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 John Wesley (1703 - 1791)
Read freely text sermons and articles by the speaker John Wesley in text and pdf format. Was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to Whitefield's Calvinism, Wesley embraced the Arminian doctrines that were dominant in the 18th-century Church of England. Methodism in both forms became a highly successful evangelical movement in Britain, which encouraged people to experience Jesus Christ personally.
Wesley helped to organise and form societies of Christians throughout Great Britain, North America and Ireland as small groups that developed intensive, personal accountability, discipleship and religious instruction among members. His great contribution was to appoint itinerant, unordained preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for people in the societies. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day, including the prison reform and abolitionism movements.
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showing from 101 to 150 of 199 articles
On Temptation
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Cor. 10:13.
... read more
On the Danger of Increasing Riches
"If riches increase, set not thine heart upon them." Ps. 62:10.
1. From that express declaration of our Lord, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven," we may easily learn, ... read more
On the Death of Mr. Whitefield
Preached at the Chapel in Tottenham-Court Road and at the Tabernacle, near Moorfields, on Sunday, November 18, 1770.
"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!" Num. 23:10.
1. "Let my last end be like his!" How many of ... read more
On the Death of Rev. Mr. John Fletcher
Preached on Occasion of
THE DEATH OF THE REV. MR. JOHN FLETCHER,
Vicar of Madeley, Shropshire
To the Reader
It was a consciousness of my own inability to describe in a manner worthy of the subject such a person as Mr. Fletcher, which was one great rea ... read more
On the Deceitfulness of the Human Heart
"The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: ~Who can know it?" Jer. 17:9.
1. The most eminent of the ancient Heathens have left us many testimonies of this. It was indeed their common opinion that there was a time when men ... read more
On the Discoveries of Faith
"Now~ faith is the ev~idence of things not seen." Heb. 11:1.
1. For many ages it has been allowed by sensible men, _N~ihil est in intellectu quod non fuit prius in sensu_: That is, "There is nothing in the understanding which was not first perceived ... read more
On the Education of Children
"Train up a child in the way wherein he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it." Prov. 22:6.
1. We must not imagine that these words are to be understood in an absolute sense, as if no child that had been trained up in the way where ... read more
On the Fall of Man
"Dust thou are, and unto dust shalt thou return." Gen. 3:19.
1. Why is there pain in the world; seeing God is "loving to every man, and his mercy is over all his works?" Because there is sin: Had there been no sin, there would have been no pain. But ... read more
On the Holy Spirit
^Preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, on Whitsunday~, 1736. "Now the Lord is that Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:17.
The Apostle had been showing how the gospel ministry was superior to that of the law: The time being now come when types and shadows should be laid asi ... read more
On the Omnipresence of God
"Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." Jer. 23:24.
1. How strongly and beautifully do these words express the omnipresence of God! And can there be in the whole compass of nature a more sublime subject? Can there be any more worthy the cons ... read more
On the Resurrection of the Dead
Written in the year 1732
[This Sermon was originally written by Benjamin Calamy, D.D., Vicar of St. Lawrence, Jewry, London. It occurs, p. 275, in a volume of Sermons which bears his name, published in 1704; and is here abridged and revised by ~Mr. Wesle ... read more
On the Single Eye
"If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:22, 23.
1. "Simplicity and p ... read more
On the Trinity
Some days since I was desired to preach on this text. I did so yesterday morning. In the afternoon I was pressed to write down and print my sermon, if possible, before I left Cork. I have wrote it this morning; but I must beg the reader to make allowance ... read more
On the Wedding Garment
"How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? Matt. 22:12.
1. In the verses preceding the text we read, "After these things, Jesus spake to them again in parables, and said, A certain king made a supper for his son. And when the king came i ... read more
On Visiting the Sick
"I was sick, and ye visited me." Matt. 25:36.
1. It is generally supposed, that the means of grace and the ordinances of God are equivalent terms. We commonly mean by that expression, those that are usually termed, works of piety; viz., hearing and re ... read more
On Working out Own Salvation
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Phil. 2:12-13.
1. Some great truths, as the being and attributes of God, and the difference between moral good and ev ... read more
On Worldly Folly
"But God said unto him, Thou fool!" Luke 12:20.
But one of these fools is commonly wiser in his own eyes "than seven men that can render a reason." If it were possible for a Christian, for one that has the mind which was in Christ, to despise any on ... read more
On Zeal
"It is good to be always zealously affected in a good thing." Gal. 4:18.
