DAY 4

MORNING

PSALMS 19–21

Psalm 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.”

A Serious Call

At Oxford John Wesley was introduced to the writings of the early Church Fathers and William Law’s new book 'A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life' which powerfully influenced him. Wesley was particularly inspired at the thought of reaching Christian perfection. Law’s book, 'A Serious Call', together with Law’s earlier book 'Christian Perfection', made a big impact on Wesley. He says that these books, “convinced me more than ever the exceeding height and breadth and depth of the law of God. The light floated in so mightily upon my soul that everything appeared in a new view. I cried to God for help, and resolved not to prolong the time of obeying him as I had never done before ... and by 
my continued endeavour to keep his whole law, inward and outward to the utmost of
 my power, I was persuaded that I should be accepted of him, and that I was even then in a state of salvation.”42

John Wesley himself acknowledged that 'A Serious Call' sowed the seed of Methodism,43 and contributed much to the spread of evangelicalism. It made the deepest impression on Wesley himself; he preached 44
after its model; he used it as a text-book for the highest class at Kingswood school (which Wesley founded); and, a few months before his death, he spoke of it as “a treatise which will hardly be excelled, if it be equalled, in the English tongue, either for beauty of expression or for justice and depth of thought.”45

John Wesley was also inspired by the patristic fathers and one church father in particular interested him, Macarius the Egyptian. Macarius‘ description of ‘perfection’ as the goal of the Christian in this life fascinated John Wesley. Macarius’ homilies are written with a warmth of feeling, an affection and enthusiasm that are instantly attractive. In his 18th homily, Macarius says “everyone should push himself to beg the Lord to make him worthy to receive and find the heavenly treasure of the spirit in order to be able to easily and to promptly fulfil all the commandments of the Lord without blame and with perfection.”46

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, that the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. I thank you for your Word and I thank you for the length and depth and breadth of your love. Open my eyes to see the treasures that are found in you, Lord Jesus, and your precious Holy Spirit. Revive me with a fresh call to live a holy and devoted life for you Lord Jesus.

42 Wesley, J. Volume 1, 24th May 1738, 99


43 Wesley, J. Note 31. Sermon CVII, , 11th ed., 1856, vol. VII.


44 Letter to Law of 1738, quoted by Overton, 33.


45 Bartleby online William Law and the mystics http://www.bartleby.com/219/1206.html

46 Pseudo-Macarius, Homily 18,142.

DAY 4

EVENING

PSALMS 22–23

Psalm 23:4 “I will fear no evil.”

Travelling With the Moravians

After training as an Anglican clergyman and obtaining a Fellowship at Oxford, John Wesley set out on 
a mission, crossing the Atlantic ocean to Georgia in North America, to convert the native American Indians. It was Saturday, January 17, 1736, and John and Charles Wesley and Colonel Oglethorpe were sitting with others in the state cabin of 'The Simonds', a ship in the middle of the Atlantic. The weather was bad and had been getting worse throughout the day. Then a wave suddenly burst in the state cabin “with a noise and shock almost like that of a cannon.” Although Wesley had been sheltered by a bureau he was alarmed to discover that he had been and still was “afraid to die”. Later, as the clock turned midnight, Wesley noted in his diary: “stormy still, and afraid!” John Wesley, as chaplain on board the ship, had met a group of 26 German Moravian travellers on board and their response during the storm was very different from his own, and this made a deep impression on him.47

These German Moravians always had a positive disposition and were keen to undertake mundane tasks with a servant heart and
 a cheerful attitude. They were willing to serve, accomplishing tasks that the English passengers were either too lazy or proud to consider.48 If other crewmen or passengers mistreated them, they turned the other cheek. The Moravian hymns that they sung were beautiful, a huge contrast to the laboured Church of England metrical psalms. John and Charles Wesley had continued their commitment to continue the strict disciplines of the Holy Club, a system of prayers, readings, fasts and good works. This did not impress the Moravians who realised that the intent of this discipline was to acquire merit before God. The Moravians were motivated 
by “a more excellent way”, “justification by faith”, the doctrine of the Reformation. Wesley admitted that he did not understand it, and he continued to trust in his own righteousness. When another storm hit 'The Simonds' a few days later, although he was unhurt, he was shocked again by his own fear. He said to himself, “how is it that thou hast no faith? being still unwilling to die.”49 50

Prayer

Thank you that through the cross and your resurrection from the dead we can be born again by the Spirit. You did NOT give us a spirit that makes us a SLAVE AGAIN TO FEAR but a spirit of SONSHIP. Thank you, Lord, that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need fear no evil.

47 Pollock, J. Wesley, The Preacher, 67 quoted in Wesley, Journal Vol 1, 17, 17th October 1735.

48 Wesley, Vol 1 Journal, 25th January 1736.


49 Pollock, J. Wesley: The Preacher, 68.


50 Wesley, Journal, 23rd January 1736.