FIRST GREAT AWAKENING – JOLIEN WOLFSEN

Table of Contents

I. Overview, Timeline & Primary Events 3

Colonial Period (1607-1763) 3

Mayflower Arrival (1620) 3

Establishment of Halfway Covenant by Puritans (1620’s and 1630’s) 3

Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630) 3

Theodore Frelinghuysen (1720’s) 3

George Whitefield Meets John & Charles Wesley (early 1730’s) 3

The First Great Awakening (1733-1770) 3

John & Charles Wesley Visit New England with Moravians (1736-1747) 4

George Whitefield’s Preaching Tour (1739-1740) 4

“On the Dangers of an Unconverted Ministry”, Gilbert Tennent (1740) 4

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, J. Edwards (July 8th, 1741) 4

Princeton University Founded (1746) 5

Publishing of the “Life of David Brainerd” (1749) 5

Pioneering of Methodist Societies (1763-1766) 5

Brown University Founded (1764) 5

Arrival of First Wesleyan Missionaries in America (1769) 5

Francis Asbury Circuits England (1765-1771) 5

Mary Evans Thorne (1770) 5

Francis Asbury’s Appeals to Circuit in America (1771) 5

“An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty” (1773) 5

The Americans Revolution (1775-1783) 6

The Second Great Awakening (1790-1840) 6

John Wesley’s Final Letter to William Wilberforce (February 24th, 1791) 6

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William Carey Sails to India as a Missionary (1793) 6

Revival at Yale University (1802) 6

II. Contemporary Events 6

The Historical Context of Britain (18th Century) 6

The Historical Context of New England (18th century) 7

III. Primary Areas of Impact 9

Impact of England 9

Impact in New England, America 10

IV. Small Beginnings to Catalyzed Movements 12

Main Messages 12

Circuit Riders 12

Persecution 13

New England and the Circuit Riders 13

Key Revivalists that Multiplied the Movement in America 14

V. Essential Steps of Simple Obedience & Risk Taking 14

John Wesley and The Methodist Movement 14

VI. The Point God Intervened, Tipping Point 16

Assurance of Faith 16

Prayer & Fasting in New England 17

VII. Connection to Other Movements 17

The Second Great Awakening (1790-1835) 17

Sources 18

I. Overview, Timeline & Primary Events

A) Colonial Period (1607-1763)

Starting in 1607, British Pilgrims formed thirteen colonies in America, together named
“New England”.

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B) Mayflower Arrival (1620)

Pilgrims - the English Puritans - came to America with a vision to spread their religious views.

C) Establishment of Halfway Covenant by Puritans (1620’s and 1630’s)

This Covenant allowed people to become members of the Church in colonial England (“New
England”) without conversion and (public) repentance of their sins. The freedom and prosperity
that the Puritans were facing after having arrived in America had led to complacency in their
devotion to God. This “Halfway Covenant” was meant to increase church attendance and to allow
children to be baptized. The first generation of Puritans had to give public testimonies of their
faith and repentance of sin before being given church membership, which changed with the
establishment of this covenant. The institution of this covenant started the decline of the New
England Puritanism and the high standard of purity and holiness it once held.

D) Massachusetts Bay Colony (1630)

A colony established by British persecuted Pilgrims who left England because they wanted to
have freedom in their religious practices.

E) Theodore Frelinghuysen (1720’s)

A minister of the Dutch Reformed Church who preached messages of an uncompromising

commitment to Christ, sanctification, and conversion. Theodore influenced a Presbyterian pastor,
named Gilbert Tennent who, consequently, brought revival to his denomination.

F) George Whitefield Meets John & Charles Wesley (early 1730’s)

George Whitefield was born in England and, like John and Charles Wesley, studied at Oxford.
They established “The Holy Club”1 and were devoted to Bible study, prayer, and visiting the poor
and needy. In 1736, George Whitefield became an ordained minister (John Wesley in 1729).

G) The First Great Awakening (1733-1770)

The series of revivals that led to the spreading of evangelical denominations in the British
colonies (New England).

H) John & Charles Wesley Visit New England with Moravians (1736-1747)
They visited Atlanta, Georgia and left disillusioned after being confronted with their lack of faith.
Ultimately, this trip led to the birthing of the Methodist movement.

