In the name
of God
Odilon
Massolar Chaves
Copyright © 2026, Odilon Massolar Chaves -
All rights reserved to the author.
It is allowed to read, copy and share for free.
Article 184 of the Penal Code and Law 96710 of
February 19, 1998.
Books published in the Wesleyan Digital Library: 922
Books published by the author: 962
Cover: Facebook John Wesley Hispano
Odilon Massolar Chaves is a retired Methodist pastor,
with a doctorate in Theology and History from the Methodist University of São
Paulo.
Son of Rev. Adherico Ribeiro Chaves and Roza Massolar
Chaves.
He is married to RoseMary.
He has two daughters: Liliana and Luciana.
His thesis dealt with the Methodist revival in England
in the eighteenth century and its contribution as a paradigm for our days.
Table of Contents
· Introduction
· I continue, in the name of God and in the power of His power
· Speak in God's name without fear or shame
· Go in God's
name
· In the name of God, I exhort you, keep close to every moment of the
anointing of the Holy One
· In the name of God, go again and do the first works
· Continue the collection in the name of God
· Go forward in the name of God and in the power of His power
· Go in God's
name
· In the name of God, I have already done it!
· Continue in the name of God
· Go forward in God's name and in the power of His power
· Speaking in God's name when God hasn't spoken
· In God's name, I ask You to make me feel sensible about this!
· In the name of God, begin!
· May he go up there in the name of God
· Go in the name of God! One year will be enough, if you have faith
· Put your hand to the plow in God's name and never look back
· So, in the name of God, we set out
· In God's name, let us ensure, if possible, that the present generation
does not shrink back into perdition
Introduction
"In the Name of God" is a 33-page book based
on Wesley's letters and diary.
"It is correct that John Wesley
frequently used the phrase "In the name of God" in his personal
communications and spiritual records to emphasize urgency, divine authority,
and encouragement in the faith. This phrase functioned as a strong call to
action and spiritual consecration.[1]
"The use of this expression is repeated in
moments of maximum exhortation throughout his leadership." [2]
To John Baxendate, on February 19, 1784, Wesley said,
"See if you can fully agree with what is there laid down, both in terms of
doctrine and discipline. If you can, then put your hand to the plough in the
name of God and never look back." [3]
But this expression was marked in history when he
wrote to William Wilberforce, on February 24, 1791, and encouraged him to
continue the fight against slavery. Wesley said, "I continue, in the name
of God and in the power of His power, until even American slavery (the vilest
that has ever seen the sun) disappears before it." [4]
"In encouraging preachers: He used to use the phrase to shake off the apathy of his co-workers, writing such phrases as: 'Come, in the name of God, let us arise and shake ourselves from the dust!' or 'In the name of God, begin again without delay!' [5]
Writing to Miss
March, June 29, 1767, he added, "Go forward in the name of God and in the
power of His power." [6]
More than a jargon,
Wesley believed that all Methodist work was a purpose of God. Therefore,
convinced, he said: "In the name of God".
The Author
I
continue, in the name of God and in the power of His power
For William Wilberforce
BALAM,
February 24, 1791.
DEAR
LORD, -- Unless divine power has raised you up to be like Athanasius against
the world, ['Athanasius against the world.'] I don't see how you can accomplish
your glorious enterprise of opposing that execrable villainy, which is the
scandal of religion, England, and human nature. Unless God has raised you up to
it, you will be exhausted by the opposition of men and deabolites. But if God
be on your behalf, who can be against you? Are they all together stronger than
God? Oh, do not grow weary in doing good. I go on, in the name of God and in
the power of His power, until even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw
the sun) disappears before it.
Reading
this morning a pamphlet written by a poor African, I was particularly struck by
this circumstance, that a black-skinned man, being wronged or indignant by a
white man, can have no redress; it being a law in all our Colonies that the
oath of a negro against a white is of no avail. What a villainy this is!
May He
who has guided you from youth continue to strengthen you in this and in all
things is the prayer of, dear sir,
His
affectionate servant. [7]
Speak in God's name without fear or shame
When you feel like you're being led to it, write verses; Don't bury your
talent in the earth. Meet with those who meet on a Friday and speak in God's
name without fear or shame
To Philothea Briggs
BANDON, May 2, 1771.
MY DEAR PHILLY,--There is no fear that I
should forget you; I love you too much for that, and so I love to hear from
you, especially at this critical time, when all the powers of hell are against
you. But let them come for you like bees, they will be extinguished like the
fire among thorns. Tempted you are, and you will be; otherwise you could not
know your own weakness and your Master's strength. But all temptations will
work together for good; all are for your benefit, that you may be a part of His
holiness. You may always have an evidence of God's love for you as of yours for
Him. And sometimes the former may be clearer, at others the latter. It is
enough if, in one case or another, you will simply remain your soul upon Him.
