John Wesley and marriage
By Bufford W. Coe
Methodist minister Bufford W. Coe offers readers a fascinating exploration of how personal experience and theological conviction intersected in the life of one of Christianity's most influential figures. This scholarly yet accessible work examines John Wesley's complex relationship with marriage, revealing how the founder of Methodism's own romantic struggles and beliefs shaped his approach to matrimonial doctrine and practice.
Drawing from Wesley's private diaries and personal correspondence, Coe unveils the intimate details of Wesley's failed courtships with Sophia Hopkey and Grace Murray, as well as his troubled marriage. These personal experiences provide crucial context for understanding Wesley's theological positions on matrimony and celibacy. The author demonstrates how Wesley's internal conflicts manifested in seemingly contradictory actions, such as encouraging unmarried men to remain single just days after deciding to marry himself at age forty-seven.
The book illuminates Wesley's practical reforms to Christian marriage ceremonies, particularly his revision of the Anglican wedding service for American Methodists. Coe analyzes these liturgical changes alongside Wesley's broader theological framework, showing how the reformer eliminated certain traditional elements while maintaining others. Readers interested in the intersection of personal faith and institutional practice will discover how Wesley's matrimonial beliefs influenced Methodist doctrine and continue to shape Christian understanding of marriage today.
This work offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand how spiritual leaders navigate the tension between personal experience and religious teaching.
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Discover service as spiritual practice
- ✓ Strengthen your marriage spiritually
- ✓ Explore Methodist Church
- ✓ Explore Church of england, liturgy
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects of Marriage
- ✓ Explore Church of england, doctrines
- ✓ Explore Liturgy
- ✓ Explore Church of England
Topics
Details
- Published
- 1996
- Publisher
- Lehigh University Press, Associated University Presses
- ISBN-10
- 0934223394
- Pages
- 177
- Language
- EN
- LC Classification
- BX8349.M35 C64 1996