I) George Whitefield’s Preaching Tour (1739-1740)

This tour sparked his preaching career as one of the most famous revivalists during the First Great
Awakening. George traveled thousands of miles on horseback in the English colonies of America.
He highlighted the need for believers to be “born again” through open-air preaching.

Often the first ones to respond to George’s messages on a full commitment to Christ were young
people, who spread the messages to the older generation. George would often spend the whole
night praying before a preaching engagement.

1 More on this under “Simple Obedience, Small Beginnings, and Risks”.

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J) “On the Dangers of an Unconverted Ministry”, Gilbert Tennent (1740)

Gilbert Tennent, highly influenced by Theodore Frelinghuysen, published this book as a result of
his belief that awakening would come to the churches in America once its pastors actually
converted to Christ. This book stirred many pastors and churches - specifically in the Presbyterian
denomination2 - out of their “religious sleep”.

George Whitefield called Gilbert Tennent “a son of thunder”.3 Gilbert preached fiery messages
about the need for repentance of sin and was known for his open opinion of his critics, who were
often amongst the more conservative Presbyterian clergies, calling them “hypocrites”.

K) “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, J. Edwards (July 8th, 1741)

This sermon was one of the foundational texts during the First Great Awakening and preached by
Jonathan Edwards (a British colonial theologian) to his congregation in Massachusetts
(Northampton Church).

Hearing this sermon, people would begin to cry out loud and weep over the state of their souls
and the intensity of conviction over their sins. By the power of the Holy Spirit, that fell when
Jonathan Edwards would preach his sermons, many lives were transformed and towns changed.

Jonathan Edwards publicly and boldly denounced the “Halfway Covenant”, established by the
Puritans.

L) Princeton University Founded (1746)

One of the first national colleges in America was founded in New Jersey. The motto of this
university in 1746 became: “Under God's power she flourishes.”4

M) Publishing of the “Life of David Brainerd” (1749)

Written by Jonathan Edwards, this helped promote evangelical theology during the First Great
Awakening. David Brainerd was a missionary to the Native Americans. The main message was to
persevere in the work of God amid significant suffering. John Wesley highly recommended this
book by Jonathan Edwards as well. Known missionaries such as Adoniram Judson, Jim Elliot,
and William Carey were highly influenced by this biography in their decision to become
missionaries.5
N) Pioneering of Methodist Societies (1763-1766)

First societies were planted in Virginia, New York, and Maryland.

2 “Calvinism within the Reformed tradition separated into specific subgroups like the Continental
Reformed, Presbyterianism, Congregationalism and a variety of English dissenters, including the Puritans.”
- "Calvinism - Wikipedia." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism.
3 "Gilbert Tennent | American Presbyterian clergyman | Britannica." 1 Feb. 2020,
4From the official motto: “Dei Sub Numine Viget.” - "She Flourishes - Princeton University." 10 Nov.
2011,
5 "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd: With Notes and ...."

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O) Brown University Founded (1764)

Its motto was: “In Deo Speramus.” (“In God we trust.”) 6

P) Arrival of First Wesleyan Missionaries in America (1769)

Methodism had already spread in America. However, John Wesley sent Richard Boardman and
Joseph Pilmore to America to continue to spread Methodism.

Q) Francis Asbury Circuits England (1765-1771)

Francis Asbury became a Wesleyan itinerant preacher and would circuit England for months at a
time on horseback to preach the Wesleyan messages.

R) Mary Evans Thorne (1770)

Mary Evans became the first female leader in American Methodism.

S) Francis Asbury’s Appeals to Circuit in America (1771)

Francis was a Methodist missionary who became the leader of American Methodism. He spent 45
years in the British colonies, riding thousands of miles on horsebacks to preach the Gospel.

T) “An Appeal to the Public for Religious Liberty” (1773)

Isaac Backus published a series of sermons to promote religious liberty and the separation of state
and church.

U) The Americans Revolution (1775-1783)

The United States fought for independence from British domination in New England.7

V) The Second Great Awakening (1790-1840)

The rise of Evangelical Protestant majority leading to social reform and the forming of new,
evangelical denominations.

