On another forum on this site, someone is asking about John Wesley and holiness. My own studies on the subject have shown the following:
John Wesley said that in 1725, he read Bishop Taylors 'Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying' and here it seems he was introduced to the doctrine of holiness. He was convicted by the writing and said that he resolved to dedicate ALL of his life to God, that every part of his life (not some only) must either be a sacrifice to God or to himself, and thereby the devil. He had realised on reading that previous to this only part of his life was fully dedicated. This is common in our Christian walk that there is an area that we have not submitted. It is when a man preaches holiness that the Holy Spirit can work in his hearers when they realise that their Christianity is of a very inferior sort espcially when compared to NT Christianity. It is what happens in revival, when one or two people start witnessing to what God has done in them.
In 1726, he read Kempis' 'Christian Pattern', note another book on sanctification, then a few years later, William Law's 'Christian Perfection' a well known and respected teacher of holiness doctrine. He says that he saw the impossibility of being 'half a Christian'. Some say that they are convicted that they are only 'playing at' being a Christian especially when comparing themselves with the Apostles.
After 1729 he really began to study the Bible even more studiously and realised that he must have the mind of Christ. In 1733 he preached on 'Circumcision of the Heart' (holiness) 1735, he went to America then as we know, in 1738 he had his Aldersgate experience.
If we read his sermon 'Circumcision' there is no doubt that he is saved and not just a nominal believer as such as taught. A careful read of it will show this. The time he took from first hearing of holiness to the time when he was entirely sanctified, 13 years in fact, is typical of the pattern in others. During this time the Holy Spirit was doing His work in John, stripping him of all confidence in himself, and building up a longing in him to lead to the crisis of failure when he was in America and met holiness folk, that he launched himself without reservation into the arms of the Saviour to have the work of ES done ie the implantation of a new heart which will enable him to be freed from the power of sin. During this time from 1725 Wesley was teaching the doctrine, but admitting that he did not have the blessing.
It was not until Aldesgate, the most significant time in his spiritual journey that he found what he was seeking. Thereafter he preached holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit and the great revival known as Methodism started.
The prayers in the Anglical church show that this doctrine was very clear in the prayers of confession but were/are not understood to refer to this repentance leading to entire sanctification. When John began to preach the doctrine, he was shunned, as all men are who try to preach it in established denominations that have gone astray from it, even the Nazarenes and Quakers.
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.
All Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have wandered and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things that we ought to have done;
and we have done those things that we ought not to have done;
and there is no health in us.
But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners.
Spare those who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
John Wesley said that in 1725, he read Bishop Taylors 'Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying' and here it seems he was introduced to the doctrine of holiness. He was convicted by the writing and said that he resolved to dedicate ALL of his life to God, that every part of his life (not some only) must either be a sacrifice to God or to himself, and thereby the devil. He had realised on reading that previous to this only part of his life was fully dedicated. This is common in our Christian walk that there is an area that we have not submitted. It is when a man preaches holiness that the Holy Spirit can work in his hearers when they realise that their Christianity is of a very inferior sort espcially when compared to NT Christianity. It is what happens in revival, when one or two people start witnessing to what God has done in them.
In 1726, he read Kempis' 'Christian Pattern', note another book on sanctification, then a few years later, William Law's 'Christian Perfection' a well known and respected teacher of holiness doctrine. He says that he saw the impossibility of being 'half a Christian'. Some say that they are convicted that they are only 'playing at' being a Christian especially when comparing themselves with the Apostles.
After 1729 he really began to study the Bible even more studiously and realised that he must have the mind of Christ. In 1733 he preached on 'Circumcision of the Heart' (holiness) 1735, he went to America then as we know, in 1738 he had his Aldersgate experience.
If we read his sermon 'Circumcision' there is no doubt that he is saved and not just a nominal believer as such as taught. A careful read of it will show this. The time he took from first hearing of holiness to the time when he was entirely sanctified, 13 years in fact, is typical of the pattern in others. During this time the Holy Spirit was doing His work in John, stripping him of all confidence in himself, and building up a longing in him to lead to the crisis of failure when he was in America and met holiness folk, that he launched himself without reservation into the arms of the Saviour to have the work of ES done ie the implantation of a new heart which will enable him to be freed from the power of sin. During this time from 1725 Wesley was teaching the doctrine, but admitting that he did not have the blessing.
It was not until Aldesgate, the most significant time in his spiritual journey that he found what he was seeking. Thereafter he preached holiness in the power of the Holy Spirit and the great revival known as Methodism started.
The prayers in the Anglical church show that this doctrine was very clear in the prayers of confession but were/are not understood to refer to this repentance leading to entire sanctification. When John began to preach the doctrine, he was shunned, as all men are who try to preach it in established denominations that have gone astray from it, even the Nazarenes and Quakers.
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly,
love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God.
Amen.
All Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have wandered and strayed from your ways like lost sheep.
We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against your holy laws.
We have left undone those things that we ought to have done;
and we have done those things that we ought not to have done;
and there is no health in us.
But you, O Lord, have mercy upon us sinners.
Spare those who confess their faults.
Restore those who are penitent,
according to your promises declared to mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may live a disciplined, righteous and godly life,
to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.