Sister Harper is the common experience of those who are renewed in love.
[Charles Wesley met Mrs. Harper at Mr. Sims's house on July 2, 1738; and as
they sang, Who for me, for me hath died,, she burst into tears and cries,
"I believe, I believe!" and stooped down. She went on, and increased
the assurance of faith, full of peace, joy, and love. Wesley published an
extract from his Journal in 1769. see c. Wesley's Journal, i. 115.] Sister
Jackson's experience [See letter of March 26, 1770.] is quite extraordinary,
and very few of them have attained it so far.
There is danger that every believer will
mistake the voice of the enemy or of his own imagination for the voice of God.
And you can distinguish the one from the other, not by any written rule, but
only by the anointing of the Holy One. This only teaches Christian prudence,
consistent with simplicity and godly sincerity.
The four
volumes of Sermons, the Appeals, the Notes, and the Excerpts from the Works of
Mr. Law and Dr. Young may be the best for you now: do not touch anything that
does not suit your present temperament. When you feel you are being led to
this, write verses; do not bury your talent in the earth. Meet with those who
meet on a Friday, and speak in the name of God without fear or shame.
The general rule, not to correspond but with
those who have both grace and understanding, admits of several exceptions, in
favor of some who want one of them, the other, or both. [See letter of May 28.]
While I am in Ireland, you may direct me to Dublin. Do not be afraid to write
letters too long. The longer, the more pleasant, my dear Philadelphia,
With affection.
To Miss Phil. Briggs, at Miss March's house,
Worship Street, Moorfields, London. [8]
Go in God's name
If you visit it, you
will easily realize whether my fears are fair or not. And you will soon find
out if anyone has made an effort to enlarge, rather than heal, this small
breach. Go in the name of God and add this to the other situations of
friendship that you have on every occasion shown
To Mary Bishop
CASTLEBAR, May 15,
1778.
MY DEAR MISS BISHOP,
- When I received the last letter from Miss Flower, I was completely surprised.
[See letters of November 16, 1777, and August 20, 1778.] It was a civil (say,
or unkind) dispensation from continuing to write to her, and seemed to me to
express all the passion that I thought she should not feel. I therefore stood
on my feet, not knowing whether it was advisable to write again or not. After a
pause, I thought it would not be wrong to write one more letter. I did so,
writing as clearly and sincerely as possible, but in a gentle and affectionate
manner. I believe this was about a month ago. Since then I have had no further
call from her. Therefore, I cannot write again; it would be utterly out of
character. However, I am very much concerned about her, and thought yesterday,
'What can I do next? There is no prudent and affectionate friend, for whom she
still respects, and whom I would like to intervene on this delicate occasion,
and, if possible, dispel this misunderstanding' You are the woman! As soon as I
read her letter, I saw everything clear as day. She still loves you; and you
have an affection for her. Use, therefore, the privilege of friendship. I am
afraid that she will have one with her that does her no good—that, instead of
striving to eliminate any prejudice, she would try to increase it, and
gradually drive her away from all her friends. If you visit her, you will
easily perceive whether my fears are fair or not. And you will soon find out
whether anyone has taken pains to enlarge, rather than cure, this little
breach. Go in the name of God and add this to the other situations of
friendship which you have on every occasion shown, whether to her or to my dear
Miss S. Bishop,
With affection.
To Miss Bishop. Near
the Bath of the Cross, in Bath. [9]
In the name of God, I
exhort you, keep close to every moment of the anointing of the Holy One
Therefore,
in the name of God, I exhort you, keep close to every moment of the anointing
of the Holy One! I pay attention to the still, small voice! Beware of listening
to the voice of a stranger!
For
Ms. Ryan
LONDON,
November 30, 1757.
MY
DEAR SISTER,-- Your letter has come at a seasonal time, like rain in times of
drought. How disagreeable we would excuse those we love! I would gladly absolve
those who severely condemn themselves. Evil with myself is not worth thinking
about; it does not leave me a moment's discomfort. But I feel pain for others,
who, if they do not sin against God, still give great cause to the enemy to
blaspheme.
You
may learn an excellent lesson from this. Suppose you are saved from sin, it is
certain that you are not saved from a possibility of error. On this side,
therefore, Satan may attack you; you may be deceived as well as persons or
things. You may think better, or (what is much stranger) may think worse of
them than they deserve. And so there may arise words or actions which, if they
are not sinful in you, are certainly wrong in themselves, and which must and
will appear sinful to those who cannot read your heart. What a great
inconvenience would come to pass! How the good that is in you would be spoken
of with evil! How the great gift of God would be doubted, if not discredited
and denied for your sake! Therefore, in the name of God, I exhort you, keep close
every moment of the anointing of the Holy One! I pay attention to the still,
small voice! Beware of hearing the voice of a stranger! My eyes hurt, my head
hurts, my heart hurts. And yet I don't know when I must have done it. [He spent
this Wednesday and the previous Monday listening to an 'intricate cause' where
'one side stated categorically, the other flatly denied.' See Diary iv. 245.] O
say nothing, act nothing, think of nothing but what you have been taught about
God!