1. There are few subjects in the whole compass of religion, that are of greater importance than this. For without zeal it is impossible, either to make any considerable progress ... read more
Original Sin
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen. 6:5.
1. How widely different is this from the fair pictures of human nature which men have drawn i ... read more
Original Sin
"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen. 6:5.
1. How widely different is this from the fair pictures of human nature which men have drawn i ... read more
Original, Nature, Property, and Use of Law
"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Rom. 7:12
1. Perhaps there are few subjects within the whole compass of religion so little understood as this. The reader of this Epistle is usually told, by the law St. Paul m ... read more
Peer Pressure
When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his
face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before
certain men came from James, he used to eat with the
Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw
back and separate himself from the Gentiles beca ... read more
Salvation by Faith
"By grace are ye saved through faith." Eph. 2:8.
1. All the blessings which God hath bestowed upon man are of his mere grace, bounty, or favour; his free, undeserved favour; favour altogether undeserved; man having no claim to the least of his merci ... read more
Satan's Devices
"We are not ignorant of his devices." 2 Cor. 2:11.
1. The devices whereby the subtle god of this world labours to destroy the children of God -- or at least to torment whom he cannot destroy, to perplex and hinder them in running the race which is set ... read more
Scriptural Christianity
[This Sermon was originally published in a separate pamphlet, accompanied by the following address "to the reader," to which was affixed the author's signature: "It was not my design, when I wrote, ever to print the latter part of the following Sermon ... read more
Self-Denial
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23
1. It has been frequently imagined, that the direction here given related chiefly, if not wholly, to the Apostles; at ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 1
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: And when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, `Blessed are the poor in spirit: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 10
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 11
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 12
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 13
"Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast o ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 2
"Blessed are the meek: For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: For they shall obtain mercy." Matt. 5:5-7
I. 1. When "the winter is past," ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 3
"Blessed are the pure in heart: For they shall see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers: For they shall be called the children of God. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are ye, ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 4
"Ye are the salt of the earth. But if the salt hath lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and trodden under foot of men. "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 5
"Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you: Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever there ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 6
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: Otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
"Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 7
"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy fa ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 8
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through ... read more
Sermon on the Mount, 9
"`No man can serve two masters; For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
"`Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, ... read more
Signs of the Times
"Ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" Matthew 16:3.
1. The entire passage runs thus: "The Pharisees also, with the Sadducees, came, and tempting, desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven. H ... read more
Some Account of the Late Work of God...
THE LATE WORK OF GOD IN NORTH AMERICA
"The appearance was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel." Ezek. 1:16.
1. Whatever may be the primary meaning of this mysterious passage of Scripture, many serious Christians, in all ages have applied it i ... read more
Spiritual Idolatry
"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21.
1. There are two words that occur several times in this Epistle, -- _paidia_ and _teknia_, -- both of which our translators render by the same expression, little children. But their meaning i ... read more
Spiritual Worship
"This is the true God, and eternal life." 1 John 5:20.
1. In this Epistle St. John speaks not to any particular Church, but to all the Christians of that age; although more especially to them among whom he then resided. And in them he speaks to the wh ... read more
The Almost Christian
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
Acts 26:28.
AND many there are who go thus far: ever since the Christian religion was in the world, there have been many in every age and nation who were almost persuaded to be Christians. But seeing it a ... read more
The Almost Christian
(text from the 1872 edition)
THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN
Preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, before the University, on July 25, 1741.
"Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." Acts 26:28.
AND many there are who go thus far: ever since the Christian reli ... read more
The Case of Reason Impartially Considered
Brethren, be not children in understanding: Howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
1 Cor. 14:20.
1. It is the true remark of an eminent man, who had made many observations on human nature, If reason be against a man, a man w ... read more
The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
[First published ~in the year 1750.]
"O come hither, and behold the works of the Lord; what destruction he hath brought upon th~e earth!" Ps. 46:8.
O~f all the judgments which the righteous God inflicts on sinners here, the most dreadful and destruct ... read more
The Circumcision of the Heart
Preached at St. Mary's, Oxford, before the University, on January 1, 1733. "Circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter." Romans 2:29.
1. It is the melancholy remark of an excellent man, that he who now preaches the most e ... read more
The Danger of Riches
"They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition." 1 Tim. 6:9.
1. How innumerable are the ill consequences which have followed from men's not knowing, or ... read more
The Duty of Reproving our Neighbor
"Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him." Lev. 19:17.
A great part of the book of Exodus, and almost the whole of the book of Leviticus, relate to the ritual or ceremonial ... read more
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