Table Of ContentA Collection from His Works
ABINGDON PRESS
Nashville
JOHN WESLEY'S THEOLOGY: A COLLECTION FROM HIS WORKS
Copyright 1954 by Pierce & Wa.shaba11gh
Copyright renewal © 1982 by Robert W. Burtner and Robert E. Chiles
Third Abingdon Press Printing 1984
All righrtess erved.
Nop arotft hibso okm ayb er eproduinc eadn ym anner
whatsoevweirt houwtr ittpeenr missoifot nh ep ub
lisheexrc epbtr ieqfu otatieomnbso dieidn c ritical
articloersr eviewFso.ri nformataidodnr ess
AbingdoPnr esNsa,s hvilTleen,n essee
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
WESLEY, JOHN, 1703-1791
John Wesley's theology.
Originally published: A compend of Wesley's theology.
Nashville: Abingdon Press, {1954]
Bibliography: p.
Includes indexes.
l. Theology, Doctrinal. 2. Methodist Church-
Doctrinal and controversial works. I. Burtner, Robert Wallace.
II. Chiles, Robert Eugene. III. Title.
BX8217.W54B82 1982 230'.7 82-6735 AACR2
ISBN 0-687-20529-8 (pbk.)
MANUFACTURED BY THE PARTHENON PRESS AT
NASHVILEL , TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
In Memory of
DA YID C. SHIPLEY
Christian Scholar, Teacher, and Friend
PREFACE
JOHN WESLEY is widely recognized as the leader of a great
eighteenth-century religious revival and as a man of unflagging zeal and varied
and unusual talents. This book grew out of a conviction that his greatness must
be measured also in the field of theology. When it first appeared thirty years
ago, this assertion seemed a bit strange. In the intervening years, however,
Wesley's theology has received considerable attention in publications,
classrooms, and local congregations. We are pleased that our volume is again
available to this continuing conversation.
Our earlier text is reprinted without change. The original selections and
arrangements, of course, were unavoidably arbitrary; changes made now would
be inescapably arbitrary as well. Further, it is our conviction that Wesley's
words have not lost their power and that, despite the shortcomings of our
collection, it will much more assist than impede the study of his theology.
The systematic arrangement of select passages from his theological writings
can assist those studying Wesley's theology in several ways. The first is based on
the fact that Wesley's collected works total well over thirty volumes in the
editions used here and that some of these are not easily available or are out of
print. Again, the number and variety of these different publications form a bulk
of material that is not easily surmountable. To some extent a compend meets
these difficulties by making available in a single volume some of the valuable
theological writings of the numerous volumes and by providing references to
more. Further, by its very nature this collection is an index to Wesley's
thought, as the reference to each passage makes readily accessible the context
from which it was taken. The subject index is an additional guide providing
cross references for material within the book.
Wesley was not a systematic theologian as, for example, was Calvin. In his
busy life he rarely pursued his study of a doctrine long enough to work all the
subtle details into adequate systematic form. In this respect he is not unlike
Luther. Perhaps the most rewarding sources of Wesley's theology are his
sermons, which were preached to the plainest of folk. Though they are logical
and succinct and carry doctrinal analysis to surprising lengths, their nature
precludes their being short theological treatises. This work seeks to place in
7
PREFACE
small compass, systematically formulated, the central doctrines of Wesley's
thought. This systematic formulation, though not present in explicit detail,
is nevertheless everywhere presupposed in his writings.
Such an undertaking involves several difficulties. The material used must be
extracted in most cases from its context. This demands somewhat arbitrary
decisions as to the beginning and ending of passages, and necessitates the
elimination of very helpful commentary. Again, problems continually arise
concerning the arrangement and division of doctrines and the apportionment of
space, to say nothing of the problem of gaining much needed continuity.
Further, any attempt to consider separately various aspects of doctrine tends to
be unnatural, as can be seen with respect to Wesley's doctrine of humanity, for
example. It is hoped that recognition of these difficulties and certain steps of
precaution may give positive worth to this book. If it succeeds in selecting and
arranging the best of Wesley's thought in such fashion that it will reach a larger
circle of readers, it will have achieved its purpose.
