Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God.
– John Wesley
God | The Trinity
Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.
– John Wesley
Evangelism | Preaching
Do all the good you can by all the means you can in all the places you can at all the times you can to all the people you can as long as ever you can.
– John Wesley
Service
When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man!
– John Wesley
Christians | Giving | Prosperity
One of the principal rules of religion is, to lose no occasion of serving God. And, since he is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve him in our neighbor; which he receives as if done to himself in person, standing visibly before us.
– John Wesley
Service
As the most dangerous winds may enter at little openings, so the devil never enters more dangerously than by little unobserved incidents, which seem to be nothing, yet insensibly open the heart to great temptations.
– John Wesley
Satan | Temptation
Humility and patience are the surest proofs of the increase of love.
– John Wesley
Humility | Patience
A Methodist (Christian) is one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength. God is the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul, which is continually crying, ‘Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth whom I desire besides thee.’ My God and my all! ‘Thou art the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.’ He is therefore happy in God; yea, always happy, as having in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life, and over-flowing his soul with peace and joy. Perfect love living now cast out fear, he rejoices evermore. Yea, his joy is full, and all his bones cry out, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten me again unto a living hope of an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, reserved in heaven for me.
– John Wesley
Christians | Faithful
When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me.
– John Wesley
Reasoning
There is no love of God without patience, and no patience without lowliness and sweetness of spirit.
– John Wesley
Patience | Meekness
Though we cannot think alike may we not love alike?
– John Wesley
Love
Happy are they who are sick, yea, or lose their life, for having done a good work.
– John Wesley
Suffering
I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship and the whole world for my mission field.
– John Wesley
Fellowship | Missions | The Bible
On every occasion of uneasiness, we should retire to prayer, that we may give place to the grace and light of God and then form our resolutions, without being in any pain about what success they may have. In the greatest temptations, a single look to Christ, and the barely pronouncing his name, suffices to overcome the wicked one, so it be done with confidence and calmness of spirit.
– John Wesley
Prayer
Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer; support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down.
– John Wesley
Prayer | Fasting
I preached on the righteousness of the law and the righteousness of faith. While I was speaking, several dropped down as dead and among the rest such a cry was heard of sinners groaning for the righteousness of faith that it almost drowned my voice. But many of these soon lifted up their heads with joy and broke out into thanksgiving, being assured they now had the desire of their soul – the forgiveness of their sins.
– John Wesley
Evangelism | Righteousness | Thankfulness
Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will. Let be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am Yours. So be it. Amen.
– John Wesley
Prayer
The best means of resisting the devil is, to destroy whatever of the world remains in us, in order to raise for God, upon its ruins, a building all of love. Then shall we begin, in this fleeting life, to love God as we shall love him in eternity.
– John Wesley
Worldliness
Whether we think of; or speak to, God, whether we act or suffer for him, all is prayer, when we have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing him.
– John Wesley
Prayer
The general rule of interpreting Scripture is this: the literal sense of every text is to be taken, if it be not contrary to some other texts. But in that case, the obscure text is to be interpreted by those which speak more plainly.
– John Wesley
Scripture
Though I am always in a haste, I am never in a hurry, because I never undertake more work than I can go through with perfect calmness of spirit.
– John Wesley
Service | Work
God’s command to “pray without ceasing” is founded on the necessity we have of His grace to preserve the life of God in the soul, which can no more subsist one moment without it, than the body can without air.
– John Wesley
Prayer
I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity.
– John Wesley
Judging | Eternity
The neglect of prayer is a grand hindrance to holiness.
– John Wesley
Prayer
The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.
– John Wesley
Religion
Prayer continues in the desire of the heart, though the understanding be employed on outward things.
– John Wesley
Prayer
I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England.
– John Wesley
Christianity | Theology
As to matters of dress, I would recommend one never to be first in the fashion nor the last out of it.
– John Wesley
Examples
God does not love men that are inconstant, nor good works that are intermitted. Nothing is pleasing to him, but what has a resemblance of his own immutability.
– John Wesley
Service
The sea is an excellent figure of the fullness of God, and that of the blessed Spirit. For as the rivers all return into the sea; so the bodies, the souls, and the good works of the righteous, return into God, to live there in his eternal repose.
– John Wesley
God | Eternity
All outward means of grace, if separate from the spirit of God, cannot profit, or conduce, in any degree, either to the knowledge or love of God. All outward things, unless he works in them and by them, are in vain.
– John Wesley
Grace | The Holy Spirit
There is no faithfulness like that which ought to be between a guide of souls and the person directed by him. They ought continually to regard each other in God, and closely to examine themselves, whether all their thoughts are pure, and all their words directed with Christian discretion. Other affairs are only the things of men; but these are peculiarly the things of God.
