Wesley's Own Experience and Practice N this chapter Wesley is made to recount some of his own experiences and methods as a preacher.
More voluminous extracts might have been given, but the selection has been limited mainly to such as show how he prepared for the pulpit, and demeaned himself in it. Some of them reveal a pleasant wit, a sly sarcasm, an appreciation of the humorous even on solemn occasions, quite unlike the serious-faced fanatic which learned ignorance has often pictured him to be.
: John Wesley on Preaching WHY HE WAS SHUT OUT OF CHURCH PULPITS 'Some years since two or three Clergymen of the Church of England, who were above measure zealous for all her rules and orders, were convinced that religion was not an external thing, but 'righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost' ; and that this righteousness, and peace, and joy are given only to those who are justified by faith. As soon as they were convinced of these great truths, they preached them, and multitudes flocked to hear. For these reasons, and no others, real or pretended (for as yet they were strictly regular), because they preached such doctrine, and because such multitudes followed them, they were forbid to Wesley's Experience and Practice preach in the churches. Not daring to be silent, they preached elsewhere, in a school, by a river-side, or upon a mountain; and more and more sinners forsook their sins, and were filled with peace and joy in believing."—A Letter to a Friend (1761), vol. xiii. p. 200.
NOT A CONTROVERSIAL PREACHER 'From the first hour that I entered the kingdom, it was a sacred rule with me, never to preach on any controverted point—at least not in a controversial way. Anyone may see that this is only to put a sword into our enemies' hands. It is the direct way to increase all their prejudices, and to make all our labours fruitless."
—Letter to Lady Maxwell (1771), WOMA KIL. .-337:
John Wesley on Preaching NOT ALWAYS POPULAR ''T received a comfortable letter from Edinderry: 'When you came hither, Satan had gained such an advantage over us, that few, even of the society, would read your sermons, saying, they were nothing but the Law; but God has now taught us better.'— Journal, 1762, vol. iil.
THE PERFECTION HE PREACHED 'In the morning I preached at Bentley-Wood-Green, on, 'Be ye perfect, as your father which is in heaven is perfect." Mr. G. afterwards told me, that this perfection he firmly believed and daily prayed for, namely, the love of "God and Wesley's Experience and Practice man producing all those fruits which are described in our Lord's sermon upon the mount."—/ournal, 1761, vol. ili. p. 67.
THE WRITING OF SERMONS 'Tt rode to Lewisham, and wrote my sermon to be preached before the Society for the Reformation of Manners." —/Journal, 1763, vol. iii. p. 125.
''] went to Tiverton. I was musing here on what I heard a good man say long since—' Once in seven years I burn all my sermons; for it is a shame if I cannot write better sermons now than I could seven years ago.' Whatever others can do, I really cannot. I cannot write a better sermon on the Good Steward
John Wesley on Preaching than I did seven years ago. I cannot write a better on the Great Assize than I did twenty years ago; I cannot write a better on the Use of Money than I did thirty years ago; nay, I know not that I can write a better on the Circumcision of the Heart than I did five-and-forty years ago. Perhaps, indeed, I may have read five or six hundred books more than I had then, and may know a little more History, or Natural Philosophy than I did; but I am not sensible that this has made any essential addition to my knowledge in Divinity. Forty years ago I knew and preached every Christian doctrine which I preach now.'— Journal, 1778, vol. iv. p. 135.
This is not good. The harvest Wesley's Experience and Practice of the years ought to make every preacher richer in thought and expression, nor is it an admirable sort of Divinity that does not gain a wider outlook from the reading of ''five or six hundred books," hata Gi fuller acquaintance with history and science. There are preachers who do their reading in one chamber of the mind, and their pulpit thinking in another, with the door between jealously barred; but one would be loth to count Wesley among them.
A confession of stationariness so entirely out of harmony with his progressiveness in other respects, almost inclines one, however reluctantly, to accept Horace Walpole's description when he heard Wesley in 1766:
'*He spoke his sermon, but so fast, John Wesley on Preaching and with so little accent, that I am sure he has often uttered it, for it was like a lesson."
A SUDDENLY CHOSEN TEXT 'We went through a lovely country to Antrim. Here likewise the Presbyterian Minister offered me the use of a large and commodious House. The Bible in the pulpit lying open, I chose, for the subject of my discourse, the words which first met my eye, namely, 'When they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.'"— Journal, 1787, vol. iv. p. 381.
This is not to be taken as an encouragement to going into the pulpit unprepared; for entries in the Journal show that this was a favourite text of his forty-eight years before. —
Wesley's Experience and Practice A BOOK FOR A TEXT ''T began explaining to the morn- 'ing congregation Bolton's Dzrectzons for Comfortable Walking with God.
I wish all our Preachers, both in England and Ireland, would herein follow my example; and frequently read in public, and enforce select portions of the Christzan Library."— Journal, 1754, vol. ii. p. 312.
*'J began reading that excellent book, Zhe Gospel Glass, to the morning congregation; a method which I find more profitable for 'instruction in righteousness' than any other manner of preaching." —/ournal, 1756, vol. ii. p. 388.
