When I was a younger Baptist boy and learning about other faiths, I became enchanted with many of the writings of the brothers Wesley, especially John. He seemed sure without being sure in an ugly way - usually.
I especially like this line, where he was talking about employment, but seems to apply in other areas, as well:
None therefore can here determine for another; but every man must judge for himself, and abstain from whatever he in particular finds to be hurtful to his soul.
Here are a few more Wesley quotes I like:
The Church recruited people who had been starched and ironed before they were washed.
When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me.
Think and let think.
The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities.
Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.
When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.
Along with one quote from Wesley that I don't like at all:
Introduce no new tunes. See that none sing to slow, and the women sing their parts. Exhort all to sing, and all to stand at singing, as well to kneel at prayers.
!! Yuck. What horrible advice (the "no new tunes" and No Slow Singing advice)! What of you? Do you have favorite Wesley quotes? Or any that you hate?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
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4 comments:
Frist!
When he was persuaded to preach in the open fields, he commented:
"At four in the afternoon I submitted to be more vile, and proclaimed in the highways
the glad tidings of salvation."
Don't know why, but I always liked that one.
I liked one of his rules for meetings: "Start on time and end on time."
Verily, we United Methodists have departed from this theme of Wesleyan orthodoxy.
"Those are best prepared for the greatest mercies that see themselves unworthy of the least."
"Get on fire for God, and people will come and watch you burn"
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