John and Charles Wesley: Selected Prayers, Hymns, and Sermons – The Methodist Revival Spirituality that Changed Christianity

by John Wesley, Charles Wesley

John and Charles Wesley led the Methodist revival that swept eighteenth–century England and America and changed the face of Christianity forever. Their spirituality synthesized a unique blend of elements from the church fathers, Catholic mystics, and Protestant Reformers. This selection includes John's incisive writings on the spiritual life as well as the famous hymns of Charles, giving vibrant expression to the faith of the Wesleys.

"About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." –– John Wesley

Genres: Theology

111 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

John Wesley is recognized as the founder of Methodism. An acclaimed preacher, Wesley travelled extensively on horseback and drew large crowds for his outdoor sermons. A contemporary of William Wilberforce, Wesley was a strong voice opposing slavery in England and the United States. His influence upon modern Christianity can be seen by the large number of Methodist organizations in the Wesleyan tradition all over the world.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grabbed this book on a whim from the library; I'm not Methodist, and so my familiarity with the Wesley brothers is minimal. After reading this book I'm not sure my knowledge increased, but my desire to read more of their writings did.
This is basically a book version of an appetizer - tasty, not bad, but certainly not filling. The first half of the book is various writings and journal entries by the brothers, the second half of the book is a collection of Charles' hymns.

[Christopher Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those looking for a good overview of the life, work, and beliefs of John and Charles Wesley, this is a good place to start. Aside from the introduction and preface, everything contained is taken from their own writings, whether they be sermons, prayers, or hymns (as the title suggests).

However, I wish some historical context had been given at the beginning of each chapter. Not having this information (only dates to go on) I believe detracted from what is good introductory material on the whole.

Despite that, this still gets a fairly high grade from me. It could have been better though.