John And Charles Wesley

Excerpts from Charles and John Wesley, co-founders of Methodism, provide insight into the renewal of dynamic and vital Christianity and into the struggles and concerns of all who seek to be faithful participants in God's vision of love in every age.

Scholar and teacher Paul Wesley Chilcote provides a full and clear introduction to the dynamic faith of John and Charles Wesley. The vital theology of John is skillfully gleaned from his voluminous writings. The corresponding faith of Charles is culled from his enduring hymns. For students and general readers this book illuminates the vital balance the Wesleys found in Christian teaching that overcomes the often mutually exclusive options presented in other theological traditions. Chilcote shows that such a synthetic faith is not boring or irrelevant but transforming and life-giving, bringing together faith and works, Word and Spirit, the personal and the social, the head and the heart, mission and service.

John and Charles Wesley generated a heritage that reaches well beyond the worldwide Methodist movement which they founded. The rise, development and effect of early Methodism was an Anglican phenomenon, and deserves attention and recognition as such. This collection of their essential writings shows how the Wesleys interpreted and balanced the emphases of the 18th century Church of England with passion and vision, harnessing resources from across the breadth of Anglican thought and practice (and beyond) to forge a distinctive, dynamic and influential approach to religious experience. This volume places the Wesleys firmly in their own world and examines the ways in which their theology and practice was a fusion of diverse elements from the whole Christian tradition, giving impetus to the only enterprise that really concerned them: Christian mission. The Wesley's generous, reasonable and compelling vision is one of Anglicanism's finest contributions to the Church Catholic, one whose wisdom and influence endures across the world.

The leaders of the Methodist revival that swept 18th-century England, John and Charles Wesley reveal a spirituality that synthesized into a unique blend elements from the Church Fathers, Catholic mystics and Protestant Reformers. The major works of the Wesleys appear in this volume, including John Wesley's Plain Account of Christian Perfection and Charles Wesley's Hymns.

Charles Wesley (1707-1788) was the cofounder of Methodism and the author of more than 9,000 hymns and sacred poems, including such favorites as "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing," and "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today." John Tyson here traces the remarkable life of this influential man from cradle to grave, using rare -- including previously unpublished -- hymns, letters, and journal materials. As the younger brother of John Wesley, Charles was a vital partner in the Methodist revival. While often standing in the shadow of his more famous brother, Charles Wesley was arguably the founder of the Oxford Holy Club, and he actually experienced evangelical conversion three days prior to John. In Assist Me to Proclaim Tyson explores, among other things, behind-the-scenes questions about the brothers' sometimes-stormy relationship. Notwithstanding all his accomplishments as an evangelist and itinerant preacher, Charles is chiefly remembered for his startling facility at writing hymns that show God at work in almost every instance of life. His remarkable legacy endures around the world, as hundreds of Charles Wesley hymns are still sung in churches everywhere today. Assist Me to Proclaim draws a picture of a man whose fidelity to both the Church of England and the original vision of Methodism energized his remarkable abilities as a revivalist and hymn writer. Readers also get a glimpse into Wesley's heart and mind through the window of his hymn texts. This is a biography that any student of church history or hymnody will welcome.

This book, first published in 1868, is a collection of the poetry of John and Charles Wesley, co-founders of the Methodist movement. The poems are reprinted from the originals with the last corrections of the authors, and also includes the poems of Charles Wesley not previously published. With over 600 pages of verse, this book is a treasure trove of religious and spiritual poetry. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.