W) John Wesley’s Final Letter to William Wilberforce (February 24th, 1791)

John Wesley encourages William Wilberforce to persevere until the abolition is completed.

John Wesley passed away on March 2, 1791, in London, UK.

X) William Carey Sails to India as a Missionary (1793)

Known as the “father of modern missions”.

Y) Revival at Yale University (1802)

Timothy Dwight, who became the president of Yale University in 1795, was an evangelical
believer and invited a move of God into this university. From ten percent of all students
professing to be a Christian to two-thirds at the end of the revival, led by a group of students that
continued to pray and ask God for an awakening in their university, that was marked by the
thinking of Enlightenment.

6 "Encyclopedia Brunoniana | Seal - Brown University."

7 "John Wesley's Final Letter to William Wilberforce, Slavery, and ...." 12 Jan. 2017,

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II. Contemporary Events

A) The Historical Context of Britain (18th Century)

1. Colonialism - Slavery - Economic Wealth

During the 17th Century, England had gained many colonies, part of which thirteen in
America. Mostly because of that, England was economically thriving through
international trade. However, most of Britain’s economy was, unrightfully so, built on the
miseries of slavery.

2. Political & Social Stability

Middle classes were experiencing political stability after the Glorious Revolution8 (also
known as ‘’The Revolution of 1688’’ and ‘’The Bloodless Revolution’’). This revolution
led to the distribution of the monarchy’s authority to the Parliament and laid the
groundwork for parliamentary democracy. Besides, at the start of the 18th Century,
Britain experienced peace from the many civil, bloody wars between Protestants and
Catholics. One of the causes of the English Civil War of 1642-1651 was the European-
wide conflict between the Protestants and Catholics, sparked by the Protestant
Reformation.

3. Alcoholism & Family

As of the 18th Century, England society, binge drinking ran rampant and alcoholism
ruined the formation of healthy, thriving families.

4. The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment (also known as the ‘’Age of Reason’’) describes the period that highly
influenced European’s 18th-century society, which started during the 17th century
(1601-1700), in the area of science, politics, and philosophical thought, even laying the
groundwork for the post-modern, secular society of today, though the end of The
Enlightenment was mainly characterized with the ending of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815.

‘’I think, therefore I am9’’, was a highly regarded thought, presented by the French
philosopher René Descartes10 during this time and marks the foundation for society’s
thinking during that time.

5. Religion

Since the church leaders at that time were people of unsure faith, they became
increasingly irrelevant during the Age of Reason. Many people throughout Europe
became more and more skeptical and, without a clear argumentation in defense of the
Christian faith and profound, heart-felt assurance of salvation, the Christian values slowly
faded in British society.

8 Time period: 1688-1689.

9 ‘’Cognito, ergo sum’’ in its original, Latin language.
10 Living from 1596-1650.

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B) The Historical Context of New England (18th century)

1. Colonialism

New England, founded in 1607, was the name for the thirteen colonies England founded
on the Atlantic Coast of America during the 17th and 18th centuries.

2. High Infant Mortality

Mortality rates kept increasing during the early years of the 18th century up to one in
three children dying. Often sick children were baptized. In the first half of the 18th
century, an ecclesiastical reform was private baptism- family formation and church
affiliation.

3. Natural Disasters

New England experienced the Great Earthquake in 1727, which led people to study folk
wisdom, Biblical stories, natural philosophies as well as natural disasters on a global
scale to figure out what God could be trying to communicate through His ‘’so-perceived’’
dealings. Since there were no clear doctrinal answers, people started to wonder whether
this was God’s vindictive justice or rather His goodness towards people.

Ebenezer Parkman11 mentioned during that time: ‘’Consider both the judgments and
mercies of the Lord.’’12 To me, it seems that the tensions in which we seem to want to
lean highly on either the mercy or judgment of God - mostly shaken by (personal) life
circumstances or national/global natural disasters -, we have to let go of our need to
define our theology by settling for one nature aspect of who God is, and run either to
prayer or from God because our former ‘’settled theology’’ isn’t sufficient.

