Calvinistic Methodist Sources

Methodism in the 18th century began at Oxford in the 1730s and expanded as participants in the movement experienced evangelical conversion and became leaders in the revival. This meant that the term “Methodist” became a synonym for “evangelical” in Great Britain and included two branches – Wesleyan and Calvinist. Calvinistic Methodism was led by the grand itinerant George Whitefield and later by Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntington, who founded 64 chapels and Trevecca College.

George Whitefield   1714-1770
When Whitefield began to preach in 1737, he sparked revival whenever he entered the pulpit. Traversing the Atlantic for seven preaching tours in America, Whitefield helped spearhead the Great Awakening. As one who challenged religious norms at the time, Whitefield led the Wesleys to preach to the masses in the open-air. He also began to publish journals recounting his preaching ministry a full two years before John Wesley and was seen as the natural leader of Methodism in the late 1730s and early 1740s. An Anglican minister and a member of the Oxford Methodists, Whitefield embraced a moderate form of Calvinism following his conversion in 1735. As a close friend of the Wesleys, their differences in theology led to a split in the evangelical movement in Great Britain in 1741. After that there were two branches of Methodism in the 18th century – Calvinistic and Wesleyan. Even though their friendship was strained, the Wesleys and Whitefield remained friends and John preached Whitefield’s funeral sermon in 1770. Whitefield published many sermons, journals, letters, and a short account of his life from childhood up to his conversion and the beginning of his preaching ministry. Over the years Whitefield edited and rewrote his journals and short account as his theology matured. For research purposes the numerous editions of these writings are included below, including his open letter to John Wesley about latter’s sermon on Free Grace in 1739, sparking the controversy over predestination, known as the Free Grace Controversy:
Journal 1 1738
Journal 2 1739
Journal 3 1739
Journal 4 1739
Journal 5 1740
Journal 6 1741
Journal 7 1741
Revised Journal I 1756
Revised Journal II 1756

Short Account Boston Edition 1740
Short Account London Edition 1740
Short Account 1741
Short Account 1744
Full Account 1747
Further Account 1747

Lecture on Wesley & Whitefield by Dr. Dan Reeves.
GW’s Letter to JW regarding His Sermon Free Grace 1741

Sermon Benefits Early Piety 1737
Sermon Religious Society 1737
Sermon Self denial 1737
Sermon The New Birth 1737
Sermon The Almost Christian 1738
Sermon Justification 1738
Sermon Hell 1738
Sermon Marks of New Birth 1739
Sermon Christ Only Way of Salv 1739
Sermon Come and See Jesus 1739
Sermon Necessity of Christ’s Righteousness 1739
Sermon Power of Christs Resurrection 1739
Sermon Wise Foolish Virgins 1739
Sermon Duty Searching Scriptures 1739
Sermon What think of Christ 1740
Sermon Believers Golden Chain 1741
Sermon Christ Believer’s Wisdom… 1742

Sermon Collection 1738
Sermons Christians Companion 1739
Sermon Collection 1 1739
Sermon Collection 2 1739
Sermon Collection 1740

Works vol. 1 Letters 1771
Works vol. 2 Letters 1771
Works vol. 3 Letters 1771
Works vol. 4 Select Letters 1771
Works vol. 5 Sermons 1772
Works vol. 6 Sermons 1772

The Life of George Whitefield I Tyerman 1877
The Life of George Whitefield II Tyerman 1877
Butler Wesley & Whitefield in Scotland 1899

 
Selena Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon 1707-1791
Selena played a prominent role in the Evangelical Revival of the 18th century and led the Calvinistic Methodist Connexion in England and Wales, that included over sixty chapels. She also supported the evangelical cause in colonial America. She served as the first principal of Trevecca College in Wales, which was established to train Methodist ministers. Selena worked closely with George Whitefield and other evangelical leaders, which included the Wesleys for a period of time. Her relationship with John Wesley was often adversarial due to sharp differences in theology.
Life & Times of Selina Countess of Huntington vol 1 1839 
Life & Times of Selina Countess of Huntington vol 2 1839

Howell Harris   1714-1773
Harris was one of the main leaders of the Welsh Methodist revival in the 18th century, along with Daniel Rowland and others. He experienced conversion in May 1735 (see his Brief Account) and was later refused ordination in the Church of England because of his “Methodist” principles. Harris was a colleague of Whitefield and the Wesleys.
Harris Brief Account of His Life 1791
Harris Last Message & Dying Testimony 1774

History & Faith Calvinistic Methodists Wales 1827
Biographical Dictionary Welsh Calvinistic Methodists 1907

 
Sir Richard Hill   1732-1808
Hill was the oldest son of Sir Rowland Hill and a Baronet. He distinguished himself as a champion of George Whitefield and of the Calvinistic Methodists. When six students were expelled from Edmund Hall, Oxford, for adopting Methodism, Hill sharply criticized the university authorities in the tract, Pietas Oxoniensis (1768). The pamphlet drew criticism from several sources. Three are included below. Hill later became embroiled in the infamous Minutes Controversy of the 1770s and wrote several tracts against Wesley and Fletcher defending Calvinism (see the Puritan/Reformed page):
Biography of R. Hill by Edwin Sidney 1839
Hill Pietas Oxoniensis 1768
Church/England Member Letter to Author of Pietas Oxoniensis 1768
Thomas Nowell Answer to Pietas Oxoniensis 1768
First of Series of Letters to Author of Pietas Oxoniensis 1770

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