John Wesley on Preaching ADAPTING HIMSELF TO HIS HEARERS 'IT rode to Waterford, and preached in a little court, on our 'great High Priest that is passed into the heavens' for us. But I soon found I was got above most of my hearers: I should have spoken on death or judgment.
On Tuesday evening I suited my discourse to my audience, which was considerably increased. But much more the next evening ; and deep attention sat on every face."—/ournal, 1765, vol. iii. p. 227.
'In the evening J preached near the market-house in Sligo, to a large and tolerably quiet congregation ; but I soon found I was shooting over their heads in talking of Salvation by Faith: so at eight in the morning,
Wesley's Experience and Practice Sunday 7, I suited myself to their capacity by preaching on, 'Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.' The effect was that the evening congregation was such as I had not seen here for many years." —Journal, 1769, vol. iii. p. 362.
*'T found a far different face of things at Portarlington. The large society had once been a _ hundred and thirty members (an hundred and four I joined in three days); it had now no more than twenty-four; and some of these had only a name to live. In the evening I applied particularly to the backsliders; but almost as soon as I began, a large company of Quality (as they called them) came, and embarrassed me not a little. I knew this was heathen
John Wesley on Preaching Greek to them; but I could not then change my subject. However, I diluted my discourse as much as | could, that it might not be quite too strong for their digestion." —/ournal, 1760, Vols iil.1p.337@2 ''In the afternoon I preached in Monk-Town church, (one of the three belonging to Pembroke), a large, old, ruinous building. I suppose it has scarce had such a congregation in it during this century. Many of them were gay, genteel people. So I spake on the first elements of the gospel.
But I was still out of their depth.
O how hard it is to be shallow enough for a polite audience." —/ournal, 1771, vol. ili. p. 441.
''T preached at Launceston; Seftember 1, in the market-place at Wesley's Experience and Practice Tiverton; and on Friday, 2, opened the little preaching-house at Wellington. At noon I preached in an ancient, venerable building, once belonging to a Lord Chief Justice. It is oddly called Cat-Hanger. Having a stupid people to deal with, I spoke exceedingly plain; and I think many of them, even Somersetshire farmers, felt as well as heard."'—/ournal, 1785, vol. iv. p. 319.
'*The House at Derby was thoroughly filled in the evening. As many of the better sort (so called) were there, I explained, (what seemed to be more adapted to their circumstances and experience) 'This only have I found, that God made man upright; but they have found out many inventions.'"'
Journal, 1786, vol. iv. p. 341.
N 177 John Wesley on Preaching ''Being to preach at Brickfield, four or five (English) miles from Derry, I chose walking, to show these poor indolent creatures how to use their own feet. Finding the bulk of the hearers quite senseless, I spoke as strongly as I could on 'Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.' But I did not perceive they were at all affected. God only can raise the dead."—/ournal, 1796, vol. ili. p.. 360.
''T rode to Carrickfergus. The violent rain kept away the delicate and curious hearers. For the sake of these I delayed the morning preaching till a quarter before nine ; but it was still too early for a great part of the town, who could not possibly rise before ten."
—Journal, 1762, vol. iii. p. 90.
Wesley s Experience and Practice HUMOROUS INCIDENTS 'Between twelve and one, I preached at Freshford ; and on White's Hill, near Bradford, in the evening. By this means many had an opportunity of hearing, who would not have come to the Room. I had designed to preach there again the next evening; but a gentleman in the town desired me to preach at his door.
The beasts of the people were tolerably quiet till I had nearly finished my sermon. They then lifted up their voice, especially one, called a gentleman, who had filled his pocket with rotten eggs. Buta young man, coming unawares, clapped his hands on each side, and smashed them all at once. In an instant he was perJohn Wesley on Preaching fumed all over; though it was not so sweet as balsam.''—/ournal, 1769, vol. iii. p. 380.
''About eleven I preached at Newton-upon-Trent, to a large and very genteel congregation. Thence we went to Newark; but our friends were divided as to the place where I should preach. At length they found a convenient place, covered on three sides, and the fourth open to the street. It contained two or three thousand people well, who appeared to hear as for life. Only one big man, exceeding drunk, was very noisy and turbulent, till his wife (fortissima Tyndaridarum!*) seized him by the collar, gave him two or three hearty boxes on the ear, * The bravest Amazonian of her race.
Wesley's Experience and Practice and dragged him away like a calf.
But, at length, he got out of her hands, crept in among the people, and stood as quiet as a lamb.''— Journal, 1780, vol. iv. p. 184.
'In the evening I preached at Owstone; and, passing the Trent early in the morning, on Sunday, 11, preached at Kirton, about eight, to a very large and very serious congregation. Only before me stood one, something like a gentleman, with his hat on even at prayer. I could scarce help telling him a story: In Jamaica, a negro passing by the Governor, pulled off his hat; so did the Governor; at which one expressing his surprise, he said, 'Sir, I should be ashamed if a negro h good manners than the John Wesley on Preaching Jamaica.' ''—/Journal, 1780, vol. iv. fentode '*In the evening I spoke very plain to a crowded audience at Sheffield, on, 'Now it is high time to awake out of sleep.' One of the hearers wrote me a nameless letter upon it.
But he could remember nothing of the sermon but only that 'the rising early was good for the nerves.'"
Journal, 1786, vol. iv. p. 339-