All of Wesley's major collected writings have been surveyed in an effort to
produce a work representative of his total theology. In general we have aimed
at breadth of selection, representing subjects under consideration from a
variety of sources. In a further effort to make the selections representative,
secondary works on Wesley's thought have been examined. Their outlines of
his theology have been studied and frequently referred to in the organization
of the selections. In addition, the material quoted in these secondary sources
has been checked in the original and examined for possible inclusion.
Consequently, more material has been extracted, considered, and finally
excluded than now makes up the volume.
Nearly all the selections have come from writings after the Aldersgate
experience of 1738. Special emphasis has been placed also on the doctrinal
standards ofhistoric Methodism. Wesley drew up and printed in the Minutes
of the conference of 17 63 (and continued to reprint) a Model Deed that was to
be followed in matters pertaining to the ownership and use of Methodist
chapels. Among other things it provided that the
trustoefte hses aipdr emissheaspl elr mistuc phe rsoasn ssh ablela ppoinatte d
thyee arly conoffte hrpeee nocpecl ael lMeetdho dists . . . andn oo thertosh ,a ve
andt oe njotyh sea ipdr emisfoerst ,h peu rposaef oresPariodv:i daeldw aytsh,a t
thpee rsopnrse ancoho thedro ctrtihnaein sc ontaiinnMe rd. W esley"'Nso tes
upon the New Testament," and four volumes of "Sermons." (Works: VIII,
330-31)
8
PREFACE
Subsequent publication of additional sermons and the rearrangement of
sermons in later editions led to uncertainty as to the exact sermons referred to in
the Model Deed. However, this uncertainty has been resolved in favor of the
view that those intended were the forty-four sermons in the first four volumes of
the eight-volume edition of Wesley's Sermons, published in 1787-88. These
and the disputed sermons, together with a history of the dispute, are contained
in Sugden's edition of the Standard Sermons. With the Notes these form the
doctrinal standards appointed by Wesley and enjoined upon his followers in the
Model Deed. Therefore, in keeping with Wesley's express wish, materials from
the "standards" have been given priority and have been regarded as normative
in the compilation and argran ement of this collection.
In the arrangement of the book simplicity, readability, and conformity
with Wesley's own disposition and desire have been the criteria. We have
made every effort to permit Wesley to speak for himself. Where they occur,
contradictions and omissions have been permitted to stand. We have tried
not to distort Wesley by forcing an appearance of exactness and
comprehensiveness where in fact such does not exist. It may be believed that
a man who made "extracts from and abridgments of the choicest pieces of
Practical Divinity which have been published in the English tongue" in his
Christian Library would approve this venture designed to initiate and
stimulate acquaintance with theological ideas he thought of greatest worth.
Chapter introductions give some indication of the peculiarities and the
problems of each particular theme and suggest its relationship to the whole of
Wesley's theology. Chapter bibliographies for each topic refer to additional
material in Wesley's writings. The verses at the close of each chapter
illustrating the various doctrines are taken, as nearly as can be determined,
from the poetic writings of John, rather than Charles, Wesley. An annotated
bibliography of secondary works indicates further avenues for investigation. 1
'From among some of the many volumes on Wesley's theology published since this bibliography
was compiled, a few might well be noted. Ole E. Borgcn's]ohn Wesl<y on the Sacr1111#11ts (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 1972) is a careful description of the meaning and importance of baptism and the
Lord's Supper in Wesley. John Deschner's Wesky's Christology (Dallas: Southern Methodist University
Press, 1960) based on Wesley's Notes adds new dimensions to the place and importance of Wesley's
Christology. In Christianity According to the Weskys (London: The Epworth Press, 1956) Franz
Hildebrandt demonstrates the essential continuity between Reformation and Wesleyan theology with
emphasis on the Wesleyan hymns. Albert Ouder's]ohn Wesky (New York: Oxford University Press,
1964), a contribution to A Library of Protestant Thought, reproduces a number of key Wesleyan
writings together with illuminating commentary and careful notes. Two smaller works by Outler,
Evangelism in the Weskyan Spirit and Theology in the WeskyanSpirit (Nashville: Tidings, 1971 and 1975)
present insightful and accessible interpretations. Martin Schmidt has written a two-volume
9
