In the Shadow of Aldersgate

An Introduction to the Heritage and Faith of the Wesleyan Tradition

Burnett

• Publisher: Cascade Books
• Year: 2006
• ISBN:
  9781621899808
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

John Wesley (1703-91) was a unique character in history who left a disproportionately large imprint on the world. That imprint was a contagious passion for what he called real Christianity--the Good News of saving grace and scriptural holiness. This book examines Wesley's life and faith in order to better understand what it means to be a present-day participant in that legacy. The book begins with the story of Wesley's search for an authentic Christian experience. His steps are traced from his early days of struggle, through his conversion at Aldersgate, to his long years of remarkable ministry. The second part of the book outlines the basic Wesleyan understandings of sin, grace, redemption, new birth, sanctification, and perfection. A concluding exploration of some practical implications of the Wesleyan doctrine of holiness is found in the third part. This book celebrates the Wesleyan tradition, especially that branch known as the Holiness Movement. It is, however, not entirely uncritical. It seeks to provide an honest and sympathetic consideration of the heritage and faith of Wesley's lasting imprint.

Part 1

The Wesleyan Story:

John Wesley’s Quest for Authentic Christianity

1

Piety and Good Intentions

Wesley’s England

A Christian Birthright

Christianity was certainly nothing new to England by Wesley’s time. According to early legends the faith was in the British Isles within decades of Jesus’ life. Some legends say the gospel was first preached in England by Joseph of Arimathea and in Scotland by the apostle Andrew. While there is no historical evidence to support these claims, it is known that Christians were an established minority on the island by the beginning of the third century. Britain was under Roman military occupation from 55 BC to AD 409. British Christianity most likely owes its origins to that occupation and the unnamed Roman soldiers and officials who brought their Christian faith to the region.

AD 597 is the year cited as the official beginning of Christianity in Britain. That was when Pope Gregory commissioned St. Augustine for a mission to evangelize the English. (This Augustine should not be confused with the famous theologian, St. Augustine of Hippo, who died in AD 430.) Augustine’s mission met with great success, primarily through the conversion of Ethelbert, king of Kent. The church was established at Canterbury and Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury. In reality, the faith had already been active for several centuries. The earlier presence had spread among the native Celtic people of Britain and developed its own tradition of doctrine, worship, and mission. The most famous of the Celtic Christians were St. Patrick, who took the faith from England to Ireland in the fifth century; and St. Columba, who left Ireland a century later to evangelize Scotland and northern England. But within a hundred years of Augustine’s arrival in England, Roman Christianity had grown to a position of dominance over Celtic Christianity. Celtic Christianity continued to function in the British Isles, but British Christianity on the whole came under the control of Rome.

Things changed dramatically during the reign of Henry VIII (1509–47). After some twenty years of marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry had no male heir. Concerned about the instability this could cause in the event of his death, he sought to obtain a divorce so he could marry his mistress, Anne Boleyn, and produce a male heir. Due to the interconnected system of church power and state politics, such a drastic move required the sanction of Pope Clement VII. For political reasons of his own, Clement denied Henry’s request. Henry eventually resolved the problem by declaring himself, and therefore his entire country, to be no longer under the authority of the Roman Church. Instead, England would now have its own national church with Henry as its head. Thus, the obstacle to Henry’s divorce was removed and the protestant Church of England was born.

It is from this backdrop that the Christianity of Wesley’s day developed. In the eighteenth century English Christianity was divided into three main categories: Anglican (Church of England), Roman Catholic, and Dissenters. The Dissenters were also known as Nonconformists. They included various protestant churches that remained outside the Church of England. Quakers, Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and independents were all dissenting churches. Most people identified with one of these three church categories, though few ever attended worship services.

The Christianity of Wesley’s England was in a state of serious decline. Pastors were paid “livings” from government tax revenues to oversee their appointed parishes. Many of these pastors, however, rarely if ever visited the churches under their care. Instead, they paid meager salaries to curates (assistants), who were often poorly equipped, to serve in their absence while they lived off their government subsidies in London or other distant locations. It is reported that in 1750, barely one half of the official parishes were ever entered by the clergymen who were being paid to care for them.1

Simply stated, British Christianity was suffering from a nearly fatal infestation of nominalism. Church structure, hierarchy, and conformity were paramount. Spiritual vitality was almost nonexistent. In fact, it was openly discouraged and suppressed. Experiences and expressions of new birth and overt devotion were considered out of order. “Enthusiasm” was the derogatory label pinned on such spirituality. Those who indulged in these experiences were labeled as dangerous extremists who threatened to undermine the very structure of England society.

A Changing Society

John Wesley’s life (1703–91) spanned almost the entire eighteenth century. It was the era famously described by Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities as the best of times and the worst of times. It was a period that witnessed many changes within England’s social environment. At the beginning of his life the vast majority of Britain’s population lived in rural and village settings. By the end of his life the Industrial Revolution had drawn tens of thousands into rapidly growing urban centers. However, the new advances in technology did not result in corresponding advances in society. Thousands of men, women, and children were virtually enslaved by horrendous work conditions and long hours in the new industrial factories. Children as young as four years of age were routinely put to work in coal mines, factories, brickyards, and textile mills. Very few received any type of education. Poverty, disease, illiteracy, alcoholism, crime, poor housing, and substandard sanitation plagued the country. London, by far the largest city, was particularly notorious.

