John Wesley Quotes & Sayings

Wherever riches have increased, the essence of religion has decreased in the same proportion. — John Wesley

Suffer all, and conquer all. — John Wesley

All worldly joys are less than that one joy of doing kindnesses. — John Wesley

In using all means, seek God alone. In and through every outward thing, look only to the power of His Spirit, and the merits of His Son. Beware you do not get stuck in the work itself; if you do, it is all lost labor. Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul. Therefore, fix on Him in all, through all, and above all ... Remember also to use all means as means-as ordained, not for their own sake ... — John Wesley

Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God. — John Wesley

Do you know why that cow looks over that wall? She looks over the wall because she cannot see through it, and that is what you must do with your troubles ... Look over and above them. — John Wesley

Nay, if there be any mistakes in the Bible, there may as well be a thousand. If there be one falsehood in that book, it did not come from the God of truth — John Wesley

People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense. — John Wesley

Do all the good you can, by all means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can,to all the people you can, as long as you ever can. — John Wesley

This earthly body is slow and heavy in all its motions, listless and soon tired with action. But our heavenly bodies shall be as fire; as active and as nimble as our thoughts are. — John Wesley

Prayer continues in the desire of the heart, though the understanding be employed on outward things. — John Wesley

The church changes the world not by making converts but by making disciples. — John Wesley

My fear is not that our great movement, known as the Methodists, will eventually cease to exist or one day die from the earth. My fear is that our people will become content to live without the fire, the power, the excitement, the supernatural element that makes us great. — John Wesley

Get on fire for God and men will come and see you burn. — John Wesley

God does nothing except in response to believing prayer. — John Wesley

We should constantly use the most common, little, easy words which our language affords. — John Wesley

Anything that cools my love for Christ is the world. — John Wesley

This Book had to be written by one of three people: good men, bad men or God. It couldn't have been written by good men because they said it was inspired by the revelation of God. Good men don't lie and deceive. It couldn't have been written by bad men because bad men would not write something that would condemn themselves. It leaves only one conclusion. It was given by divine inspiration of God. — John Wesley

I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England. — John Wesley

The best of all is God with us — John Wesley

How is it more for the glory of God to save man irresistibly, than to save him as a free agent, by such grace as he may either concur or resist? — John Wesley

Giving up witchcraft is, in effect, giving up the Bible. — John Wesley

Earn all you can, give all you can, save all you can — John Wesley

Preach 90% Law and 10% grace. — John Wesley

It is hardily credible of how great consequences before God the smallest things are; and what great inconveniences some times follow those which appear to be light faults. — John Wesley

I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field. — John Wesley

They say I killed six or seven men for snoring. Well, it ain't true. I only killed one man for snoring. — John Wesley

Let me do all the good I can, to all the people I can, as often as I can, for I shall not pass this way again. — John Wesley

Gay and costly apparel directly tends to create and influence lust ... The fact is plain and undeniable, it has the effect both on the wearer and beholder. You kindle a flame, which, at the same time consumes both yourself and your admirers ... — John Wesley

I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! — John Wesley

Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart. — John Wesley

I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard. — John Wesley

[When I die] if I leave behind me ten pounds ... you and all mankind [may] bear witness against me, that I have lived and died a thief and a robber. — John Wesley

Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. — John Wesley

All that a Christian does, even in eating and sleeping, is prayer, when it is done in simplicity, according to the order of God, without either adding to or diminishing from it by his own choice. — John Wesley

God's command to "pray without ceasing" is founded on the necessity we have of His grace to preserve the life of God in the soul, which can no more subsist one moment without it, than the body can without air. — John Wesley

I can by no means approve the scurrility and contempt with which the Romanists have often been treated. I dare not rail at, or despise, any man: much less those who profess to believe in the same Master. But I pity them much; having the same assurance, that Jesus is the Christ, and that no Romanist can expect to be saved, according to the terms of his covenant. — John Wesley

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. — John Wesley

I cannot help leaving my books behind me whenever God calls me hence; but in every other respect, my own hands will be my executors. — John Wesley

