John Wesley Quotes on the Manifestations
of the Holy Spirit
I
observed many years ago, "It is hard to find words in
the language of men, to explain the deep things of God.
Indeed there are none that will adequately express what the
Spirit of God works in his children. But perhaps one might say,
By the testimony of the Spirit, I mean, an inward impression
on the soul, whereby the Spirit of God immediately and directly
witnesses to my spirit. – John Wesley
(The Witness of the Spirit)
Meantime
let it be observed, I do not mean hereby, that the Spirit
of God testifies this by any outward voice (the
word that proceedeth from the mouth of the Father);
no, nor always by an inward voice, although
he may do this sometimes. Neither do I suppose, that
He always applies to the heart (the
inner witness in our hearts and spirit) though he
often may one or more texts of Scripture (God
also speaking through the letter of the word).
But he so works upon the soul by his immediate
influence, (His manifest presence) and by a strong, though inexplicable
operation. --
John Wesley (The Witness of the Spirit)
Now
what is the matter of dispute concerning this? Not whether there
be a witness or testimony of the Spirit. Not whether the Spirit
does testify with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
None can deny this, without flatly contradicting the Scriptures.
-- John Wesley (The Witness
of the Spirit)
"Formerly we thought, one saved from sin could not fall; now
we know the contrary.
We are surrounded with instances of those who lately experienced
all that I mean by perfection. They had both the fruit of the
Spirit, and the witness; but they have now lost both. Neither
does any one stand by virtue of anything that is implied in
the nature of the state. There
is no such height or strength of holiness as it is impossible
to fall from." -- John Wesley
This turns out to be a partial quote about
the Montanist revival of the second century. Wesley here is
taking Tertullian’s argument that they Church bishops had been
arrogant stiff-neck and wrong and did themselves and the Church
great damage in rejecting this move of the Spirit with its renewal
of Tongues and Prophecy.
The grand reason why the miraculous gifts were so
soon withdrawn was not only that faith and holiness were well-nigh
lost, but that dry, formal, orthodox men began then to ridicule
whatever gifts they had not themselves and to cry (Against)
them all as evil madness. --
(Ascension Feast of John and Charles Wesley, 1791 & 1788)
This is another piece of the same discourse.
The cause of their decline (In the early Church) was not, as has been
supposed, because there is no more need for [the gifts of the
Spirit], "(Or) because all the world had become Christian".
... The real cause was: the love of many, of almost all Christians
so called, was waxed cold; ... The
real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit were
no longer to be found in the Christian Church [was that] the
Christians were turned heathen again, and had only a dead form
left. --
(Ascension Feast of John and Charles Wesley, 1791 & 1788)
This
is in reference to the quotes above and tells us it was part
of a larger speech or sermon that spoke of the Montanist revival,
Tertullian and the fall from grace of the early church.
"What
Wesley wrote about the Montanists is instructive, and by reading
between his lines we can see that he had to tread carefully.
He knew of reports of tongue speaking
in his own day, and he-like Paul-felt more than a little ambivalent
about it. Nonetheless, about Montanus he is very straightforward.
Wesley described him as a ‘real scriptural Christian’ and extolled
him as ‘one of the best men ever upon the earth.’ The reason why tongue speaking and similar gifts had dissapeared,
Wesley said, was that ‘dry, formal, orthodox men’ had begun
to ‘ridicule’ such gifts because they themselves did not possess
them." (Harvey Cox, opus cited, pge. 91)
We also note that Mr. Cox omitted these
ministers of the early church declaring it “madness.”
Here is a fuller quote from it appears a
different sermon.
"It does not appear that these extraordinary gifts of the Holy
Ghost were common in the church for more than two or three centuries.
We seldom hear of them after that fatal period when the Emperor
Constantine called himself a Christian; and, from a vain imagination
of promoting the Christian cause thereby, heaped riches and
power and honour upon the Christians in general, but in particular
upon the Christian clergy. From this time they almost totally
ceased; very few instances of the kind were found. The cause
of this was not, (as has been vulgarly supposed,) `because there
was no more occasion for them,' because all the world was become
Christians. This is a miserable mistake; not a twentieth part
of it was then nominally Christian. The real cause was, `the
love of many,' almost of all Christians, so called, was `waxed
cold.' The Christians had no more of the Spirit of Christ than
the other heathens. The Son of Man, when he came to examine
his church, could hardly `find faith upon the earth'. This was
the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost
were no longer to be found in the Christian church; because
the Christians were turned heathens again, and had only a dead
form left." –John
Wesley (The More Excellent Way)
Sir, your memory fails you again: It (The gift of Prophecy and Tongues)
has undoubtedly been pretended to [be practiced], and that at
no great distance either from our time or country. (In Wesley’s
Journal he visited a Prophetess.)
It has been heard of more than once, no farther off than
the valleys of Dauphiny. Nor is it yet fifty years ago since
the Protestant inhabitants of those valleys so loudly pretended
to [practise] this and other miraculous powers, as to give much
disturbance to Paris itself...