Though
He abideth with His weakness,
Not
for a moment does he move away;
Evil
and danger turn away,
And
keep your hand, your tongue, your heart.
Thus
you will always comfort, not sadden, [10]
In the name of God, go
again and do the first works
Woman, remember faith! In
the name of God, go again and do the first works! I exhort you for my sake (who
love you dearly), for God's sake, for the sake of your own soul, to begin again
without delay
To
Ann Bolton
HIGH WYCOMBE, November 4,
1790.
MY DEAR SISTER, -- The more
I consider your case, the more convinced I am that you are in the school of
God, and that the Lord loves whom He chastises. From the moment you ceased to
meet with your class or band, you were grieved by the Holy Spirit of God, and
He gave a commission to Satan to bombard you, and that commission will never be
revoked until you begin to meet again. Now you were not a mother in Israel, a
repairer of the desolate places, a guide to the blind, a healer of the sick, a
lifter of hands that hung down. Wherever you came, God was with you and shone
on your path. Many daughters acted virtuously; but you overcame them all.
Woman, remember faith! In the name of God, go again and do the first works! I
exhort you for my sake (who love you dearly), for God's sake, for the sake of
your own soul, begin again without delay. The next day when you receive this,
go and meet a class or a band. Sick or well, go! If you can't say a word, go;
and God will go with you. You sink under the sin of omission! My friend, my
sister, go! Go, whether you can or not. Break through the barrier! Take up your
cross. I repeat, do the first works; and God will restore your first love! and
you will be a comfort, not a sorrow, to
With all the affection. [11]
Continue the collection in the name of God
To James Oddie
LONDON, February 14, 1768.
DEAR JEMMY,--I demand that William Ellis
[Oddie's third colleague at Newcastle.] go to the Dales (if he is not already
gone) without delay. Otherwise, I demand that you forbid your preaching in any
of our Societies.
Continue the collection in the name of God! I
don't think you will stop easily until you reach the seven hundred. [See the
letters of January 12 and 15.]
It's not right, Jemmy; That's not right. They
envy the rooms of those poor girls, [Miss Dale in the Orphan House.] and want
at all costs to drive them out. I wrote to Molly Dale on Saturday in haste; but
today I wrote her my nicest thoughts. Peace be with you and yours.--Dear Jemmy,
farewell. [12]
Go forward in the name of God and in the power of His power
But you will need to be cautious when speaking to others, for they would not understand what you say. Move forward in God's name and in the power of His power. Pray for the whole spirit of humility
For Anne Cutler
WALTON, April 15, 1790.
MY DEAR SISTER, -- There is something in
God's actions with your soul which is out of the ordinary. But I have known
several whom he has been pleased to lead in exactly the same way, and
particularly in manifesting to them distinctly the three Persons of the
ever-blessed Trinity. You may tell me your whole experience at any time; but
you must exercise caution in speaking to others, for they would not understand
what you say. Go forward in the name of God and in the power of His power. Pray
for the whole spirit of humility; and I ask you to write and speak without
reservation to, dear Nanny,
With affection.
Your affectionate brother.[13]
Go in God's name
If you visit it, you will
easily realize whether my fears are fair or not. And you will soon find out if
anyone has made an effort to enlarge, rather than heal, this small breach. Go
in the name of God and add this to the other situations of friendship that you
have on every occasion shown
To Maria Bishop
CASTLEBAR, May 15, 1778.
MY DEAR MISS BISHOP, - When
I received the last letter from Miss Flower, I was completely surprised. [See
letters of November 16, 1777, and August 20, 1778.] It was a civil (say, or
unkind) dispensation from continuing to write to her, and seemed to me to
express all the passion that I thought she should not feel. I therefore stood
on my feet, not knowing whether it was advisable to write again or not. After a
pause, I thought it would not be wrong to write one more letter. I did so,
writing as clearly and sincerely as possible, but in a gentle and affectionate
manner. I believe this was about a month ago. Since then I have had no further
call from her. Therefore, I cannot write again; it would be utterly out of
character. However, I am very much concerned about her, and thought yesterday,
'What can I do next? There is no prudent and affectionate friend, for whom she
still respects, and whom I would like to intervene on this delicate occasion,
and, if possible, dispel this misunderstanding' You are the woman! As soon as I
read her letter, I saw everything clear as day. She still loves you; and you
have an affection for her. Use, therefore, the privilege of friendship. I am
afraid that she will have one with her that does her no good—that, instead of
striving to eliminate any prejudice, she would try to increase it, and
gradually drive her away from all her friends. If you visit her, you will
easily perceive whether my fears are fair or not. And you will soon find out
whether anyone has taken pains to enlarge, rather than cure, this little
breach. Go in the name of God and add this to the other situations of
friendship which you have on every occasion shown, whether to her or to my dear
Miss S. Bishop,
With affection.