I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out. — John Wesley

Employ whatever God has entrusted you with, in doing good, all possible good, in every possible kind and degree ... — John Wesley

He's got everything - good vision, his speed, his shot, all those intangibles that you need to be a superstar in this league. He has it all. — John Wesley

John Wesley tells of a dream he had. In the dream, he was ushered to the gates of Hell. There he asked, "Are there any Presbyterians here?" "Yes!", came the answer. Then he asked, "Are there any Baptists? Any Episcopalians? Any Methodists?" The answer was Yes! each time. Much distressed, Wesley was then ushered to the gates of Heaven. There he asked the same question, and the answer was No! "No?" To this, Wesley asked, "Who then is inside?" The answer came back, "There are only Christians here." — John Wesley

I look on all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right, and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation. — John Wesley

Think not the bigotry of another is any excuse for your own. — John Wesley

Once in seven years I burn all my sermons; for it is a shame, if I cannot write better sermons now than I did seven years ago. — John Wesley

Any 'Christians' who take for themselves any more than the plain necessaries of life, live in an open habitual denial of the Lord. They have gained riches and hell-fire. — John Wesley

Passion and prejudice govern the world; only under the name of reason. — John Wesley

I judge all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity. — John Wesley

When Poetry thus keeps its place as the handmaiden of piety, it shall attain not a poor perishable wreath, but a crown that fadeth not away. — John Wesley

Oh that God would give me the thing which I long for! That before I go hence and am no more seen, I may see a people wholly devoted to God, crucified to the world, and the world crucified to them. A people truly given up to God in body, soul and substance! How cheerfully would I then say, 'Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace.' — John Wesley

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. — John Wesley

No outward practices will stand in the place of the new birth. Nothing under heaven will stand in its place. — John Wesley

Reading Christians are growing Christians. When Christians cease to read, they cease to grow. — John Wesley

When a man becomes a Christian, he becomes industrious, trustworthy and prosperous. Now, if that man when he gets all he can and saves all he can, does not give all he can, I have more hope for Judas Iscariot than for that man! — John Wesley

Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose? — John Wesley

About three in the morning as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, insomuch that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As soon as we recovered a little from the awe and amazement at the presence of His Majesty, we broke out with one voice, 'We praise Thee, O God, we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.' — John Wesley

It was a common saying among the Christians in the primitive Church, "The soul and the body make a man; the spirit and discipline make a Christian;" implying, that none could be real Christians, without the help of Christian discipline. But if this be so, is it any wonder that we find so few Christians; for where is Christian discipline — John Wesley

Faith is the divine evidence whereby the spiritual man discerneth God, and the things of God. — John Wesley

Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul. — John Wesley

none can trust in the merits of Christ, till he has utterly renounced his own. — John Wesley

Bring me a worm that can comprehend a man, and then I will show you a man that can comprehend the Triune God. — John Wesley

I resolved to dedicate all my life to God, all my thoughts, and words, and actions; being thoroughly convinced, there was no medium; but that every part of my life (not some only) must either be a sacrifice to God, or myself, that is, in effect, to the devil. Can any serious person doubt of this, or find a medium between serving God and serving the devil? — John Wesley

I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death. — John Wesley

The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities. I exact more from myself and less from others. — John Wesley

Purge me from every sinful blot;
My idols all be cast aside:
Cleanse me from every evil thought,
From all the filth of self and pride.
The hatred of the carnal mind
Out of my flesh at once remove:
Give me a tender heart, resigned,
And pure, and full of faith and love. — John Wesley

Beware, lastly, of imagining you shall obtain the end without using the means conducive to it. — John Wesley

No man that ever lived, not John Calvin himself, ever asserted either original sin, or justification by faith, in more strong, more clear and express terms, than Arminius has done. — John Wesley

Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he comes in the clouds of heaven. — John Wesley

With all prayer (Eph. 6:18) All sorts of prayer- public, private, mental, vocal. Do not be diligent in one kind of prayer and negligent in others ... let us use all. — John Wesley