This time of tension and (literal and spiritual) shaking led to a middle-class citizen
mentioning, which I believe covers well the common thinking during that time:

‘’I pray it may have such an impression upon us as to awaken us out of our carnal
security and quicken us to fly to Christ where we shall be safe.’’ 13

Most people though still believed it was God’s awful and dreadful voice calling out loud
for the people to repent of their sins and join the church (before it would be too late).
Many religious leaders believed that New England was on the brink of a great moral
reformation. Another interesting thing was that family worship was set up in ‘’the most
unlikely’’ households during this time of turbulence.

4. Epidemics

In 1735, the diphtheria epidemic spread all across New England until about the 1750s.
Mortality rates heightened and life expectancy declined. Because New England’s society
was suddenly highly confronted with death, many joined the church. Again, much of this
was seen as the judgment of God for people failing to perform their Christian duties
(mostly not joining Communion). Many prayer requests, requests to join the church, and
even ‘’healing vows’’ of commitment (‘’If God heals me, then I will minister Him the rest
of my life.’’, for example), submitted to the Church of England in this time, were ones of

11 A minister in Massachusetts, Connecticut at that time.

12 "Darkness Falls on the Land of Light | Douglas L. Winiarski." (page 57)
13 “Darkness Falls on the Land of Light | Douglas L., Winiarski.” (page 57).

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confession of people whose families and/or children suffered from diseases and
accidents.

5. Religion

The religion practiced in the Church of New England was strictly Puritan in the 18th
century. Most of the theological doctrines stemmed from the Protestant Reformation
(16th century) and both structural and doctrinal theology from people like Martin Luther
and John Calvin.

Starting with the 1720s and the traditions of the Church of New England, there seemed to
be much anxiety and lack of assurance around the topic of salvation.

In reading through some of their traditions, it seems to me that the traditional structures
and guidelines (as to: ‘’How to become a full member of the Church?’’ ‘’When is one
allowed to join the Lord’s Supper?’’) were a cover-up for a lack of faith. High
performance, much doubt, and hesitation became the fruit among men and women from
all classes when considering ‘’salvation’’.

One of the quotes from the book ‘’Darkness Falls on the Land of Light’’ (a description of
the effects of the Great Awakening on New England), shows this fear and anxiety in the
hearts of sincere seekers of God:

“To be a “worthy receiver” of the Lord’s Supper, as Page’s relation indicated, meant
mastering the right doctrinal beliefs and demonstrating a familiarity with specific biblical
texts.” 14

To become a member of the Church of New England, men and women had to present
themselves in public before the church’s council to pronounce public repentance as well
as a citation of the given doctrinal beliefs and Bible texts. On the other side, all people
(slaves and criminals included could submit a prayer request, as was usual at this time.

Based on 1 Corinthians 11:2915, parishioners would even warn the (already accepted)
church members to “make sure they were worthy of the Communion’’ they were about to
participate in.

III. Primary Areas of Impact

A) Impact of England

1. Reformation & Missions

A generation of reformers arose. William Wilberforce was encouraged by John to fight

abolition as well as Elisabeth Fry, who was greatly impacted by the teachings of John
Wesley and reformed prisons and society in helping the needy. Besides this, William
Carey and the mission movement grew. As of Britain, and the moral reformation (known
as “The Reformation of Manners’), social upheavals were limited as well as revolutions.
This was in high contrast to the French Revolution (1789-1799), which was known for its

14 “Darkness Falls on the Land of Light | Douglas L., Winiarski.” (page 39).
15NIV: ‘’For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on
themselves.’’

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social and political upheaval. Many say that the First Great Awakening had prevented a
similar response from the English people in the later 18th century.

2. Methodism

At the age of 87, John Wesley died. At the end of his life, there were 70.000 Methodists
in Britain and 65.000 in America. Methodist Circuit preachers had sparked the Great
Awakening in America and had laid the foundation for the evangelical denominations to
come. The interesting thing is that John never intended to start another denomination, he
led a movement for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. Church Unity

One of the things that stands out to me is that hard, denominational lines were broken
down as a result of the revivals happening, including the revivals of the Second Great
Awakening (1791-1842). A corporate, evangelical identity ignited this unity.16 The World
Evangelical Alliance was founded in 1842. 800 church leaders gathered from eleven
different countries in London.

