To the Memory of
THE VENERABLE JOHN WESLEY. A.M.
Late Fellow of Lincoln College. Oxford.

This GREAT LIGHT arose
(By the singular Providence of GOD)
To enlighten THESE NATIONS,
And to revive, enforce, and defend,
The Pure Apostolic DOCTRINES and PRACTICES of
THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH:
Which he continued to do, both by his WRITINGS and his LABOURS
For more than HALF A CENTURY:
And to his inexpressible Joy,
Not only, beheld their INFLUENCE extending,
And their EFFICACY witness’d
In the Hearts and Lives of MANY THOUSANDS,
As well in THE WESTERN WORLD as in THESE KINGDOMS:
But also, far above all human Power of Expectation,
Liv’d to see PROVISION made by the singular Grace of GOD,
For their CONTINUANCE and ESTABLISHMENT,
TO THE JOY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS

READER if thou art contrain’d to bless the INSTRUMENT,
GIVE GOD THE GLORY.

My regular visit to Wesley Chapel in London always offers me a reflective opportunity to pause before the tomb of John Wesley, located in a quiet spot behind the Chapel. My visit is not to worship Wesley but to bless God Almighty because Wesley is His handiwork. I pray that God will also make me his handiwork for the joy of the present and future generations, regardless of the current abyss of spiritual and political lawlessness.

Indeed, the epitaph and tomb of this founder of the early Methodist movement not only call us closer to Jesus Christ but also ‘contain a lesson etched in stone as poignant today as it was in the days immediately following his death.’ Wesley’s epitaph/tomb reflects the humility of one who, like Moses, understood his role as an instrument in God’s hands.

The epitaph on Wesley’s tomb is missional and spiritual. It shares not only the story of his life and ministry, but Wesley is also affirmed ‘as a great light that enlightened the nations and called the Church to renewal, the inscription references his lengthy career of writing and work for the Church. He “witnessed in the hearts and lives of many thousands,” the epitaph reads, and saw God’s provision for his work to last for future generations.’

John Wesley died on March 2, 1791, “in his own house in London, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, after preaching the Gospel sixty-four years,” The epitaph on Wesley’s tomb is remarkable because it shares not only the story of his life and ministry, it shows how the obedience of one man facilitated a mighty awakening and still inspiring us to remain faithful to the spread of scriptural holiness. Wesley is a great light that enlightened the nations and the world as his parish reminds us about the essence of Lent, a call to personal and corporate renewal.

John Wesley’s epitaph calls us to repentance and renewal today from complaining instead of obeying to overcome his fear about Methodism: ‘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 continues to teach us what it means to remain faithful and live fully as disciples of Jesus Christ in anticipation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Church, in general, is in a time of spiritual hesitancy, just as when Israel finally reached the border of the Promised Land, ten faithless spies brought back a bad report and caused them to hesitate. God is ready to lead the Church, and we must not be afraid of the armies, giants, and other oppositions to the Gospel. Fear causes a failure to obey God’s directions and commands. For us, the Church, not to enter the mission desert and an entire generation to miss out on the blessings and promises of God, Wesley’s epitaph calls the Church to repentance and renewal.

O Lord, renew us and deliver your Church from the yoke of a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power.