– John Wesley
Faithful | Purity
In souls filled with love, the desire to please God is continual prayer.
– John Wesley
Prayer
If I leave behind me 10 (pounds), you and all mankind bear witness against that I lived and died a thief and a robber.
– John Wesley
Giving
God is so great, that he communicates greatness to the least thing that is done for his service.
– John Wesley
Service
Certainly this is a duty, not a sin. “Cleanliness is indeed next to godliness.”
– John Wesley
Character | Godliness
Proceed with much prayer, and your way will be made plain.
– John Wesley
Prayer
You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore spend and be spent in this work. And go not only to those that need you, but to those that need you most it is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
– John Wesley
Evangelism
To continual watchfulness and prayer ought to be added continual employment. For grace flies a vacuum as well as nature; and the devil fills whatever God does not fill.
– John Wesley
Perseverance
The world is my parish.
– John Wesley
Preaching
Faith is the divine evidence whereby the spiritual man discerneth God, and the things of God.
– John Wesley
Faith | Discernment
God is the first object of our love: Its next office is, to bear the defects of others. And we should begin the practice of this amidst our own household.
– John Wesley
Home | Helping
My fear is not that our great movement, known as the Methodists, will eventually cease to exist or one day die from the earth. My fear is that our people will become content to live without the fire, the power, the excitement, the supernatural element that makes us great.
– John Wesley
Apathy | Fire
It is good to renew ourselves, from time to time, by closely examining the state of our souls, as if we had never done it before; for nothing tends more to the full assurance of faith, than to keep ourselves by this means in humility, and the exercise of all good works.
– John Wesley
Renewal | Humility
Let your words be the genuine picture of your heart.
– John Wesley
Character | The Heart
If, after having renounced all, we do not watch incessantly, and beseech God to accompany our vigilance with his, we shall be again entangled and overcome.
– John Wesley
Worldliness
The readiest way which God takes to draw a man to himself is, to afflict him in that he loves most, and with good reason; and to cause this affliction to arise from some good action done with a single eye; because nothing can more clearly show him the emptiness of what is most lovely and desirable in the world.
– John Wesley
Affliction
The person who bears and suffers evils with meekness and silence, is the sum of a Christian man.
– John Wesley
Suffering | Christians | Meekness
Oh that God would give me the thing which I long for! That before I go hence and am no more seen, I may see a people wholly devoted to God, crucified to the world, and the world crucified to them. A people truly given up to God in body, soul and substance! How cheerfully would I then say, ‘Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.’
– John Wesley
Surrender
We scarce conceive how easy it is to rob God of his due, in our friendship with the most virtuous persons, until they are torn from us by death. But if this loss produces lasting sorrow, that is a clear proof that we had before two treasures, between which we divided our heart.
– John Wesley
Death
All that a Christian does, even in eating and sleeping, is prayer, when it is done in simplicity, according to the order of God, without either adding to or diminishing from it by his own choice.
– John Wesley
Prayer
The words of St. Paul, ‘No man can call Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost,’ show us the necessity of eyeing God in our good works, and even in our minutest thoughts; knowing that none are pleasing to him, but those which he forms in us and with us. From hence we learn that we cannot serve him, unless he use our tongue, hands, and heart, to do by himself and his Spirit whatever he would have us to do.
– John Wesley
Obedience
I would not tell one lie to save the souls of all the world.
– John Wesley
Lying
God only requires of his adult children, that their hearts be truly purified, and that they offer him continually the wishes and vows that naturally spring from perfect love. For these desires, being the genuine fruits of love, are the most perfect prayers that can spring from it. It is scarce conceivable how strait the way is wherein God leads them that follow him; and how dependent on him we must be, unless we are wanting in our faithfulness to him.
– John Wesley
Purity
Whether we think of, or speak to, God, whether we act or suffer for him, all is prayer, when we have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing him.
– John Wesley
Prayer
True humility is a kind of self-annihilation; and this is the centre of all virtues.
– John Wesley
Humility
One of the greatest evidences of God’s love to those that love him is, to send them afflictions, with grace to bear them.
– John Wesley
Grace | Affliction
As the furious hate which the devil bears us is termed the roaring of a lion, so our vehement love may be termed crying after God.
– John Wesley
Love
And indeed, there is no little sin, because there is no little God to sin against. In general, what to (humans) seems a small offense, to Him who knows the heart may appear a heinous crime.
– John Wesley
Sin
Give me 100 men who hate nothing but sin and love God with all their hearts and I will shake the world for Christ!
