Wesley was always ingenious, always
industrious and always inspirational. He was a preacher of power and a prophet
of vision and insight. Not only the evangelical church but also the nation owes
him a debt of honour and respect. He was indeed a man sent from God and his name
was John. He ranks with the apostles of the New Testament and the divines of the
ages; his influence is simply beyond measure among men. It will need the
balances of heaven to weigh the value of Wesley for he constantly ministered
under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Who Came to Listen?
It was time of cruel violence, rampant
sexual permissiveness, and drunkenness. Wesley preached in the streets and
fields of England, to mobs of raving, swearing, and threatening men often just
from the ale-house. Tobacco, opium, alcohol had a tremendous hold of the people
in a vice-like grip. The church of the day was ignored by the masses. The
Gibraltar’s of wickedness stood strong and defiant in village, town and city.
So how did Wesley attract the people to come and listen? He had none of the
advantages of publicity techniques, no newspapers, no T.V. and no telephones or
computers or laptops. He had none of the disadvantages of those things either.
Wesley had no advertisement campaigns,
no local committees, and no great choirs to sing and entertain the crowds. It is
a puzzle to know how the crowds were induced to assemble together at the right
place and at the correct time.
His hearers seemed to wait for him, to
spring up before him as if a signal of some mysterious whisper coming out of
space had been given. The answer, I feel is this was evangelistic Gospel
preaching in the context of revival, and the Holy Spirit Himself was moving
everywhere.
When Did They Come?
If we ask “when did Wesley preach?”
the comprehensive answer would be, at every opportunity. ‘Preach the word; be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine.’ (2 Timothy 4:2) He preached the Word of God, often every day of
the week, morning, noon, and night, whenever a crowd gathered or his voice could
be heard. It was an incessant ministry. Wesley habitually preached at the early
hour of five a.m. and at least once if not twice more during the day. Only by
such early meetings could he catch the workers before they when off to the mine
or the forge, the mill or the farm. The morning preaching he cherished as ‘the
glory of the Methodists,’ He cherished those meetings, and said if they ceased
then Methodism too would degenerate into a mere sect, distinguished by some
opinions and modes of worship. How right he was in that vision.
What Did They Hear?
They listened to a truly great
preacher, who was absolutely yielded to the Saviour of men, the Lord Jesus
Christ. He was given to the study of God’s Word with a consuming passion to
reach the hearts and minds of needy sinful men. Calvary filled his vision, his
manner of preaching was direct yet compassionate, personal qualities contributed
to his exceptional power. Wesley was charismatic and magnetic in his personality
and presence; his face had expressive features, with vivid eyes, and a beautiful
crystal clear voice.
His advice to all preachers he observed
himself. The first business of a speaker, he insisted, was that he might be
heard and understood with ease. Not too loud or too low; too fast or too slow,
or worst of all ‘speaking with a tone’ – squeaking, singing, theatrical or
whining as the case may be.
Wesley’s voice had tremendous
carrying powers. He was heard above the shouting crowds, above the noise of
falling water, poor weather and winds, often he was challenged by the constant
ringing of church bells by unfriendly clergy, yet he could compete vocally with
most distractions he could make very deaf people hear and they loved him for it.
What Did They See?
Wesley was a man of small stature, thin
and pale, with steely eyes and an expression that was often supercilious; but he
exuded a mysterious and pervasive charm. Often without the periwig he let his
black hair grow long and fall in curls on his shoulders.
In his hand he would hold his Field
Bible – so called because it was printed by John Field in the seventeenth
century. It is now presented to each incoming Methodist President as he assumes
his office. Those who heard Wesley preach witness to the fact he was disturbing,
moving and persuasive. His style was marked by simplicity and sincerity he was
understood by the people. Believe – Love – Obey was his message.
His sermons came straight from his heart as well as from his sound strong head. In this combination of heat and light lay the secret of John Wesley’s power as a gospel preacher. It was in the tension of the two that the Holy Spirit worked so mightily.
Page created 30 September 2006