To Miss Bishop. Near the
Bath of the Cross, in Bath. [14]
In the name of God, I have
already done it!
In the name of God, I've
done it! You can't do anything good by contesting. But you cause a lot of harm.
You've hurt your own spirit. You hurt others. You light a flame
For
Arthur Keene
PORTARLINGTON, April 23,
1789.
MY DEAR ARTHUR, -- I will
not, dare no longer draw the saw of controversy; especially with James Deaves,
[See letters of August 2, 1788 (to Mrs. Ward) and May 20.] who will dispute
through a stone wall.
In God's name, I've done
it! You can't do anything good by objecting. But you do a lot of harm. You've
hurt your own spirit. You hurt others. You light a flame. You dampen and hinder
God's work. By telling stories, you separate your top friends. You prejudice my
close friends against me. I didn't deserve it from you. Leave me alone. I act
to the best of my judgment. Speaking once, you did well. But it's no good for
me to worry like that. I'd like James Deaves to mind his own business. If he
wants to resign me, let him do it quietly. If you personally have something to
say to me, that's fine! But I have nothing more to say to him—namely, James
Deaves behind the curtain. No one but him could uproot you
Your old and affectionate
brother. [15]
Continue in the name of God
You are a bold people! Two
hundred pounds to buy money beyond nine hundred pounds! But I do not usually
stifle any good design. Continue in the name of God. It is true that your act
is clumsy enough
To Laurence Frost
LONDON, October 23, 1789.
MY DEAR BROTHER, -- You are a bold people!
Two hundred pounds to buy money beyond nine hundred pounds! But I do not
usually stifle any good design. Continue in the name of God. It is true that
your act is clumsy enough. I am surprised that no Methodist will take my
advice. I have more experience in these things than any lawyer in the country.
And have I not the Methodist interest so present in my heart? Oh, why will you
alter the fine deed we already have? Why will you employ any lawyer just to get
a knot in a rush; just to try to confuse the cause. Well, take comfort. You
will not worry much about
Your affectionate brother.[16]
Go forward in God's
name and in the power of His power
You are resolved to
be a Bible Christian; and that, by the grace of God, not in some, but in all
points. Go forward in God's name and in the power of His power
To Miss
March
PORTARLINGTON,
June 29, 1767.
For some days you
have been very much on my mind. Are you still making the most of life by
employing a few days in exactly the way you think is most to the glory of God?
And do you still hold fast what you have received, and look forward to the
fulness of the promise? Surely you can maintain all that sincerity of
expectation to which Mr. Maxfield [See the Diary, v. 5-7; and letter of October
13, 1764.] used to incite you without any prejudice, either to humility or
sobriety of spirit. No doubt it is possible, with Mr. Dryden's permission, to
'be wise and to love' [Palamon and Arcite, ii. 364-5 (Amare et sapere vix deo
conceditur-- Publius Syrus): The proverb holds that to be wise and to love / Is
hardly bestowed upon the gods above.] at the same time; And neither of these
two need interfere with the other, for the spirit of love is also the spirit of
wisdom. Are your whole family breathing in this spirit, and strengthening one
another's hands in God? I hope you will have the satisfaction of observing the same
in the majority of those around you, and of seeing the work of God prosper,
wherever you have the opportunity to be. When you are with the gentle part of
your acquaintance, you feel a more immediate need of watching prayer, or you
will insensibly drink the lightness of their spirit, and lessen a little the
accuracy of your walk. No, stand firm, walking on every point as Christ also
walked. Fashion and customs are nothing to you: you have a still more excellent
rule. You are resolved to be a Bible Christian; and that, by the grace of God,
not in some, but in all points. Go forward in the name of God, and in the power
of His power. [Compare his last letter, to Wilberforce, February 26, 1791.]
Still let your eye be single; aim at one point; retain and increase your
communion with God! You have nothing else to do.
Happy and wise, may
time redeem,
And live, my friend,
and die to Him.
Sometimes we must
look to outward things: this is the present condition of humanity. But we must
quickly return home; for all who do not Christ reign in the heart
Daily, in His grace,
to grow
What else do we have
to care about? Only now use all the grace we have received and expect all we
want! The Lord Jesus swallowed you up in His love! [17]
Speaking in God's name when God hasn't spoken
I can't convince you that separation is a bad
thing, or that speaking for God when God hasn't spoken is more than an innocent
mistake. I don't know what to say or do with it
To your brother Charles
LONDON, March 6, 1763.