– John Wesley
Sin
Humility alone unites patience with love; without which it is impossible to draw profit from suffering; or indeed, to avoid complaint, especially when we think we have given no occasion for what men make us suffer.
– John Wesley
Humility | Suffering
It is hardly credible of how great consequence before God the smallest things are; and what great inconveniences sometimes follow those which appear to be light faults. As a very little dust will disorder a clock, and the least sand will obscure our sight, so the least grain of sin which is upon the heart will hinder its right motion towards God.
– John Wesley
Sin
Go not to those who want you, but to those who want you most.
– John Wesley
Evangelism
If we were not utterly impotent, our good works would be our own property; whereas now they belong wholly to God, because they proceed from him and his grace: While raising our works and making them all divine, he honors himself in us through them.
– John Wesley
Obedience
To abandon all, to strip one’s self of all, in order to seek and to follow Jesus Christ naked to Bethlehem, where he was born; naked to the hall where he was scourged; and naked to Calvary, where he died on the cross, is so great a mercy, that neither the thing, nor the knowledge of it is given to any, but through faith in the Son of God.
– John Wesley
Self-denial
Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.
– John Wesley
Service | Zeal
Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart.
– John Wesley
Money
Beware you are not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.
– John Wesley
Love | Books | Knowledge
The readiest way to escape from our sufferings is, to be willing they should endure as long as God pleases.
– John Wesley
Suffering | Endurance
Once in seven years I burn all my sermons; for it is a shame, if I cannot write better sermons now than I did seven years ago.
– John Wesley
Preaching
If we suffer persecution and affliction in a right manner, we attain a larger measure of conformity to Christ, by a due improvement of one of these occasions, than we could have done merely by imitating his mercy, in abundance of good works.
– John Wesley
Persecution | Affliction
He who governed the world before I was born shall take care of it likewise when I am dead. My part is to improve the present moment.
– John Wesley
Obedience
We are to bear with those we cannot amend, and to be content with offering them to God. This is true resignation. And since He has borne our infirmities, we may well bear those of each other for His sake.
– John Wesley
Trials
God’s command to “pray without ceasing’ is founded on the necessity we have of his grace to preserve the life of God in the soul, which can no more subsist one moment without it, than the body can without air.
– John Wesley
Prayer
The first priority of my life is to be holy, and the second goal of my life is to be a scholar.
– John Wesley
Holiness | Learning
Love fasts when it can, and as much as it can. It leads to all the ordinances of God, and employs itself in all the outward works whereof it is capable. It flies, as it were, like Elijah over the plain, to find God upon his holy mountain.
– John Wesley
Love
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to cast off his trust in riches.
– John Wesley
Finances
Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
– John Wesley
Worship | Rewards
The best of all is, God is with us. Farewell!
– John Wesley
Heaven
It is no marvel that the devil does not love field preaching! Neither do I; I love a commodious room, a soft cushion, a handsome pulpit. But where is my zeal if I do not trample all these underfoot in order to save one more soul?
– John Wesley
Evangelism | Preaching | Zeal
We should be continually laboring to cut off all the useless things that surround us; and God usually retrenches the superfluities of our souls in the same proportion as we do those of our bodies.
– John Wesley
Self-denial
The best helps to growth in grace are the ill usage, the affronts, and the losses which befall us. We should receive them with all thankfulness, as preferable to all others, were it only on this account, — that our will has no part therein.
– John Wesley
Grace | Affliction
That execrable sum of all villainies commonly called the slave-trade.
– John Wesley
Suffering
Even in the greatest afflictions, we ought to testify to God, that, in receiving them from his hand, we feel pleasure in the midst of the pain, from being afflicted by Him who loves us, and whom we love.
– John Wesley
Affliction
A constant attention to the work which God entrusts us with is a mark of solid piety.
– John Wesley
Perseverance | Piety
Get all you can, save all you can and give all you can.
– John Wesley
Giving
God does nothing but in answer to prayer.
– John Wesley
Prayer
The bottom of the soul may be in repose, even while we are in many outward troubles; just as the bottom of the sea is calm, while the surface is strongly agitated.
– John Wesley
Trials
Tell me how it is that in this room there are three candles and but one light, and I will explain to you the mode of the divine existence.
– John Wesley
God
Passion and prejudice govern the world; only under the name of reason.
– John Wesley
Reasoning | Passion
As no good is done, or spoken, or thought by any man without the assistance of God, working in and with those that believe in him, so there is no evil done, or spoken, or thought without the assistance of the devil, who worketh with strong though secret power in the children of unbelief. All the works of our evil nature are the work of the devil.
– John Wesley
Good and Evil | Unbelief