John Wesley's advice to the people called Methodists from
A Plain Account of Christian Perfection.
The following are excerpts from A Perfect Love: Understanding John Wesley's "Plain Account of Christian Perfection"
by Steven W. Manskar with study guide by Diana Hynson.
www.discipleshipresources.org, 800-972-0433.
Reproduced by permission of the publisher.

Christian perfection is loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This implies that no passions contrary to love remain in the soul. It means that all the thoughts, words, and actions, are governed by pure love. . . .

By perfection I mean the humble, gentle, patient love of God, and our neighbor, ruling our habits, attitudes, words, and actions. . . .

"Q. 32. What is the first advice that you would give them?

"A. Beware and pray constantly against pride. If God has cast it out, see that it does not return. It is every bit as dangerous as desire. When you think there is no danger, you may slide back into it without notice. . . .

"Therefore, do not say to any who would advise or correct you, 'You are blind. You cannot teach me.' Do not say, 'This is your wisdom, your human reason.' But calmly discern the thing in the presence of God. . . .

"Q. 33. What is the second advice you would give them?

"A. Beware of that child of pride, enthusiasm. Have nothing to do with it! Leave no room for an undisciplined imagination. Do not hastily attribute things to God. Do not easily believe that dreams, voices, impressions, visions, or revelations are from God. They may be from him. They may be from nature. They may be from the devil. Therefore, 'do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God' [1 John 4:1] . . .

"One general entrance to enthusiasm is, expecting the end without the means. For example:

• Expecting knowledge without searching the Scriptures and consulting the children of God.
• Expecting spiritual strength without constant prayer and steady watchfulness.
• Expecting any blessing without hearing the word of God at every opportunity.

"Q. 34. What is the Third?

"A. Beware of Antinomianism, or 'canceling out any part of the law through faith ' [Rom. 3:31]. Enthusiasm naturally leads to this. Indeed they can hardly be separated. . . .

Beware of thinking, 'Because I am filled with love, I don't need to have so much holiness. Because I pray always, I don't need a set time for private prayer. Because I am always mindful of my behavior, I don't need personal self-examination.' Let us 'magnify the law,' the whole written word, 'and make it honorable' [Isa. 42:21]. Let this be our proclamation: 'I prize your commandments above gold or precious stones. O what love I have for your law! I study in it all day long.' . . .

"Beware of self-indulgence. Some even make a virtue of it, laughing at self-denial and taking up the cross daily, at fasting or abstinence.

Beware of intolerance. Abstain from thinking or calling people who in any way oppose you, whether in belief or practice, to be blind, dead, fallen, or 'enemies to the work.'

"Q. 35. What is the Fourth?

"A. Beware of sins of omission. Do not neglect any opportunity for doing good of any kind. Be eager for good works. Do not intentionally omit any work of piety or mercy. . . .

Be 'slow to speak' [James 1:19], and cautious in speaking. 'When words are many, transgression is not lacking' [Prov. 10:19]. Do not talk too much or for a long time. Few people can converse profitably for more than an hour. Keep a great distance from pious chit-chat and religious gossiping. . . .

"Q. 36. What is the Fifth?

"A. Beware of desiring anything but God. Now you desire nothing else; every other desire is driven out. See that none enter again. 'Keep thyself pure;' let your 'eye' remain 'healthy, and your whole body shall be full of light' [Matt. 6:22]. . . .

"Be patterns to all, of denying yourselves, and taking up your cross daily [Luke 9:23]. Let them see that you make no account of any pleasure that does not bring you nearer to God, nor regard any pain that does. . . .

"Q. 37. What is the Sixth?

"A. Beware of schism or causing separation within the Church of Christ. Such internal division begins when sisters and brothers in Christ, the members of his Body, no longer have love 'for one another' (1 Corinthians 12:25). . . .

"Do not tolerate any thought of separating from your brothers and sisters. Whether their opinions agree with yours is not that important. Do not dream that anyone sins in not believing you, in not taking your word, or that this or that opinion is essential to the work and both must stand or fall together.

"Beware of impatience in contradiction. Do not condemn or think harshly of those who cannot see just as you see or who believe they must contradict you, whether in a great thing or a small. . . .

"Do not be thin-skinned, irritable, or bellicose. Refrain from arguing with those who do not implicitly accept my teachings or the teachings of other Methodist leaders. . . .

"Q. 38. What is the last advice that you would give them?

"A. Be exemplary in all things, particularly in outward things (as in dress), in little things, in the use of your money (avoiding every needless expense), in deep, steady earnestness, and in the consistency and usefulness of all your life in the world. You shall be 'a light shining in a dark place' [2 Pet. 1:19]. You shall daily 'grow in grace' ([ Pet. 3:18] until 'entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you'[ Pet. 1:11]."