Lack of concern for the poor was attributed in part to the popular belief that the poor were fulfilling the predetermined destiny God had chosen for them. In other words, if God had wanted the poor to have better lives, he would have had them born into better families. Some even attempted to promote the idea that the poor were actually better off than the rich since they did not carry the burdens and responsibilities of wealth. However, the fact that people could and did rise and fall through the different layers of social and economic status demonstrates that social standing was not necessarily a permanent fixture.

It should also be noted that the eighteenth century did see many positive developments, although it was naturally those of high society who enjoyed the greatest benefit. Vast improvements in transportation were realized through a rapidly growing network of roads and canals. Scientific discoveries and understandings were expanding. Music, art, and culture flourished. The first foreign missionary societies were established. And the movement toward the abolition of slavery was underway.

All of these factors had at least some degree of impact on Wesley as a person and as a minister. The unique role that he played in the history of Britain and the history of the Christian church did not happen in a vacuum. He was a man of his own time and culture.

A Product of His Time

Questions from the Start

John Wesley was born in the small town of Epworth, England, to Samuel and Susanna Wesley. He seems to have been destined for a life of controversy from the very day he was born. Something as simple as the date of his birth has to be explained in order to decide which of two dates to use. He was born on June 17, 1703, but in 1752 England switched from the old style Julian calendar to the more accurate Gregorian calendar. When Wesley’s birthday was adjusted to correspond with the modern calendar, June 28 became his new date of birth.

Surprisingly, there is also dispute over his name. He always gave his name as simply John Wesley. However, according to one longstanding tradition, his full name was actually John Benjamin Wesley. Even modern writers have arrived at different conclusions as to whether or not he had a middle name. Roy Hattersley states that he was christened John Benjamin, supposedly in memory of two earlier Wesley sons who died in infancy.2 Wesley scholar Henry Rack dismisses this as a mistaken legend that originated early in the nineteenth century.3 Neither Wesley nor his parents ever used or made reference to any middle name. Most authorities agree with Rack that his full name was simply John Wesley.

Influential Parents

Samuel was a Church of England priest who had been educated at the University of Oxford through Exeter College. His father and grandfather were also ministers, but in the Dissenters tradition. As a young man Samuel had decided to abandon his nonconformist roots and to dedicate himself to the doctrine and ministry of the Church of England. In 1688 he married Susanna Annesley at Marylebone Church in London. Over the next eight years he served three different parishes in addition to a short stint as a naval chaplain. He assumed the pastorate of St. Andrew’s Church, Epworth in 1696 and remained there until his death in 1735.

In some ways Samuel was better suited to academic and literary pursuits than to pastoral ministry. He was an accomplished scholar, poet, and author who longed to make his mark on the literary world–a dream that remained unfulfilled. Nevertheless, Samuel was clearly a dedicated and conscientious pastor. However, he seemed to think of himself as a man of culture who really belonged with people of high society rather than the illiterate parishioners of a remote rural setting. These feelings were not without some degree of foundation, as the Wesley family did in fact have friendly connections among England’s aristocracy and nobility. This may have been one of the reasons why he was often an unpopular figure in his community. There were also other reasons; for example, his sometimes overzealous efforts to discipline his parishioners and reform their conduct. There was also the matter of his politics. Samuel was a loyal supporter of the king, but the people of Epworth did not share his enthusiasm for the monarchy.

While no one questions Samuel’s Christian integrity, most of his problems seemed to stem from his lapses of good judgment and common sense. This is seen most clearly in his inability to manage his finances. Although his salary should have been adequate, even for a family as large as his, the Wesleys lived in poverty. At one point he even served a prison term of several months because of his inability to repay a debt.

Samuel died three years before the beginning of the great revival movement that would make his two youngest sons, John and Charles, world famous. He was buried in the yard of St. Andrew’s Church, Epworth.

Susanna Wesley was also the child of Dissenter parents. Her father, Dr. Samuel Annesley, was one of the best known and respected nonconformist ministers of his generation. He was an Oxford educated man who placed great value on the pursuit of learning. Although women had no access to higher education, the Annesley’s saw that Susanna was properly educated. The Annesley home was always a placed filled with scholarly books, distinguished guests, and stimulating conversation. This rich environment instilled a passion and pattern for learning that was transferred through Susanna to her own children years later.

Susanna was the youngest of Dr. Annesley’s twenty-five children (by two marriages). She demonstrated at an early age both a sharp aptitude for theological understanding and a strong spirit of independence. When just twelve years old she decided that she would leave the Dissenting church and join the Church of England, just as her future husband Samuel had done. She continued to utilize her independent spirit and sharp intellect throughout h...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Abbreviations
• Introduction “A Settled Resolution”
• Part One: The Wesleyan Story — John Wesley’s Quest for Authentic Christianity
• Part Two: The Wesleyan Passion — A Dynamic Meeting of Grace and Faith
• Part Three: The Wesleyan Vision — Practical Holiness in the Real World
• Bibliography