He who worketh as
He will, may, with your good leave, give the gift of tongues,
where he gives no other; and may see abundant reasons so to
do, whether you and I see them or not." --John
Wesley’s response to Rev Dr Conyers Middleton Wesley
says he considers the French prophets and their gifts false.
John Wesley does not deny that those gifts were available in
his day which was an uncommon view in his day.
But he goes further he acknowledges that God can distribute
His gifts and operations as He sees fit, with or with Wesley’s
or Conyer’s blessing.
A believer, indeed, may sometimes be grieved, because he cannot
do what his soul longs for. He may cry out, when he is detained from
worshipping God in the great congregation, "Like as the
hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after
thee, O God. My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living
God: When shall I come to appear in the presence of God?"–
John Wesley (The First Fruits of the Spirit)
Whosoever heareth the
sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come,
and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. Ezekiel
33:4.
"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts
4:31.
1. THE same expression
occurs in the second chapter, where we read, "When the
day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all," (the Apostles,
with the women, and the mother of Jesus, and his brethren,)
"with one accord, in one place. And suddenly there came
a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind. And there
appeared unto them cloven tongues, like as of fire, and it sat
upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost:"
One immediate effect whereof was, "they began to speak
with other tongues;" insomuch, that both the Parthians,
Medes, Elamites, and the other strangers who "came together,
when this was noised abroad, heard them speak, in their several
tongues, the wonderful works of God." (Acts 2:1-6.)
2. In this chapter we
read, that when the Apostles and brethren had been praying,
and praising God, "the place was shaken where they were
assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost"
Not that we find any visible appearance here, such as had been
in the former instance: Now are we informed that the extraordinary
gifts of the Holy Ghost were then given to all or any of
them; such as the gifts of "healing, of working" other;
"miracles, of prophecy, of discerning spirits, the speaking
with divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues."
(1 Corinthians 12:9,10.)
3. Whether these gifts
of the Holy Ghost were designed to remain in the Church throughout
all ages, and whether or not they will be restored at the nearer
approach of the "restitution of all things," are questions
which it is not needful to decide.
But it is needful
to observe this, that, even in the infancy of the Church, God
divided them with a sparing hand. Were all even then Prophets?
Were all workers of miracles? Had all the gifts of healing?
Did all speak with tongues? No, in no wise. Perhaps not one
in a thousand. Probably none but the Teachers in the Church,
and only some of them. (1 Corinthians 12:28-30.) It was, therefore,
for a more excellent purpose than this, that "they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." – John Wesley (Scriptural Christianity)
Here Wesley not only acknowledges
“Speaking in tongues and prophesying as well as the whole range
of gifts and operations that were being experienced in the early
days of his revival but he is saying that all this is a part
of Scriptural Christianity and he believes it here a little
and there a little for now but it will be back in full force
in the restitution of all things.
And I will add that he is saying: That even though the
gifts and operations may be scarce, all believers are to be
filled with the Holy Ghost.
They endeavored herein to speak to every man severally as he had
need. To the careless, to those who lay unconcerned in darkness
and in the shadow of death, they thundered, "Awake, thou
that sleepest; arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee
light: "But to those who were
already awakened out of sleep, and groaning under a sense of
the wrath of God,
their language was, "We have an Advocate with the Father;
he is the Propitiation for our sins." –John Wesley (Scriptural Christianity) Here
Wesley not only acknowledges “The groanings and laborings of
souls” under conviction that was prevalent in his meetings but
says it is a part of Scriptural Christianity
May it not
be one of the consequences of this, that so many of you are
a generation of triflers; triflers with God, with one another,
and with your own souls? For, how few of you spend, from one
week to another, a single hour in private prayer! How few have
any thought of God in the general tenor of your conversation!
Who of you is, in any degree, acquainted with the work of his
Spirit, his supernatural work in the souls of men? Can you bear,
unless now and then, in a church, any talk of the Holy Ghost?
Would you not take it for granted, if one began such a conversation,
that it was either hypocrisy or enthusiasm? In the name of the
Lord God Almighty, I ask, What religion are you of? Even the
talk of Christianity, ye cannot, will not bear. O my brethren,
what a Christian city is this! "It is time for thee, Lord,
to lay to thine hand!"
11. For,
indeed, what probability, what possibility rather, (speaking
after the manner of men,) is there that Christianity, scriptural
Christianity, should be again the religion of this place? that
all orders of men among us should speak and live as men "filled
with the Holy Ghost?" By whom should this Christianity
be restored? By those of you that are in authority? Are you
convinced, then, that this is scriptural Christianity?
Are you desirous
it should be restored? And do ye not count your fortune, liberty,
life, dear unto yourselves, so ye may be instrumental in the
restoring of it? But, suppose ye have this desire, who hath
any power proportioned to the effect? Perhaps some of you have
made a few faint attempts, but with how small success! Shall
Christianity, then, be restored by young, unknown, inconsiderable
men? I know not whether ye yourselves could suffer it. Would
not some of you cry out, "Young man, in so doing
thou reproachest us?" But there is no danger of your being
put to the proof; so hath iniquity overspread us like a flood.
