Wesley and Men Who Followed

by Iain H. Murray

Most books on Wesley have concentrated on his leading role in the Evangelical Revival. Wesley and Men Who Followed is more concerned with the spiritual explanation of a movement which, far from dwindling at his death, increased in momentum, breadth and transforming power. Drawing from original and often little-known Methodist sources, Iain Murray's thrilling study leads to conclusions that are of great relevance for the contemporary church.

Genres: Biography, History, Church History

270 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2003

About the author

Iain Hamish Murray is a British pastor and author. He was educated in the Isle of Man and at the University of Durham before entering ministry in 1955. He served as assistant to Martyn Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel (1956–59) and subsequently at Grove Chapel, London (1961–69) and St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Sydney, Australia, (1981–84). In 1957 he and Jack Cullum founded the Reformed publishing house, the Banner of Truth Trust, of which he continues to serve as a trustee.

Reviews

[Brian Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this four part work Iain Murray traces the life and ministry of John Wesley, the lives and ministries of three of his Methodist successors, two Methodist doctrines, and the general trajectory of Methodism in history to the present. The classic themes of Murray's writing ministry are found in this book. Wesley's life enables Murray to retell the working of God in the Methodist revivals. In telling the stories of three of Wesley's followers Murray is able to critique the revivalist new measures that emerged in the nineteenth century. Significantly, he is able to demonstrate that Wesleyan Arminians (and not Calvinists only) criticized revivalism. While Murray does think some Calvinists have been too hard on Wesley (he names Dallimore), Murray does critique Wesley's vacillation on the imputation of Christ's righteousness and his teaching on Christian perfection. In the closing chapter Murray finds in Methodism's history a warning concerning the deadening effects liberalism has within a denomination. The book is not a didactic discussion of these themes. The thematic elements arise naturally as the narrative unfolds. As with all of Murray's work, this history is warm, devotional, and aware of the Spirit's working in the world

[Mathias Seiwert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humble and clear summary & review of John Wesley and Methodism. Worth the price alone are the three chapters on a few individual Methodist preachers in the early to mid 1800s. Inspiring book for all Christians to glorify the LORD in spreading the true Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit! Read anything by Iain H. Murray--you will be drawn nearer to the LORD!

[Jacob London · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful little biography about Wesley and a few of his followers. While Murray is undoubtably pro-Wesleyan that doesn't take away from the fact that the book although celebrating the successes of Wesley also highlights his shortcomings. Overall it is a very fair treatment of Wesley and informed me greatly about the denomination I was raised in.

[Linda Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is primarily a biography of Wesley, three chapters are devoted, one each, to three men who followed him. After reading those, I would very much like to read a biographies of Bramwell and Ouseley. What committed men!
Iain Murray is an excellent author, very readable. In this book, he was gracious toward John Wesley. His respect for Wesley raised mine. God used Wesley to bring many to Christ. At the same time, Murray explained some of Wesley's failings in doctrine, ecclesiology, and relationships with those who believed in divine election. He said very little about Wesley's failed marriage. The last two chapters focus on some of Wesley's teachings. According to this book, it seems that Wesley was quite confusing even in his own time on what he believed about justification.
I've now read several books by Iain Murray and hope to read more.

[Jon Delamarter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Having been raised and educated as a Wesleyan, becoming Reformed about a decade ago, I was intensely curious to see what the founder of the reformed publishing juggernaut Banner of Truth would have to say about Wesley. He certainly didn't disappoint. As always, Murray's handling of Wesley was gracious, generous, and thorough for the number of pages he had to work with. No bogeyman here. The remaining pages cover Wesley's successors and the effect they had on the movement.

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written devotional history - inspiring, challenging and informative. Iain Murray wholeheartedly in discusses the admiral attributes of Wesley and the Methodists alongside his robust rebuttal of the concerning aspects of Wesley's theology. My lasting impression will be of the fiery and passionate commitment of these men to Jesus and his mission.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most enjoyable book I've read from my favorite living author.

[Guilherme Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an encouraging historical work by Ian Murray on Wesley, those near forgotten fiery brothers and how the Wesley movement wasn't *because* of Wesley, but because of the Spirit of God working through submitted & submitting men who shook the gates of Hades and advanced the unshakeable Kingdom of the eternal Sovereign - Christ Jesus.