Every one, though born of God in an instant, yet undoubtedly grows by slow degrees. — John Wesley

I believe in my heart that faith in Jesus Christ can and will lead us beyond an exclusive concern for the well-being of other human beings to the broader concern for the well-being of the birds in our backyards, the fish in our rivers, and every living creature on the face of the earth. — John Wesley

The Bible must be the invention of either good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. It could not be the invention of good men or angels, for they neither would or could make a book, and tell lies all the time they were writing it, saying, 'Thus saith the Lord,' when it was their own invention. It could not be the invention of bad men or devils, for they would not make a book which commands all duty, forbids all sin, and condemns their souls to hell for all eternity. Therefore, I draw this conclusion, that the Bible must be given by divine inspiration. — John Wesley

I could scarcely reconcile myself at first to this strange way of preaching in the fields, of which Whitfield set me an example on Sunday; having been all my life (till very lately) so tenacious of every point relating to decency and order, that I should have thought the saving of souls almost a sin, if it had not been done in a church. — John Wesley

Whether we think of, or speak to, God, whether we act or suffer for him, all is prayer, when we have no other object than his love, and the desire of pleasing him. — John Wesley

The case is this: God offers you one of the greatest mercies on this side of heaven and commands you to accept it. Why do you not accept this mercy in obedience to His command ... God offers you a pardon for all your sins. — John Wesley

I have thought I am creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen. I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven
how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri [a man of one book]. — John Wesley

A meek spirit gives no trouble willingly to any: a quiet spirit bears all wrongs without being troubled. — John Wesley

True humility is a kind of self-annihilation; and this is the centre of all virtues. — John Wesley

The best of it is, God is with us. — John Wesley

I look upon the whole world as my parish. — John Wesley

I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation. — John Wesley

Justifying faith implies, not only a divine evidence or conviction that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, but a sure trust and confidence that Christ died for my sins, that He loved me and gave Himself for me. — John Wesley

A sour religion is the devil's religion. — John Wesley

It is no marvel that the devil does not love field preaching! Neither do I; I love a commodious room, a soft cushion, a handsome pulpit. But where is my zeal if I do not trample all these underfoot in order to save one more soul? — John Wesley

Catch on fire and others will love to come watch you burn. — John Wesley

I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it. — John Wesley

By justification we are saved from the guilt of sin ... by sanctification we are saved from the power and root of sin — John Wesley

I desired as many as could to join together in fasting and prayer, that God would restore the spirit of love and of a sound mind to the poor deluded rebels in America. — John Wesley

Singing is as much the language of holy joy as praying is of holy desire. — John Wesley

In all cases, the Church is to be judged by the Scripture, not the Scripture by the Church. — John Wesley

As the more holy we are upon earth the more happy we must be. — John Wesley

Read the most useful books, and that regularly and constantly. — John Wesley

To explain this a little further: Only the soul and the body are the natural constituent parts of men and women. The SPIRIT is not in the fundamental nature of humans but is the supernatural gift of God, TO BE FOUND IN CHRISTIANS ONLY. — John Wesley

We are always open to instruction, willing to be wiser every day than we were before, and to change whatever we can change for the better. — John Wesley

[H]is heart is ever lifted up to God at all times and in all places. In this he is
never hindered, much less interrupted, by any person or thing. In retirement
or company, in leisure, business, or conversation, his heart is ever with the
Lord. Whether he lie down or rise up, God is in all his thoughts; he walks
with God continually, having the loving eye of his mind still fixed upon Him,
and everywhere "seeing him that is invisible."7 — John Wesley

Fierce and poisonous animals were created for terrifying man, in order that he might be made aware of the final judgment in hell. — John Wesley

I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me. — John Wesley

Lord, is it not Thy word, if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God? Thou givest liberally, and upbraidest not. Thou hast said, if any be willing to do Thy will, he shall know. I am willing to do, let me know Thy will. — John Wesley

God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it. — John Wesley