The Life of John Wesley: A Brand from the Burning

About this book

The Life of John Wesley portrays the founder of Methodism against a vividly rendered backdrop of the religious social and political landscape of eighteenth-century England. Through the power of his personality and the strength of his faith Wesley became the leader of the English religious revival that arose in opposition to the established Anglican Church and his theology continues to have an impact on religions worldwide. Roy Hattersley follows Wesleys spiritual journey tracing his constant often agonizing attempts to define the nature of virtue as well as the path to sanctity. The story of Wesleys theological progress is vastly enriched by Hattersleys revealing portrait of Wesleys complex personality. A genuine scholar Wesley published more work than any other author of the eighteenth century. He possessed phenomenal energy traveling huge distances to preach and proselytize. Wesley practiced as Hattersley writes every form of personal discipline (diet exercise carefully planned day) except emotional restraint. This candid account of Wesleys relationship with womenfalling desperately in love three times in his life each time failing to make his intentions clear and eventually ending up in a disastrous marriagebrilliantly brings to life Wesleys human side largely ignored in previous reverential biographies. A wonderful synthesis of personal social and spiritual biography The Life of John Wesley sheds new light on the variety of things that motivated one of the most interesting and significant figures in religious history.