Without Wesley would we have had Wilberforce?

About three years after I became a Christian, I was given a book by John Pollock called 'Wesley the Preacher' and reading it captured my heart. It is not an overly scholarly work, which can so often can make a story impenitrable, it reads instead like an 18th Century adventure that happens, amazingly, also to be true. I have reread it this week and once again my heart has been 'strangely warmed'.

Wesley is arguably one of the most influencial Christian's of the last five centuries and with all the current talk of Wilberforce it is worth remembering 'Jacky' and his stamp on our nation. As we teetered on the brink of revolution two brothers and a squinty-eyed man called George Whitfield turned England and the North America upside down with the preaching of the gospel of grace. What was interesting to note is that they were all already ordained before they truly understood the love and power of God to save and free the human heart.

Do you ever wonder what revival looks like? Well this is a good place to find out.

For all his Greek, Hebrew and prolific learning at Oxford, Wesley had mistaken Anglican 'religion' for Christianity (not much changes!). But his works, as he discovered, could never save his hungry soul. Thanks to the intervention of some Spirit-filled Moravians and, more specifically, a man called Peter Bohler, the day and the man were saved. Wesley was convinced that forgiveness and peace must be earned by unceasing effort. Bohler's frank reply were to change the course of his life:

"Believe and you will be saved. Believe in the Lord Jesus with all your heart, and nothing shall be impossible to you! This faith, like the salvation it brings, is the free gift of God. Seek and you will find" (P.90)

Of course, some time later in Aldersgate Street, Wesley wrote in his journal that...."I felt my heart strangley warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation...'.(P.98). This account of his life, his preaching and the results are nothing short of remarkable. What struck me as I reread this piec e of history is the trouble and strife that come with revival, not least over matters of theology. The predominant dispute throughout the revival was over predestination that led to the parting of the ways between Whitifield ( the Calvinsit) and Wesley (the Arminian), though they were eventually reconciled. When revival comes, I wonder what will be our doctrinal issue set to divide and if we will learn the Methodist's lesson? I pray so.

Towards the end of his life, Wesley started to be troubled by the issue of slavery and in 1774 wrote his 'Thoughts on slavery'. This was his call:

"Give liberty to whom liberty is due, that is, to every child of man, to every partaker of human nature. Let none serve you by his own act and deed, by his own voluntary action. Away with all whips, all chains, all compulsion! Be gentle toward all men ; and see that you invariably do with every one as you would he should do unto you" (P.242)

John Newton read this pamphlet in his vicarage at Olney and Wesley's words opened his eyes to the crime in which he had been formerly engaged. Eleven years later Newton would have a profound influence on a young boy, one William Wilberforce, and his story is now being told to all as we celebrate 200 years of Abolition. 'Amazing Grace' it was for sure, but perhaps it came a little earlier and through people other than the historian's may now acknowledge or remember.

Give yourself a treat and read Wesley's story and I pray it may set your heart aflame as it has mine.