DEAR BROTHER, — Tomorrow I shall
leave for Norwich, which I have postponed as long as possible. I shall probably
have hard work there; but turbulent spirits must bend or break. [He spent 'a
few quiet and comfortable days...' without any jar or restraint.' See the
Diary, v. 10.]
This story of Thomas
Maxfield's is not true. But I doubt whether it is more true than the good. He
is an extremely incomprehensible creature. I cannot convince him that
separation is a bad thing, or that to speak in the name of God when God has not
spoken is more than an innocent mistake. I do not know what to say or do with
him. He is really mali caput et fons. [See letter of December 23, 1762.]
Mr. Neal has done a great
deal of work with his associates. But I will not hasten to burden myself with
him and his seven children. The week after Easter week I hope to visit the
classes at Bristol, or the week following. James Morgan is in love, John Jones
sick of doctors: so much so that I have scarcely a real helper but La.
Coughlan. [Lawrence Coughlan. See letters of March 6, 1759 (to Matthew Lowes)
and August 27, 1768.]
We unite in love for you
both. Goodbye! [18]
The less you speak or act in God's name, the
less you can
Nothing is more likely to grow in the soul;
the less you speak or act in the name of God, the less you can. If the elderly
do not speak, you are called, like Elihu, to make up for this lack of service.
Whether you are young or old is not important: speak, and do not spare!
To
Elizabeth Ritchie
SHORRHAM, November 29,
1774.
MY DEAR BETSY,-- It is a
pleasure to hear that you have recovered your health. If you find any recent
illness, let me know; we must not neglect the body, though the main thing is a
healthy mind. There are many excellent things in the works of Madame Guyon, and
many that are extremely dangerous. All the more so because good things give way
to mischievous. And it is not easy, unless for one who has much experience, to
distinguish one from the other. Perhaps, therefore, it is safer for you to
confine yourself chiefly to what we have published. You will then not be
perplexed by various feelings nor by different words; and you will find enough
on every religious theme, speculative or practical.
I do not know whether any
method of reading would be more profitable than reading a chapter of the Old
Testament with the Notes every morning; and every evening a chapter, or at
least a section, in the New Testament. At other times of the day, I advise you
to read our works regularly from the beginning; Marking any treatise or part of
a treatise which you find most useful, that you may make it a matter of
meditation. Some of the most useful to believers are the treatises of Mr. Law,
the Lives of Mr. Brainerd, De Renty, and Thomas Walsh, the treatises translated
from the French, and those on Christian Perfection.
I am glad you have been
with our dear Sister Crosby. Talk as much as you can with those of her spirit;
They are the best in the world. You must not yield—no, not for a day—to
inactivity. Nothing is more likely to grow in the soul; the less you speak or act
in the name of God, the less you can. If the aged do not speak, you are called,
like Elihu, to make up for that lack of service. Whether you are young or old
it is not important: speak, and spare not! Rescue time! Be fervent in spirit!
Take advantage of every opportunity; and be always a comfort to
With affection. [19]
Now let
you and me move on in God's name
Now let
you and me move forward in God's name. We know who we believe
For Christopher
Hopper
BRISTOL, October 9, 1767.
MY DEAR BROTHER,-- It
is a pity, but we could follow the blow at Belford [Fifteen miles beyond
Alnwick. Wesley preached there on May 22, 1766: 'The hearers were earnestly
attentive, and some seemed to understand what was said.' See Journal, v. 167.];
I think something can be done there. I have appointed John Atlay to stay at
Glasgow until February, and Jos. Thompson
at the Dunbar Circuit. Two preachers, if they are zealous and active, will do
better than one. But why is Joseph Thompson not there? I will not let my plan
be altered! Whoever does not observe the twelfth rule of a preacher ['Act in
all things, not according to your own will, but as a son in the gospel, and in
union with your brethren, etc.'] resigns his connection with me! If Joseph
Thompson does not intend to renounce this, let him come at once to Dunbar. I
will go in or take it out! I tell them what these two preachers are to do.
'Each preacher is to be alternately in the city and in the country'—that is, in
Leith, Dalkeith, Linlithgow, and Burrawytowys. Let them keep it, and soon the
fruit will appear. And if they do not carry it out, regardless of any motive or
presence to the contrary, I will not worry about them any more. I will not try
to guide those who will not be led by me. There is already a round cut-out. Let
them comply with it, or renounce all kind of relation to me!
Legacy or not, Samuel
Franks [Wesley's Book Steward; Olivers was Hilton's colleague in Dublin.] I
will answer your demands. But what do you think of John Hilton? Did he do
nothing in Scotland? He was all life—only fire. I will tell Thomas Oliver part
of my mind.
