Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-cnmwb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T12:31:25.921Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Wesley as a Churchman

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 September 2009

John Alfred Faulkner
Affiliation:
Pastor of the Chenango Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Binghamton, N. Y.

Extract

The relation of John Wesley and early Methodism to the Church of England is one of the disputed questions of Church History. It has practical interest as well on account of the repeated attempts to induce the Methodists to return to the Church of England on the ground of the alleged unflinching loyalty of Wesley to the Church, and especially on account of his alleged High-Church notions. From documents lately printed some think that the common notion that Wesley maintained strictly evangelical notions after 1738 must be revised. It is therefore of interest to inquire what was Wesley's real attitude toward the Church of his fathers.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © American Society for Church History 1896

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

page 165 note 1 Cf., Rigg, , Churchmanship of John Wesley, Lond., 1879; new ed., 1893.Google Scholar

page 165 note 2 These words in brackets appear to have a line drawn through them with the pen.

page 165 note 3 See Urlin, R. Denny, Wesley's Place in Church History, Lond., 1870Google Scholar, and his Churchman's Life of John Wesley, Lond., 1886.Google Scholar

page 166 note 1 John Wesley and the Evangelical Reaction of the 18th Century, p. 157.Google Scholar

page 168 note 1 Priestley, 's Letters, p. 108Google Scholar, Tyerman, , Life of Wesley, i., 286–87.Google Scholar

page 168 note 2 Tyerman, , i., 444.Google Scholar

page 168 note 3 The same principles appear in Works, i., 486–89, last Lond. ed.Google Scholar

page 169 note 1 In this Wesley releases himself from obedience to all unconverted bishops.

page 169 note 2 Compare with this John Henry Newman's respect for his bishops in his Tractarian period. “What to me was jure divine was the voice of my bishop in his own person. My own bishop was my pope.”—Apologia pro Vita Sua, 5th ed., N. Y., p. 97.Google Scholar

page 170 note 1 Minutes of Conference, i., 2627 (last London ed.).Google Scholar

page 171 note 1 Works, ii., 4.Google Scholar

page 172 note 1 Minutes, ed. 1862, i., 36Google Scholar; Tyerman, , i., 509.Google Scholar

page 173 note 1 Tyerman, , ii., 244.Google Scholar

page 173 note 2 Journal, 02, 1761Google Scholar (Works, iii., 425).Google Scholar

page 173 note 3 This is a quotation from one of Charles Wesley's early poems, in which he describes the Church clergy. This sentiment Charles afterward withdrew as too strong.

page 174 note 1 Jackson, , Life of Charles Wesley, pp. 730–31 (N. Y. ed.), ii., 394–96 (1st Lond. ed.).Google Scholar

page 174 note 2 June 28, 1755, Tyerman, , ii., 206.Google Scholar

page 175 note 1 Tyerman, , ii., 207–8Google Scholar; Meth. Mag., 1779, p. 371.Google Scholar

page 176 note 1 Life of Samuel Walker, of Truro, p. 207Google Scholar; Tyerman, , ii., 245–46.Google Scholar

page 176 note 2 Life of Walker, p. 224Google Scholar; Tyerman, , ii., 251.Google Scholar