The Way of the Wesleys: A Short Introduction

Tyson (church history, Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity Sch.) is a professed fan of Charles Wesley (1707–88); his publications include Charles Wesley on Sanctification, and Charles Wesley: A Reader. Here he treats both of the Wesley brothers, Charles and John (1703–91), the charismatic preachers who, along with George Whitefield (1714–70), founded Methodism in the 1700s. Neither a history of the movement nor a dual biography of the siblings, this volume treats John and Charles Wesley as religious thinkers and leaders, addressing topics such as sin, holiness, Christian perfection, the Trinity, the Atonement, and ecumenism. Few Christian theologians have enjoyed the reach and impact of these brothers, especially Charles, thanks to his eloquent hymns, which are used and sung by many Christian denominations, and, for many worshippers, are the principal conduit of theology and faith statements.