Now let you and me
move forward in God's name. We know who we believe. "I am
With affection.[20]
In God's
name, I ask You to make me feel sensible about this!
In God's
name, I ask you to make me feel sensible about this! Show me, for clear and
strong reasons, what dishonors that hope causes Christ, by opposing
Justification by Faith or any fundamental truth of religion
For John Newton
LONDONDERRY, May 14,
1765.
DEAR SIR,-- Your way
of writing needs no excuse. I hope you always write in the same way. Love is
the simplest thing in the world: I know it dictates what you write; And then,
what a need for ceremony
You have admirably
well expressed what I mean by a contradistinct opinion of an essential
doctrine. All that is 'compatible with the love of Christ and a work of grace,'
I call an opinion. And certainly the holding of Private Election and Final
Perseverance is compatible with these. 'Yet what a fundamental error,' you ask,
'you have opposed with half as often and vehemence as you have these opinions.'
No doubt you have heard. But this is not true. I have already published nearly
fifty sermons, and only one of them is opposed to them. I preach about eight
hundred sermons a year; and, passing one year with another, twenty years ago I
did not preach eight sermons in one year on the subject. But, 'How many of your
best preachers have been expelled because they disagreed with you in these
particulars?' None of them, better or worse, good or bad, has ever been put
upon it. There has not been a single case of this kind. Two or three (but far
from being the best of our preachers) left us voluntarily after they had embraced
these opinions. But it was on their own initiative: and two I would have
expelled for immoral behaviour; but they withdrew, and pretended 'not to hold
to our doctrine.' Wherefore, mark who told thee this story, and let their word
for the future be in vain.
'A man is a believer
in Jesus Christ, and his life is suited to his profession' are not only the
chief questions I ask of his admission into our Company. If he is a Dissenter,
he may still be a Dissenter: but if he is a man of the Church, I advise him to
continue so; and this for many reasons, some of which are mentioned in the
treatise on this subject.
When you have read
what I have written on the occasion of the Letters recently published, perhaps
I shall say something more on this subject. And then it will be time to show
why part of these Letters could not be written by Mr. Hervey.
I think of
Justification as I have done at any time in these twenty-seven years, and as
Mr. Calvin does. In this respect I differ not in the least from him.
But the main point
between you and me is Perfection. 'This,' you say, 'has no prevalence here;
otherwise I should consider it my duty to oppose it with all my might—not as an
opinion, but as a dangerous error, which seems subversive of the very foundations
of Christian experience, and which, in fact, has given rise to the gravest
offenses.' Just as my brother and I reasoned thirty years ago. 'We consider it
our duty to oppose Predestination with all our might—not as an opinion, but as
a dangerous error, which seems subversive of the very foundations of Christian
experience, and which, in fact, has given occasion to the gravest offenses.'
I know that this has
given rise to such offences; I can name times, places, and persons. But there
is yet another fact which stares me in the face. Mr. Haweis and Mr. Newton have
this experience, and yet I believe they have real Christian experience. But, if
so, this is only an opinion; it is not subversive (here is a clear proof to the
contrary) 'of the very foundations of Christian experience.' It is 'compatible
with a love of Christ and a genuine work of grace.' Yes, many hold it, whom I
desire to be found on the day of the Lord Jesus. If, then, I 'oppose it with
all my might,' I am still a mere prejudicer. I leave you in your quiet, retired
moments to make the request.
But how this opinion
came into my head, I will tell you in all simplicity. In 1725 I came across
Bishop Taylor's Holy Rules of Life and Death. I was especially impressed with
the chapter on the Intention, and felt a fixed intention to give myself to God.
In this I was much confirmed soon afterwards by the Christian Standard, and
longed to give God all my heart. This is just what I mean by Perfection now: I
have sought it since that hour.
In 1727 I read Mr.
Law's Christian Perfection and the Earnest Calling, and resolved more
explicitly to be wholly devoted to God in body, soul, and spirit. In 1730 I
began to be homo unius libri, ['A man of one book.' In the Preface to the
Sermons, vol. i. (1746). See Works, v. 3; W.H.S. v. 50.] study (comparatively)
no book but the Bible. Then I saw with stronger light than ever that only one
thing is necessary, even the faith that worketh by the love of God and man, all
inward and outward holiness; and I groaned because I loved God with all my
heart, and served Him with all my might.
On January 1, 1733, I
preached the sermon on the Circumcision of the Heart, which contains all that I
now teach about salvation from all sin, and loving God with an individuate
heart. In the same year I printed (the first time I ventured to print anything)
for the use of my students A Collection of Forms of Prayer; and in this I spoke
explicitly of giving 'all my heart and all my life to God.' This was then, as
it is now, my idea of Perfection, though I should have begun with the word.
