A Plain Account of Christian Perfection

by John Wesley

Overview

First published in 1766, "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection" is an enduring classic work of theology by John Wesley, the prominent English evangelist, theologian, and leader of the Methodist reform movement. Wesley was ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1728 and underwent an evangelical conversion ten years later, which led him to begin his own ministry that later became known as Methodism. Wesley's central theological beliefs are thoroughly explained in this work. Wesley rejected the popular Calvinism idea of predestination and instead argued that salvation could only be obtained by fully devoting your life to God and by outwardly showing this devotion in the performance of good and charitable deeds. The love of God must reign supreme in the hearts of the faithful as salvation will be found in a guided, deep, and sincere desire to please God. Wesley's works provided the theological foundation for Methodist beliefs and his wise and profound words, on the path to a more fulfilled and perfect Christian life, continue to guide the devout in their faith centuries later. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781420970890
Publisher:	Digireads.com Publishing
Publication date:	09/24/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

John Wesley (1703–1791) is known for two things: co-founding Methodism and his tremendous work ethic. In the 1700s, when one’s options for land travel included walking, journeying by horseback, or riding in a carriage, Wesley logged more than four thousand miles a year. During his lifetime, he preached about forty thousand sermons. In 1729, he became a tutor at Oxford University, where he founded a religious club that people nicknamed the Methodists.
In 1738, Wesley’s life was changed while attending a religious meeting in London. Someone gave a reading of Martin Luther’s Preface to Romans. Wesley later said, “I felt my heart strangely warmed.” Afterwards, he became a great preacher, traveling throughout the British Isles.
Although he never intended to form a new church separate from the Church of England, his followers soon began to form their own organization. The Methodists placed great emphasis on living a holy life and they had many travelling preachers. After the American War of Independence, Methodism spread in the U.S. A professed opponent of slavery, Wesley published his Thoughts on Slavery in 1774.
He preached his last sermon on February 23, 1791, and died a week later, on March 2, at age eighty-seven.