John Wesley Muses on Christian Perfection

Removing soon after to another College, I executed a resolution which I was before convinced was of the utmost importance, —shaking off at once all my trifling acquaintance, I began to see more and more the value of time. I applied myself closer to study. I watched more carefully against actual sins: I advised others to be religious, according to that scheme of religion by which I modeled my own life. But meeting now with Mr. Law’s “Christian Perfection” and “Serious Call,” although I was offended at many parts of both, yet they convinced me more than ever of the exceeding height and breadth and depth of the law of God. The light flowed in so mightily upon my soul, that every thing appeared in a new view. I cried to God for help, and resolved not to prolong the time of obeying Him as I had never done before. And by my continued endeavour to keep His whole law, inward and outward, to the utmost of my power, I was persuaded that I should be accepted of Him, and that I was even then in a state of salvation.

Journal, 1.99

I am struck by where the focus is here in Wesley’s writing. It seems to be on him. What are your impressions?

2 thoughts on “John Wesley Muses on Christian Perfection

  1. I suspect that this might represent the pre-Aldersgate Wesley, or at least when he was in his Holy Club days at Oxford. But your point is taken. That seems to be the quandary for many Christians: working hard to save themselves instead of responding in loving and grateful obedience for all that God has done for them in Christ.

  2. It does sound like he’s talking a lot about himself. Was he experiencing a great renewal then? His last sentence is strange: “And by my continued endeavour…to the utmost of my power,….” Sounds like he is saving himself. But it ends “I was even then in a state of salvation.” Now it’s hard to tell how he was saved.

    PS: You need a longer Recent Posts/table of contents. It’s a little hard to go back to find something, if you’ve read posts farther ahead on the blog.

Comments are closed.