothing which you know your parents disapprove.

. . . . . . . . .

I call those cruel parents, who pass for kind and indulgent; who permit their children to contract habits which they know must be afterwards broken.
Obedience to Parents


I frequently find a want of more light; but I want heat more than light.
Letter, 3rd May, 1777

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 5:30 AM |


JUNE 12

I allow that what is commonly called a religious education frequently does more hurt than good; and that many of the persons who were so educated are sinners above other men, and have contracted an enmity to religion which usually continues all their lives. And this will naturally be the case, if either the religion wherein they are instructed or the manner of instructing then be wrong. How few there are of those that undertake the education of children who understand the nature of religion, who know what true religion us!
Thoughts on Education


I love the poor: in many of them I find pure genuine grace, unmixed with paint, folly, and affectation.
Letter, 25th September, 1757

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 5:29 AM |


JUNE 11

I have often thought of saying of Dr. Hayward’s when he examined me for priest’s orders: “Do you know what you are about? You are bidding defiance to all mankind. He that would live a Christian priest ought to know that, whether his hand be against every man or no, he must expect every man’s hand should be against him.” It is not strange that every man’s hand who is not a Christian should be against him that endeavours to be so. But is it not hard that even those that are with us should be against us? That a man’s enemies (in some degree) should be those of the same household of faith? Yet so it is. From a time that a man sets himself to his business, very many, even of those who travel the same road, many of those who are before as well as behind him, will lay stumbling-blocks in his way.
to Samuel Wesley, June, 1731


The way to heaven is singularity all over. If you move but one step towards God, you are not as other men are.
Sermon XXVI., §4

Posted by The Husky Wesleyan at 5:27 AM |