This longing for unity among the church went hand in hand, in both Great Britain and
New England, with a corporate responsibility to carry social justice issues, such as
slavery (under the leadership of William Wilberforce), bad working conditions, and child
labor.

The theme for this Alliance became the following verse out of Psalm 133:

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.”17

Out of this Alliance also followed a “universal week of prayer”.

B) Impact in New England, America

1. Independence & Nationalism

When it comes to the experiences many men and women had during the time of the
Awakening in America, it was reformational that most of these experiences were
described as ‘’encounters with the grace of God’’, bringing deep assurance to these
people of their salvation and faith in Christ. The encounters didn’t go through some
clerical structure, which started to (rightfully so) bring a critical reflection of the present
structures within churches.

The fact that age-old authorities could be questioned led to a change of thought that led to
a political American Constitutional18 change in the 1770s, after the American War of
Independence (1775-1783), before which we see a clear shift towards the idea of
“national revolutionism”. The doctrine of consent of equal people, promoting the equality
of all men and women as well as independence, has its roots in the 1740s and ‘50s
ultimately the Great Awakening.

2. Anti-Slavery

16 "The World Evangelical Alliance: Nurturing Unity in a Diverse ...." 7 Sep. 2019,
17 Verse 1.
18 Officially signed on September 17, 1787 during the Philadelphia Convention.

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Around the 1840s, New England became the center of the American anti-slavery
movement. In the 1830s, it was also known to be the center of the Industrial Revolution
in America.

During the American Civil War (1861-1865), New England was of high importance in
political, cultural, and intellectual thought promoting the abolition of slavery as well as
civil rights.

3. Education

The importance of higher education was highlighted. Universities such as Princeton

(founded 1746, New Jersey) and Brown University (founded 1764, Rhode Island) were
birthed out of the Great Awakening. Both were founded in the former English colonies in
America. New England became the center of American Literature in the later 18th and
19th centuries.

4. Minorities: Women & African Americans

Women were encouraged to take on leadership roles and to preach.

As of African Americans, they were being encouraged in the evangelical churches to get
education and become literate (something illegal before that). Though no clear intention
to abolish slavery, George Whitefield preached again cruel handling of slaves and
withholding education from them. African American worship songs began to arise during
the First Great Awakening and these songs led to the establishment of the first African
American churches in New England. Richard Allen was one of the ministers ordained by
Francis Asbury, who later founded one of the first African American, independent black
denominations (“African Methodist Episcopal Church'').19

5. Church Reform

The First Great Awakening laid the foundation for Evangelical Christianity in America.
Evangelicalism was not a recognizable denomination until the 18th century and was
founded first in Britain and from there, to its colonies in america. It developed out of the
foundational doctrines of Pietism, Presbyterianism, and Puritanism.

In short, Pietism was a movement that emerged in Europe in the 17th century and
advocated for a religion that would bring moral transformation, rather than a merely
rational religion, including sacraments such as confessions and baptisms. Presbyterianism
stemmed from revivals in the early 17th century in Scotland and Ireland.

Presbyterians highly regard Communion and worship. Puritanism put a real emphasis on
the act of confession before becoming a church member. After the establishment of the
Half-Way Covenant, the Puritans were confronted with moral and devotional decline
among its members.

“A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God in the Conversion of Many Hundred
Souls in Northampton”, published by Jonathan Edwards became an account of the revival
his congregation experienced in Northampton. The several revivals, happening all over
New England as well as Britain, became known as “a series of Evangelical revivals”,
known to be more “radical” than some of the Protestant revivals from the past.

This series of revivals involved men and women from any class of society, who were
ignited by the Power of the Holy Spirit and were known for openly evangelizing.

19 Read more on page 18 on “Francis Asbury”.

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The movement was marked by people that were assured in their faith and salvation,
solely based on the finished work of Jesus Christ and the acceptance of this gift of grace.

This was highly reformational as other Protestant denominations in that time hardly held
the assurance of salvation and “acceptance” before God. As men and women caught this
assurance, the devotion and piety of these evangelical believers increased.

