CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE 18TH CENTURY - ( CHAPTER 5 ) - { PT. 7 }

( CHAPTER  5 )  -  { PT.  7 } - I am rich enough. In the year 1714, when John Wesley was eleven years old, he was placed at the Charter-house School in London. That mighty step in life--a boys's first entrance at a public school--seems to have done him no harm. He had probably been well-grounded at his father's house in all the basics of a classical education, and he soon became distinguished and progress at sixteen, his elder brother, then a leader at Westminster, describes him as a brave boy, learning Hebrew as fast as he can. In the year 1720, at the age of seventeen, John Wesley went to Oxford as an undergraduate, having been elected to Christ Church. Little is known of the first three or four years of his university life except that he was consistent, studious, and remarkable for his classical knowledge and genius for composition. It is evident, however, that he made the best use of his time at college, and he picked up as much as he could in a day when honorary class lists were unknown and incentives to study were very few. Like most great clergymen, he utilized the advantage of a university education all his life long. Some people might dislike his theology, but they could never say that he was a fool and had no right to be heard. At the beginning of 1725, at the age of twenty-two, John Wesley seems to have gone through much exercise of mind as to choice of a profession. Naturally enough, he thought of entering the ministry, but was somewhat daunted by serious reflection on the solemnity of the step.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE 18TH CENTURY - ( CHAPTER 5 ) - { PT. 9 }

Image
  { CHAPTER  5 }  -  ( PT.  9 ) - May God deliver us from such a fearful expectation at this! Correspondence of this kind could hardly fail to do good to a young man in John Wesley's frame of mind. It undoubtedly led him to a closer study of the Scriptures, deeper self-examination, and more fervent prayer. Whatever doubts he may have had were finally removed, and he was ordained a deacon on September 19, 1725, by Dr. Potter, then bishop of Oxford, and later became archbishop of Canterbury. In the year 1726, John Wesley was elected Fellow of Lincoln College after a contest of more than ordinary severity. His recently adopted serious manner and general religiousness were used against him by his adversaries, but his high character carried him triumphantly through all opposition, to the great delight of his father. As tested as he apparently was at the time in his earthly circumstances, Samuel Wesley wrote, Whatever will be my own fate before the summer is over, God knows; but whatever
Read more

CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE 18th CENTURY - ( CHAPTER 5 ) - { PT. 4 }

Image
  ( CHAPTER  5 )  -  { PT.  4 } - The way of teaching was this: the day before a child began to learn, the house was set in order, everyone's work was appointed to them, and instruction was appointed to them, and instruction was given that no one should come into the room from nine to twelve, or from two to five, which were our school hours. One day was allowed for the child to learn his letters, and each of them did learn all their letters, great and small, in that time, except Molly and Nancy, who were a day and a half before they knew them perfectly, for which I then thought them very dull. However, the reason why I thought them so was because the rest learned so quickly. Your brother Samuel, who was the first child I ever taught, learned the alphabet in a few hours. He was five years old on February 10. The next day he began to learn, and as soon as he knew the letters, began at the first chapter of Genesis. He was taught to spell the first verse, then to read it over all over
Read more

CHRISTIAN LEADERS OF THE 18TH CENTURY - ( CHAPTER 5 ) - { PT. 8 }

Image
  ( CHAPTER  5 )  -  { PT.  8 } - Let us hear what John Wesley's mother says about Thomas a Kempis opinion that all mirth or pleasure is useless, if not sinful. She observes: I believe Kempis to have been an honest, weak man who had more zeal than knowledge by condemning all mirth or pleasure as sinful or useless, in opposition to so many direct and plain texts of Scripture. Would you judge of the lawfulness or unlawfulness of pleasure, or of the innocence or enmity of actions? Here is a good rule: what ever weakens your reason, impairs the  conscience, obscures your sense of God, or takes away the desire of spiritual things--basically, whatever increases the strength and authority of your body over your mind--that thing is sin to you, however innocent it may be in itself. Let us hear what John Wesley himself says in a letter on the opinion of Jeremy Taylor: Whether God has forgiven us or not, we know not; therefore, let us be sorrowful for ever having sinned. Samuel Wesley respond
Read more