Sermons We’ll Be Reading This Week Tues: “Original Sin,” (1759) pg. 326 Tues: “Catholic Spirit,” (1750), pg. 299 Wed.: “The Scripture Way of Salvation” (1769), pg. 371 Wed.: “Christian Perfection,” (1741), p. 69 Thurs.: “New Creation” (1785), p. 493 Fri: “The Duty of Constant Communion” (1787), p. 401

Wesley’s Early Life and the Rise of Methodism

Epworth, Lincolnshire o Epworth was a small town in Lincolnshire, England. o In the 18 th century it was populated by agrarian, fiercely independent people.

Epworth, Lincolnshire o Samuel Wesley was made rector of Epworth in o Samuel was seen as an outsider and was not the most popular of rectors.

Samuel Wesley ( ) o Educated at Oxford University (Exeter College). o He was a convert to the Church of England. o He published poetry on a wide variety of topics and a linguistic study of the Book of Job.

Susanna Wesley ( ) o She was intelligent, an excellent organizer, and much more calm under pressure than her husband. o She was also a good theologian, even writing an exposition on the Apostle’s Creed.

The Wesley Children o Samuel, Jr. ( ) o Emilia ( ?) o Mary ( ) o Susanna, Jr. ( ) o Mehetabel (Hetly) ( ) o Anne (1702-?) o John ( ) o Martha (1707?-1791) o Charles ( ) o Kezziah ( )

SPCK Influence o Samuel attempted to set up a small religious society in Epworth, modeled after the societies of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. o This was John Wesley’s first exposure to the use of small groups in organized religion.

John Wesley at Oxford o After 7 years at the Charterhouse School in London, Wesley enrolled at Christ Church, Oxford in o Upon graduating, he decided to pursue ordination.

Holy Living and Wesley’s First Conversion o In 1725, Wesley began to read classics in the holy living tradition. o He was particularly influenced by Thomas à Kempis’s Imitation of Christ and Jeremy Taylor’s Holy Living and Holy Dying.

Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford o John Wesley became a fellow at Lincoln in He received his masters in o He was ordained as a presbyter in 1728 and served as his father’s curate in Epworth between

The “Holy Club” o While a student at Christ Church, Charles Wesley ( ) gathered a group together for the serious study of religion. o John joined the group in 1729 and quickly became the leader.

The Mission of the Oxford Society o The group quickly became dedicated to pious living. o Social outreach also became an important part of the group’s mission.

John Clayton’s Influence 1. Introduced Wesley to a group of Manchester Nonjurors 2. Introduced Wesley to publishers in London. Also, he encouraged Wesley to begin collecting prayers. 3. Introduced Wesley to SPCK society leaders.

The “Methodists” o The term “Methodist” was actually one of the derogatory nicknames given to the Oxford society. o The term stuck in 1733, when a slanderous pamphlet titled The Oxford Methodists was published.