George Whitfield mentioned this “doctrinal reform” in the following words, opposing the
resistance from other British denominations (such as mentioned above):

"I am fully convinced there is a fundamental difference between us and them. They
believe only an outward Christ, we further believe that He must be inwardly formed in
our hearts also. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God."20

IV. Small Beginnings to Catalyzed Movements

A movement followed as the lifestyle that the Holy Club had embodied for years, started to be embraced
nation-wide in England. The Methodists, the followers of John Wesley and his Holy Club members, rode
on horsebacks, preaching the Gospel and calling for repentance towards the assurance of faith, to which
the Spirit bears witness.

A) Main Messages
● Salvation by faith.
● Sanctification through faith.
● Free will.
● The authority of Scripture.
● The Christian’s responsibility to help those in need.
B) Circuit Riders

John Wesley himself rode an average 4000 miles on horsebacks every year, believing that ‘’The
world is my parish’’21. John Wesley preached the Gospel in open fields and public areas, not
confining his message to a certain church or church building. Many preachers followed after the
lifestyle and beliefs of John Wesley. John described his co-workers in this mission in the
following words:
‘’A company of men having the form and seeking the power of godliness, united in order to pray
together, to receive the word of exhortation, and to watch over one another in love, that they may
help one another to work out their salvation.’’22

These early methodists were known to be marked by God’s supernatural power. Frank Di Pietro
describes this as the following:

20“Men of One Book: A Comparison of Two Methodist Preachers, John Wesley and George Whitefield |
Ian J. Maddock.” (page 215)
21 "Journal of John Wesley - Christian Classics Ethereal."
22“John and Charles Wesley: Selected Prayers, Hymns, Journal Notes, Sermons…” | John Wesley and
Charles Wesley. (page 108).

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“The early Methodists, when building places of worship, made no plans for heating systems in
the building believing that ‘the fire at the pulpit and the flame in the pews was sufficient enough
to keep everyone warm.”23

The first Circuit Riders (the name for the Methodist ministers, originated by John Wesley) came
to New England in 1764.

C) Persecution

Many clergies tried to stop John Wesley and persecution became quite violent. People were
encouraged to drive cattle through open-air and public meetings. By the end of 1738, only three
or four churches in London were open to having John Wesley preach in their buildings.

Leonard Ravenhill notes: “Of six hundred sermons he preached, only six of them were from the
polished pulpit of the day.”24

Even within the persecution, there are many accounts of the power of God falling on men that
tried to attack Wesley for beating, or worse, which even led to immediate repentance and turn-
around in the hearts of these enemies- and even immediate, public death of the persecutors at
times.

D) New England and the Circuit Riders

John Wesley rode an average of 20 miles a day for 40 years on horsebacks. Even at the age of 80,
John was known to travel four to five thousand miles a year.

Discussion groups were formed all over England, ministry brands, and teams started to be
created, and a model of small groups of twelve people quickly multiplied.

Again, most of these small groups followed the methodical ways and were committed to
sanctification. John Wesley observed:

“Always press on towards entire sanctification. I always observe- wherever a work of

sanctification breaks out, the whole work of God prospers.’’ 25

In 1751, John Wesley got married to Mary Varzeille, but they divorced about seven years later,
partly because Mary didn’t seem to agree with the mobility of John’s life.
John Wesley raised many “Circuit Riders” that would circuit England and from there, America as
well, influenced and ignited by John Wesley’s teachings.

E) Key Revivalists that Multiplied the Movement in America

1. Jonathan Edwards (1702; Connecticut, USA - 1758; New Jersey, USA)

Jonathan Edwards was a congregationalist pastor in Massachusetts. He was known for his
apologetics and academic knowledge. Influenced by John Wesley, he preached the
message of salvation by faith alone. His sermon, “Sinners In The Hand Of An Angry
God” became one of the foundational texts for the First Great Awakening. Jonathan
Edwards became known as the most famous theologian of the First Great Awakening.

23 “The Fire That Once Was Lost | Frank “JJ” Di Pietro.” (page 61).
24 “The Fire That Once Was Lost | Frank “JJ” Di Pietro.” (page 63).
25 “Entire Sanctification | C. W. Ruth.” (page 75).