Whom, then, shall God send, — the famine, the pestilence, (the
last messengers of God to a guilty land,) or the sword, "the
armies of the" Romish "aliens," — to reform us
into our first love? Nay, "rather let us fall into thy
hand, O Lord, --John Wesley (Scriptural Christianity)
Wesley’s Journal Entries
"Mr.
Hall, Kinchin, Ingham, Whitefield, Lane, with about sixty of
our brethren. About three in the morning, as we were continuing
in instant prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried
out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As
soon as we were recovered a little from that awe and amazement
at the presence of his Majesty, we broke out with one voice,
`We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord."
(John Wesley's Journal, Jan. 1, 1739)
"Many
more were brought to the birth. All were in floods of tears,
cried, prayed, roared aloud, all of them lying on the ground."
(John Wesley's Journal, July 28, 1762)
"When
I began to pray, the flame broke out. Many cried aloud, many
sank to the ground, many trembled exceedingly." (John Wesley's Journal, September 8, 1784)
"Mr.
Hall, Kinchin, Ingham, Whitefield, Lane, with about sixty of
our brethren. About three in the morning, as we were continuing
in instant prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch
that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the
ground. As soon as we were recovered
a little (that would be Wesley
himself) from that awe and amazement
at the presence of his Majesty, we broke out with one
voice, `We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the
Lord." (John Wesley's Journal, Jan. 1, 1739)
"Many
more were brought to the birth. All were in floods of tears,
cried, prayed, roared aloud, all of them lying on the ground."
(John Wesley's Journal, July 28, 1762)
Wesley
discuses the outward signs with Whitfield
Saturday 7-I had an opportunity to talk with him
(George Whitfield) of those outward signs which had so often
accompanied the inward work of God. I
found his objections were chiefly grounded on gross misrepresentations
of matter of fact. But the next day he had an opportunity
of informing himself better: For no sooner had he begun (in
the application of his sermon) to invite all sinners to believe
in Christ, than four persons sunk down close to him, almost
in the same moment. One of them lay without either sense or
motion. A second trembled exceedingly. The third had strong
convulsions all over his body, but made no noise, unless by
groans. The fourth, equally convulsed, called upon God, with
strong cries and tears. From this time,
I trust, we shall all suffer God to carry on his work in the
way that pleaseth Him. (John Wesley’s Journal Saturday, July
7, 1739) Wesley
sees to be implying that his talk with Whitfield and the events
of that meeting affected Whitfield and he softened his stance
as a result.
George
Whitefield, English Methodist Revivalist (1714-1770)
[1740] "Thursday, May 15. Preached at Fagg's Manor, . .
. The congregation was about as large as that at Nottingham
[about 12, 000]. As great, if not a greater commotion was in
the hearts of the people. Most were drowned in tears, The Word
was sharper than a two-edged sword. The bitter cries and groans
were enough to pierce the hardest heart. Some of the people
were as pale as death; others were wringing their hands; others
lying on the ground; others sinking into the arms of friends;
and most lifting up their eyes to Heaven and crying to God for
mercy.
I
could think of nothing, when I looked upon them, so much as
the Great Day. They seemed like persons awakened by the last
trump, and coming out of their graves to judgment. One
would imagine, none could have withstood the power, or avoided
crying out, `Surely God is in this place;'" (George
Whitefield's Journals, Banner of Truth Trust, 1960, p. 425)
Whitfield was not know for being favorable toward “Enthusiasm” He
has earlier in his life rebuked people and tried to stop the
manifestations. However using this as evidence after his pairing
up with John Wesley, Wesley apparently was able to persuade
Whitfield that these manifestations were indeed the workings
of God and Whitfield apparently relented.
And
from this will spring many other things, which till then he
experienced not; as, the love of God shed abroad in his heart,
the peace of God which passeth all understanding, and joy in
the Holy Ghost; joy, though not unfelt yet unspeakable and full
of glory.
-- John
Wesley
These are some of those inward
fruits of the Spirit, which must be felt wheresoever
they are; and without these, I cannot learn from Holy Writ that
any man is ‘born of the Spirit.’ I beseech you, Sir, by the mercies of God, that if as yet you know
nothing of such inward feelings, if you do not ‘feel in yourself
these mighty workings of the Spirit of Christ,’ at least you
would not contradict and blaspheme. When the Holy Ghost hath
fervently kindled your love towards God, you will know these
to be very sensible operations. As you hear the wind, and feel
it too, while it strikes upon your bodily organs, you will know
you are under the guidance of God’s Spirit the same way, namely,
by feeling it in your soul…
(Wesley’s
Journals, cit., entry for July 31, 1738)
Saturday Feb 21-I preached at Weaver’s
Hall: It was a glorious time. Several dropped to the ground
as if struck by lightning. Some cried out in bitterness of soul.
I knew not where to end, being constrained to begin anew, again
and again. In the acceptable time we begged of God to restore
our brethren, who are departed from us for a season; and to
teach us all, to "follow after the things that make for
peace," and the "things whereby one may edify another."
(John Wesley’s Journal February 20, 1742)