John Wesley (1703-1791) was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley's teachings provided the seeds for the modern Methodist movement as well as other Christian churches. He was a deeply religious and scholarly man who provided the world with some wise thoughts. Here are some that are quoted to this day:
Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.
Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways 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.
Think yourself, and let think.
Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees.
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.
Though I am always in haste, I am never in a hurry
Having, First, gained all you can, and, Secondly saved all you can, Then give all you can.
Passion and prejudice govern the world; only under the name of reason. It is our part, by religion and reason joined, to counteract them all we can.
It cannot be that the people should grow in grace unless they give themselves to reading. A reading people will always be a knowing people.
But if God be for you, who can be against you?
O be not weary of well doing!
Beware you be not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.
What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.
Vice does not lose its character by becoming fashionable.
We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.
Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer; it is almost essentially connected with it. One who always prays is ever giving praise, whether in ease or pain, both for prosperity and for the greatest adversity.
God grant that I may never live to be useless!
Light yourself on fire with passion and people will come from miles to watch you burn.
The neglect of prayer is a grand hindrance to holiness.
Proceed with much prayer, and your way will be made plain.
In souls filled with love, the desire to please God is continual prayer.
There is no love of God without patience, and no patience without lowliness and sweetness of spirit.
Humility and patience are the surest proofs of the increase of love.
Let your words be the genuine picture of your heart.
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.
Happy are they who are sick, yea, or lose their life, for having done a good work.
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.
I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them:
1) To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy.
2) To speak no evil of the person they voted against.
3) To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.
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