In 1735 I preached my
farewell sermon at Epworth in Lincolnshire. In this sense I spoke with the
utmost plainness about having one plan, one desire, one love, and of pursuing
the one end of our life in all our words and actions.
In January, 1738, I
expressed my desire in these words: O grant that nothing in my soul may dwell
but Thy pure love only O that Thy love may possess me entirely, My joy, my
treasure, and my crown! Strange flames far from my heart may remove! Every act
of mine, word, thought, be love! [Gerhardt's Hymn, translated by Wesley (Hymns
and Sacred Poems, 1739). In his Plain Account of Christian Perfection, he says:
'In the beginning of the year 1738, as I was returning from Savannah, the cry
of my heart was: O grant me that nothing in my soul may dwell but Thy pure love
alone!' See Works, xi. 369.] And yet I am convinced that this is what the Lord
Jesus purchased for me with His own blood. Now, whether you desire and expect
this blessing or not, is it not a surprising thing that you or any living man
should be disgusted with me for expecting it? Is it not still more surprising
'that almost the whole religious world should revolt on account of it,' and
that they should convince each other that this hope is 'subversive of the very
foundations of Christian experience.' Why, then, he who retains it can have no
Christian experience. I, then, my brother, Mr. Fletcher, and I, and twenty
thousand others, who seem to fear and love God, are indeed children of the
devil, and in the way of eternal damnation!
In God's name, I ask
you to make me feel sensible about it! Show me, for clear and strong reasons,
what dishonors this hope causes to Christ, by opposing Justification by Faith,
or any fundamental truth of religion. But twist, draw, and color not my words
as Mr. Hervey (or Cudworth) did in such a way that, when I look into that
mirror, I do not know my own face, I 'Shall I call you?' says Mr. Hervey, 'my
father or my friend, for you were both to me.' And I was, and you also
corresponded to me! Well, my reward is with the Most High. Wishing all
happiness to you and yours, I am, dear sir, your brother and affectionate
servant. To the Rev. Mr. Newton, at Mr. Clunies's house, Harp Lane, Thames
Street, London. [21]
In the name of God,
begin!
If you need seven to
eight hours, then, in the name of God, begin! That very night, in spite of all
temptation to the contrary, go to bed at ten o'clock and get up between five
and six, whether you sleep or not
To your niece Sarah
Wesley
NEAR LEEDS, JULY 17, 1781.
MY DEAR SALLY, -- Though I did not know what your
motive was, I took it for granted that you had a reason for not writing.
Therefore I did not blame you or love you any less, believing that you would
write when it was convenient. Without an effort to please God and renounce our
own will, we shall never obtain His favor. But until we have attained it, until
we have the Spirit of adoption, we cannot really surrender our own will to Him.
I must say freely what I consider to be the great
obstacle to your attaining it—yes, to your attaining more health both physical
and mental than you have ever had, or at least for a long season I believe it
to be (as far as very few people know) intemperance in sleep. All are
intemperate in sleep, and sleep more than nature requires; and how much this
requires is easy to know. In fact, there is no universal rule, none that serves
all constitutions. But after all the observations and experiments I have been able
to make for more than fifty years, I am fully convinced that men, in general,
need between six and seven hours' sleep out of twenty-four; and women in
general a little more—that is, between seven and eight years.
But what is the bad consequence of lying in bed
longer—suppose nine hours out of twenty-four hours
1. It hurts the body. Whether you sleep or not
(and, indeed, this usually prevents deep sleep), it as if it soaks and boils
the pulp, and sows the seeds of innumerable diseases; of all nervous diseases
in particular, such as weakness, fainting, low excitement, nervous headaches,
and consequently weakness of vision, sometimes ending in total blindness.
2. It injures the mind, weakens the understanding.
It dulls the imagination. It weakens the memory. It effaces all the noblest
affections. It takes away the edge of the soul, impairs its vigor and firmness,
and infuses a wrong softness, quite inconsistent with the character of a good
soldier of Jesus Christ.
It grieves the Holy Spirit of God, and prevents, or
at least diminishes, those blessed influences which tend to make you not
almost, but altogether a Christian.
I advise, therefore, from this day forward,
trusting not in yourself, but in him who raises the dead, to sleep exactly as
nature requires, and nothing more. If you need seven to eight hours, then, in
the name of God, begin! This very night, in spite of all temptation to the
contrary, go to bed at ten o'clock and rise between five and six, sleep or not.
If your head hurts during the day, hold on. In a week you will sleep
peacefully. If you can follow this advice, you can receive more from my dear
Sally,
With all the affection.
To Miss Wesley. Wesley, in Chesterfield Street,
Marybone. [22]
May he go up there in the name of God
I will see to it that not a
word of this subject is mentioned in the Conference. Let him go up there in the
name of God, and it will be a blessing to him
To Zacharias Yewdull
NEAR DUBLIN, JUNE 22, 1785.