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2. George Whitefield (1714; England - 1770; Massachusetts, USA)

George Whitefield was an Anglican priest that was influenced by the teachings of John
Wesley. He became one of the most famous revivalist and evangelists of the First Great
Awakening. George himself was a Calvinist. In 1739, he took a trip to New England and
he preached the Wesleyan messages across the colonies. He would preach in open fields,
but not without resistance. Many clergies (in both England and its colonies) were against
these meetings and would call it a blasphemous and emotional event, full of ungodly
delusions. He became known as a revivalist and evangelist in both New England and
Britain.

3. Francis Asbury (1745; England - 1816; Virginia, USA)

At the age of 22, Francis Asbury was ordained by John Wesley as an official preacher. In
1771, he volunteered to circuit the British colonies in America. When he first arrived in
America, Francis Asbury served as Wesley’s assistant for a year. In 1776, at the start of
the American Revolutionary War, Francis and one other minister were the only two
British Methodist ministers that stayed in America.

He would travel an average of 6000 miles a year and he saw the church grow from 1200
to 214000 people and 700 preachers.

Richard Allen was one of the ministers ordained by Francis Asbury, who later founded
the first African American, independent black denomination (“African Methodist
Episcopal Church'').

V. Essential Steps of Simple Obedience & Risk Taking

John Wesley and The Methodist Movement

1. A Praying Father

John’s father, pastor Samuel Wesley, knelt in Epworth, England and cried out to God to
send revival to England. Two of their children, in particular, John and Charles Wesley,
became an answer to these prayers.Samuel so valued prayer asked his wife to keep their
nineteen children away from his prayer time to be able to focus on God more.

2. Introduction to the Original Scripture & Education

John Wesley was born in 1703 as the fifteenth child to Susanna and Samuel Wesley. At
the age of six, he nearly died on the second story of a house, because of a fire. One man
was able to rescue John through climbing to the window of the house.

His father observed that John was a literal ‘’brand plucked from burning’26’ and
mentioned that from that day on, he knew that God would have great plans for his son.
Throughout his childhood, John, together with his siblings, were taught to read Greek and
Hebrew, and they memorized parts of the New Testament, under the disciplined eye of
their home-schooling mother. John went to Oxford at the age of seventeen, studied Logic,
Greek, and Philosophy, and became an ordained priest in 1729.

3. The “Holy Crib”

26 Reference to Zecheriah 3:2

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At Oxford University, John’s brother, named Charles Wesley, started the so-called ‘’Holy
Club’’. A small community of young men, including George Whitefield and John Wesley,
who was committed to following and knowing God and wanted to grow in their devotion
and holiness. They devoted themselves to Bible study, prayer, academic excellence and
accountability in disciplinary studying, weekly Communion, ordering classes for sick
children, and visiting the poor. Because of its high value for discipline and excellent
organization, this ‘’Holy Club’’ began to be known for their methodical manners, which
led to people referring to them as ‘’The Methodists’’.

4. Discipline & “Methodical Manners”

“Methodical manners”referred mostly to their deep, disciplinary commitment to prayer

and the “spiritual disciplines” found in the Gospels, such as evangelism, fasting, and
“quiet prayer”, rather than “a set of rules on how to do church’’ or on ‘’how to become
grow more sanctified”.

John Wesley had a deep conviction that nothing must hinder him from his commitment to
prayer. A habit he established early on in his life (and lasted until the end of his life) was
to wake up at 4 am to pray for an hour.

5. Missions with Moravians

In 1735, John Wesley, together with his brother Charles, and other English and German
passengers set out for America to preach the Gospel. Many of the English passengers,
including John Wesley, found themselves often afraid of the sea and its waves. John
would watch the panicking English passengers and compared them to the German
passengers, known as ‘’Moravian missionaries’’, who were singing songs unafraid. While
observing these scenes quite often on their route to America, John Wesley, in his fear,
began to wonder where this assurance of faith, seen in these Moravians, came from.

6. Wrestling Faith

From their, not so successful time in America, John Wesley returned to London,
disillusioned and confronted with his unbelief. He mentioned, reflecting on this time in
America:

“I came to America to convert the Indians; but oh! Who shall convert me? Who, what is
he that will deliver me from this evil heart of mischief?”27

One asked John, who himself mentioned ‘‘I know He is the Savior of the World’’:

“But do you know He has saved you?’’, to which John replied: ‘‘I can only hope’’. 28

Peter Boehler, a Moravian missionary, tried to lift John’s spirits and to encourage him to
keep preaching, after his time in America and, mostly after being confronted with his lack
of assurance in salvation, by telling him: ‘‘Preach faith until you have it and then because
you have it, you will preach faith.’’29

27 "John Wesley: Journal of John Wesley - Christian Classics ...."

