In March 1791 John Wesley, preacher extraordinaire, died in London.
His last words were “The best of all is, God is with us.”
What legacy, at least in part, can we record of John Wesley’s life, work and witness in the 18th century?
Despite being born and brought up in the household of an Anglican cleric, the fifteenth of 19 children of whom only 9 were to survive infancy, Wesley went on to Oxford University and was ordained in the Church of England in 1725. Yet his life took a decisive turn in 1738 when he had a moving experience of conversion in a Moravian meeting place in \London. He felt his heart strangely warmed. That was the turning point.
Together with his brother, Charles, he thereafter travelled all over the country preaching the glorious gospel, bringing thousands into a living, transforming relationship with Jesus as Saviour and Friend, such was the powerful and effective blessing of the Holy Spirit on their ministry.
The impact of the Evangelical Revival, as it has been described, was felt as much in the country as in the church at the time despite much opposition. Its significance has been described as monumental by historians such as William Lecky, a 19th century Irish scholar.
In the light of the French Revolution in 1789, it could well be argued that, for all its power and excesses, the revolutionary spirit was not exported to Great Britain because the impact of the Evangelical Revival led by the Wesleys (not forgetting Whitefield) effectively prevented it.
Who can deny that the impact and effect of the Evangelical Revival was much more beneficial for our country than that of the French Revolution ?
At the time of John Wesley’s death in March 1791 there were 135,000 members of the Methodist persuasion and 541 itinerant preachers.
Today it is estimated that there are 75 million Methodists in 130 countries.
The dying words of John Wesley – ‘The best of all is, God is with us’ – are as true today as when they were uttered in 1791 despite many appearances to the contrary.