A Short History Of The Methodists... - Media Sabda Org

A SHORT HISTORY
OF THE
METHODISTS
By
Jesse Lee
CHAPTER 1
Of the rise of the Methodists in England in 1729,
to the beginning of Methodism in the United States of America, in 1766.
The Rev. John Wesley (by the grace of God the Father and Founder of Methodism, and second
son of the Rev. Samuel Wesley), was born June 17, old style, 1703. In the year 1720, he entered a
student in Christ Church College, Oxford, and soon after took his degree of bachelor of arts.
Sept. 19, 1725, he was ordained a deacon, by Dr. Potter, at that time bishop of Oxford.
Shortly after he preached his first sermon, at South Leigh, within two miles of Witney in
Oxfordshire.
March 17, 1726, he was elected Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
February 14, 1727, he took his degree of Master of Arts.
September 22, 1728, he was ordained Priest, by the same bishop.
Of the name of Methodist, as applied to Mr. Wesley and his followers, the following account is
given. Mr. John Wesley, and by his advice and example his brother Charles, when at Oxford had
become deeply serious. They received the sacrament weekly, and prevailed with two or three more
young men to do the same. These young men occasionally met together, for the purpose of assisting
and encouraging each other in their studies and religious duties; they also regulated their
employments by certain rules. This regularity procured them the distinguishing epithet of Methodists.
This title was given in the first instance to Mr. Charles Wesley, by a fellow of Merton College, in
allusion to an ancient college of physicians at Rome, who began to flourish about the time of Nero,
and continued several ages; they were remarkable for putting their patients under regimen, and were
therefore termed Methodists. This is the most accurate account; for when Mr. Wesley speaks of this
appellation, he mentions it only in very general terms, without attempting to state at what period of
the society it was first given. "The exact regularity of their lives, as well as studies," says he,
"occasioned a young gentleman of Christ's Church to say, 'There is a new set of Methodists sprung
up.' The name was new and quaint, so it took immediately, and the Methodists were known all over
the university." It would seem, then, from the above account, that the name was given to the young
gentleman in consequence of the remarks of the fellow of Merton College; and Mr. Wesley in his
Journal refers to it after the name had become pretty general. One thing is certain, the name was first
given at Oxford in the year 1729.