Only -1 star because I was uninterested in the penultimate chapter about Wesley's incorrect view of justification.

I was there for the history of great revival.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite some theological blind sides, the power of God is all over this book and all over Wesley and the men that followed him. It has been said by some of the Reformed camp that Wesley didn't understand the gospel. Those who speak thus do not understand it themselves, for if they had they would live as this brother did instead of merely killing trees and killing reputations in the name of God.

Recommended 7/5.

[Seth Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The power of God came on Wesley and men like him as they practiced denial of the flesh and devotion to Scripture. Reading it with Wesley’s Journals.

Inspiring as nearly every thing is from Murray's pen.

Wesley's life is full of insights about human nature, and the God's ways in working in His church.

[Arthur Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s be honest, Snidely Whiplash was not an artistic reincarnation of the spirit and character of John Wesley, regardless of what Arnold Dallimore wishes you to think. Here is evidence that errors in theology can be explored and even warned against in a charitable way. This book is fantastic.

[richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, well written and easy to follow. What a great work God did through this man, what a great conversion story and the good works that followed. Wish men had this kind of zeal today

[Parker Bentley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This work by Iain Murray is a good summary of John Wesley and the Wesleyan distinctives, his contemporaries, and Methodism since the 1700s. I honestly didn't know much about the Methodists historically, but this is a balanced, well-researched study, especially given that the author is coming from different convictions. Murray begins by analyzing John Wesley and his upbringing and the context that surrounded him and influenced him in his life. This reader was convinced that Wesley loved the Lord, but was always toiling and striving internally due to sin and the desire to be holy. While I disagree with Wesley in many ways, it was interesting to learn that his Arminian theology was mainly placated on his fear of Antinomianism and Hyper-Calvinism. He emphasized action on the behalf of the Christian. Ultimately, his views are analyzed critically and truthfully - there are good and bad things that readers can glean from the Wesleyan distinctives. In the second section of the book, three men that played a big role in Methodism are studied, and there is a lot that can be learned here. There are some great stories of faithful men preaching in the streets due to the authoritarian roles of the clergy in the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland. In the last 2 sections the controversial doctrines are discussed as well as the work of the Holy Spirit that was seen during the Evangelical and Methodist revivals. Murray provides the reader with a good understanding of what Wesleyan theology stood for with regards to doctrines like Justification and Sanctification (or Christian Perfection). My biggest takeaway from this section was that so much of their theology was based on "experience" and their convictions seemed to go back and forth quite often. The good that did happen in the Methodist movement was seen in the organization and structure of the movement thru the 'Holy Clubs', the 'Assistants' (or pastors/teachers), and the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit working thru the proclamation of the gospel thru the Word of God, none of the success would have been seen. In the end, Methodism of the 20th century-today is contrasted with the 'Old Methodism', and the key difference is in the authority scripture held in the leaders of the Methodists at the time. Thankfully this book is critical and fair in its treatment of the Methodists - they may get some doctrines wrong, but the Lord can use whatever instruments He chooses for His people's good and for His glory.

I would recommend this book if you want to know more about John Wesley, the Methodist tradition, and its interaction with Calvinism in the 1700s, notably with characters like George Whitefield, John Newton, and Jonathan Edwards.

[Leslie Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting.....I had no idea that John Wesley stood only 5'2"! Confirmed many of my assumptions about Wesley's theology. Murray gave a very irenic and fair treatment to this subject, especially considering that Murray himself is a Calvinist and Wesley, well he just most definitely was NOT!

Most interesting to me was the section at the end of the book that dealt specifically with Wesley's understanding of Justification/Sanctification as well as some other academically theological issues. Easy to see where modern Methodism gets some of its particulars, e.g., the frequent moving of ministers and the annual "Annual Conference." Also easy to see how Wesley's rather loosely knit mercurial theology may have had a bearing on the same sort of theological understanding one finds in many Methodist churches today.

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wesley gets a lot of criticism (some deserved) but he was a man used of God and I appreciated that this was brought out in Murray's book.