28 "Trial and Triumph: Stories From Church History | Richard M. Hannula." (page 200).
29 "Trial and Triumph: Stories From Church History | Richard M. Hannula." (page 200).

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VI. The Point God Intervened, Tipping Point

A) Assurance of Faith

On May 24th, 1738, John Wesley was invited to a meeting from a religious society at Aldersgate
street and decided to, hesitantly, join.

As the society read from Martin Luther’s preface to the epistle to the Romans, John Wesley
suddenly realized that he did trust Jesus and had faith in him. In his own words, he referred to this
moment like this:

“I felt my heart strangely warmed. 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.”30

John Wesley’s revelation led to his continuation of preaching, as his doubt around his priestly
career had faded and made place for assurance, faith, and a certainty of his calling.
B) Prayer & Fasting in New England

Within the same day of the Great Earthquake, a day of public fasting was called on October 30th,
1727. Puritan worship often included fasting, and with the rising desperation in New England,
this became even more popular, as preachers preached sermons mostly on the need for moral
reformation.

Days of “Fasting and Prayer’’ became a town-wide, often repeated event. “Covenant renewal
ceremonies’’ were established by many churches and would often attract hundreds of young
people at a time. They would all publicly repent of sins such as ‘’fornication’’ and
‘’lukewarmness’’, followed by a rededication to Sabbath worship, private devotion, and family
prayer, as well as just and integral business and social dealings.

VII. Connection to Other Movements

The Second Great Awakening (1790-1835)
The Second Great Awakening was often found to be “less emotional” than the First Great Awakening and
was highly focused on evangelism and missions. This Second Great Awakening also started in New
England and seems to build on the revivals and evangelical ideas from the First Awakening, yet was
known to be more of an “organizing process”, leading to the creation of many educational, missions, and
religious “infrastructures”. This led to mass communication, the founding of Christian colleges and
seminaries, and the establishment of mission societies.

30 "Trial and Triumph: Stories From Church History | Richard M. Hannula." (page 201).

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Sources
Facts & Key Figures
"Great Awakening | Definition, Key Figures, & Facts | Britannica." https://www.britannica.com/
event/Great-Awakening. Accessed 25 Mar. 2020.

Understanding Puritanism

"Half-Way Covenant: Inclusion of Puritan Children." 14 Jan. 2020, https://

www.learnreligions.com/half-way-covenant-definition-4135893. Accessed 26 Mar. 2020

Overview & Timeline

"Events | All Religious Events | Timeline | The ... - The Arda." http://www.thearda.com/timeline/
browse_all_events_date.asp. Accessed 25 Mar. 2020.

Overview of the First Great Awakening

"The Great Awakening - - Christianity." 1 Apr. 2010, https://www.christianity.com/church/church-

history/the-great-awakening-11529421.html. Accessed 26 Mar. 2020.

HIstorical Book on the New England Revivals in the 18th Century (Book)

"Darkness Falls on the Land of Light | Douglas L. Winiarski."

Sermons of John Wesley (Book)

"The Sermons of John Wesley: the complete collection of 141 sermons comprehensively indexed
by number, title, and scriptural reference | Michael R. Martin, editor.”

Biographies of Several Revivalists (Book)

“The Fire That Once Was: Those Who Turned the World Upside Down | Frank “JJ” Di Pietro, J.
D. King.”

Church Reform

"Protestantism | Origin, Definition, History, Doctrines, & Facts ...." https://www.britannica.com/

topic/Protestantism. Accessed 26 Mar. 2020.

"The Great Awakening (article) | Khan Academy." https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-

history/colonial-america/colonial-north-america/a/great-awakening. Accessed 21 Mar. 2020.

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"First Great Awakening - Wikipedia." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Great_Awakening.
Accessed 22 Mar. 2020.

"Evangelicalism - Wikipedia." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelicalism. Accessed 23 Mar.

2020.

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