DEAR ZACHARY, "Let him
not be afraid; I will see to it that not a word of this subject is mentioned in
the Conference. Let him go up there in the name of God, and it will be a
blessing to him."
Let Brother Foster also
come so that he may receive the advice of Dr. Whitehead. I shall have no
objection, unless some particular objection arises, to your fate for
Sunderland. I think you will do well to bring Brother Adamson with you to the
Conference. You two will be acceptable, dear Zachary,
Your affectionate brother. [23]
Go in the
name of God! One year will be enough, if you have faith
Well said,
John Fenwick! Go in the name of God! One year will suffice, if you have faith
To John Fenwick
December 25, 1767.
Well said, John
Fenwick! Go in the name of God! One year will suffice, if you have faith.
Richard Pearce, of Bradford, [Bradford-on-Avon. See Wesley's Veterans, i. 216.]
writes that he will give 20; Mr. Iles, of Stroud, that he will give 50. Surely
God's hour has come. Focus all shoulders on the work, and it shall be done.
You have Mr. Heaton's
account (the lawyer) that I think Michael Callendar [See title of letter of
September 7, 1749.] will be settled. [24]
Put your hand to the
plow in God's name and never look back
See if you can
completely agree with what is laid down there, both in terms of doctrine and
discipline. If you can, then put your hand to the plow in the name of God and
never look back
For John Baxendate
LONDON, February 19,
1784.
MY DEAR BROTHER, -
You do well to remind me of my promise; otherwise I might have forgotten. It
seems that at last the time has come for poor Wigan to raise his head. I shall
be glad to lecture them even at Wingates, on my way from Wigan to Bolton. [Preached
at Wingates, five or six miles from Bolton, in April and in the evening at
Wigan.] We must mark out the places where God desires to act eminently, and
endeavor to pour out all the help we can.
You would do well to
read and consider the Extended Minutes of the Conference. See if you can fully
agree with what is laid down therein, both in terms of doctrine and discipline.
If you can, then put your hand to the plough in the name of God and never look
back. [See letters of March 7, 1783 and February 25, 1785 to him.] Begin as
soon as you want to organize your affairs, and proceed with caution. In the
meantime, shake the gift of God that is in you, and do all the good you can. -
I am
Your affectionate
brother. [25]
So, in the name of
God, we set out
I said to him,
"At least we can walk twenty miles a day, with our horses in our
hands." So, in the name of God, we set out. The northeast wind cut like a
sword, and drove the snow in such irregular quantities, that the main road was
impassable
02/18/1747
– Wednesday. Our servant came and said, "Sir, there will be no journey
today. Such a quantity of snow has fallen at night that the roads are
impassable." I said to him, "At least we can walk twenty miles a day,
with our horses in our hands." So, in the name of God, we set out. The
northeast wind cut like a sword, and drove the snow in such irregular
quantities, that the main road was impassable. Yet we continued, on foot or on
horseback, until we came to White Lion, in Grantham. [26]
In God's name, let us ensure, if possible,
that the present generation does not shrink back into perdition
Wesley's Diary. Monday,
April 5, 1784..—"And in the meantime we are laboring to secure the
preaching houses for the next generation! In the name of God, let us ensure, if
possible, that the present generation does not shrink back into perdition. Let
all preachers who are still alive to God unite as one man, fast and pray, lift
up their voices like trumpets, be instantaneous, in season, out of season, to
convince them that they have fallen; and exhort them at once to repent and
"do the first works"; this in particular—rising in the morning,
without which neither their souls nor bodies can long remain healthy.[27]
[1] Overview of Google's AI Mode
[2] Overview of Google's AI Mode
[3]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1784/
[4]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1791/
[5] Overview of Google's AI Mode
[6]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1767/
[7]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1791/
[8]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1771/
[9]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1778/
[10]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1757/
[11]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1790/
[12]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1768/
[13]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1790/
[14]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1778/
[15]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1789/
[16]https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1789/
[17] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1767/
[18] https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1763/
[19]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1774/
[20]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1767/
[21]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1765/
[22]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1781/
[23]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1785/
[24]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1767/
[25]
https://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-letters-of-john-wesley/wesleys-letters-1784/
[26] BIRRELL, Augustine. "The Diary of John Wesley". Edited by Percy Livingstone Parker, Chicago, Moody Press, 1951 - The Yyndale Series of Great Biographies - https://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/journal.all.html
[27] BIRRELL, Augustine. "The Diary
of John Wesley". Edited by Percy Livingstone Parker, Chicago, Moody Press,
1951 - The Yyndale Series of Great Biographies -
https://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/journal.all.html
Comentários
Postar um comentário