Write a short essay that addresses the following topic: How did John Wesley challenge the doctrines of the Church of England?
Selections from The Origins, the Rules, and the Spirit of Methodism by John Wesley (1744-49).
1. About ten years ago my brother [Charles Wesley] and I were desired to preach in many parts of London. We had no view therein but, so far as we were able (and we knew God could work by whomsoever it pleased Him) to convince those who would hear, what true Christianity was, and to persuade them to embrace it.
2. The points we chiefly insisted upon were four: First, that orthodoxy or right opinions is, at best, but a very slender part of religion, if it can be allowed to be any part of it at all; that neither does religion consist in negatives, in bare harmlessness of any kind, nor merely in externals in doing good or using the means of grace, in works of piety (so called) or of charity; that it is nothing short of or different from the mind that was in Christ, the image of God stamped upon the heart, inward righteousness attended with the peace of God and joy in the Holy Ghost. Secondly, that the only way under heaven to this religion is to repent and believe the gospel, or (as the apostle words it) repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Thirdly, that by this faith, he that worketh not, but believeth in Him that justifieth the ungodly, is justified freely by His grace, through the redemption which is in Jesus Christ. And lastly, that being justified by faith we taste of the heaven to which we are going; we are holy and happy; we tread down sin and fear, and sit in heavenly places with Jesus Christ....
You are supposed to have faith that "overcometh the world." To you, therefore it is not grievous:
I. Carefully to abstain from doing evil, in particular:
1. neither to buy nor sell anything at all on the Lord's day.
2. To taste no spiritous liquor, no dram of any kind, unless prescribed by a physician.
3. To be at a word both in buying and selling.
4. To pawn nothing, no, not to save life.
5. No to mention the fault of any behind his back, and to stop those short that do.
6. To wear no needless ornaments, such as rings, earrings, necklaces, lace, ruffles.
7. To use no needless self-indulgence, such as taking snuff or tobacco, unless prescribed by a physician.
II. Zealously to maintain good works, in particular:
1. To give alms of such things as you possess, and that to the uttermost of your power.
2. To reprove all that sin in your sight, and that in love and meekness of wisdom.
3. To be patterns of diligence and frugality, of self-denial, and taking up the cross daily.
III. Constantly to attend on all the ordinances of God, in particular:
1. To be at church and at the Lord's table every week, and at every public meetings of the bands.
2. To attend the ministry of the word every morning unless distance, business or sickness prevent.
3. To use private prayer every day; and family prayer, if you are eat the head of the family.
4. To read the scriptures, and meditate therein, at every vacant hour. And
5. To observe, as days of fasting or abstinence, all Fridays in the year.