It will, therefore, be one of the most important moments in the history of Methodism, especially in the formation of early British Methodism. Wesley's experience of Aldersgate was not suddenly occurred but encountered situations where he encountered the presence of God over the foundation of his faith, which Wesley had learned and experienced, which made him realize the present state …show more content…
In fact, his parents’ religious background was originally not from the church of England. According to Barrie W. Tabraham, “Both the Wesley’s grandfathers were Dissenting ministers, one of them being imprisoned on more than one occasion for his opposition to the Act of Uniformity.” In spite of such backgrounds, Samuel Wesley and Susan Wesley converted from Puritanism to the heritage of the Church of England. His father, Samuel, was a priest of Epworth Diocese, a fervent advocate of the Movement of Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). SPCK는 Richard P. Heitzenrater explains about SPCK, “their approach was aimed more toward quality than quantity and was grounded more in the process of nurture than conversion.” SPCK not only focused on a pietistic life based on Scripture but also on social sanctification and education. Samuel Wesley was greatly influenced by SPCK and adopted the small religious society movement which SPCK pursued into Epworth, where he was ministering with moralism and pietism that SPCK led at that time. His intent of his religious society shows what he sought through the society, “First to pray to God; secondly, to read the Holy Scriptures and discourse upon religious matters for their mutual edification; and thirdly, to deliberate …show more content…
Here he began to pursue a godly life under the religious and theological traditions of the Church of England. Heitzenrater’s reference about John Wesley’s mention shows John Wesley’s theology in early oxford, “The balance between faith and good works, the following of virtuous tempers, and the use of all the traditional means of grace that God provided, would help one have the mind that was in Christ and walk as he walked.” It was natural for him to chase a godly life under his theological background and move toward it. While in Oxford, John Wesley began to learn and follow the tradition of holy life by reading pietistic books such as Thomas a Kempis or Jeremy Taylor. Heitzenrater indicates Wesley’s reflection about pietism, “The most significant theological consequence of the Pietist influence was Wesley’s discovery that holiness was an inner reality – that true religion was seated in the heart and that God’s law extended to all our thoughts as well as words and actions.” Accessing the theology of the pietists through this readings, John Wesley realized that the holiness of life becomes a testimony of true faith and begins to practice thought in life. Meanwhile, in May 1729, John Wesley, by the request of his brother Charles, met with Charles' friend William Morgan, and sometimes Bob Kirkham, to go to church together or to engage in religious and academic conversation, and Heitzenrater says that this was the starting point of