Pietist, Moravian, & Quaker Sources

Pietism as a movement is usually credited to Philip Jacob Spener and the publication of his book Pia Desideria in 1675, though its beginnings are at times attributed to Johann Arndt and his True Christianity, first published in 1606. Pietism took different forms but on the continent was rooted in Lutheranism and the Reformation. As the title suggests, its proponents stressed the need for religious piety expressed in a personal conversion experience and holy living. The Wesleys began to read Pietist works during their Oxford period and their evangelical conversions in 1738 were under the tutelage of the Moravians, a Pietist group led by Count Zinzendorf. Pietism, therefore, exerted a direct influence on the religious and theological development of the Wesleys and early Methodism. Several of the Wesleys colleagues joined the Moravians and their writings add to our understanding of the religious culture of the 18th century. For a broader understanding of Pietism, see the lecture by Ryan Reeves.

Lecture on Lutheran Pietism by Dr. Ryan Reeves.

Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf   1700-1760
Charismatic by personality, Zinzendorf was the Imperial Count of the Holy Roman Empire and Bishop of the renewed Unitas Fratrum, which later became known as the Moravian Church. He was also the founder of Herrnhut, which became the center for the spread of the Moravian faith around the world. Educated at Halle, and Lutheran by faith, Zinzendorf was one of the more colorful individuals among the Pietists of the 18th century. The Wesleys parted ways with the Moravians in 1740 for what has become known as the Stillness Controversy – a debate over the degree of faith required for evangelical conversion. In reality, the different theological traditions of the Moravians (Lutheran) and the Wesleys (Anglican) were bound to leads to differences in theology and Christian practice at some point:
Sixteen Discourses 1740
Sermons on the Godhead of Lamb 1742
Manual of Doctrine Part 1 1742
Manual of Doctrine Part 2 1742
Sermons on Redemption 1744
Exposition of Matters Objected against Moravians 1755

In 1742 the Rev. Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) of New Jersey had conversations with Zinzendorf. He later published a tract outlining what he saw as the Moravian’s core principles:
Principles of the Moravians 1743

Johann Arndt   1555-1621
Arndt was a German Lutheran theologian who wrote several influential books on authentic Christian faith. Although he lived during the period of Lutheran Orthodoxy, he is seen by many as a forerunner of Pietism in the late 17th century. His work True Christianity was one of the most popular books in the 17th century, having been reissued many times and published in several languages. John Wesley began to read Arndt in the spring of 1736. When he began to publish his 50 volume Christian Library in 1749, Wesley included an extract of Arndt’s True Christianity in the first volume, thereby showing the value he placed on the work.
True Christianity Books 1 & 2 1809
True Christianity Books I-IV 1868

August Hermann Francke    1663-1727
Francke was a German Lutheran clergyman, social reformer, Biblical scholar, and a principle promoter of German Pietism. He taught Greek and Oriental Languages at the University of Halle. Drawing upon his own conversion experience, Francke popularized the need for a deep inward struggle (Busskampf) in preparation for a sudden breakthrough to salvation assurance (Durchbruch). This morphology of conversion would have an impact on the new evangelical movement, including the Wesleys and early Methodists. Francke gained widespread fame for his orphan house, which appealed to the young Wesleys, who themselves were interested in various philanthropies. The Wesleys began reading Francke’s works while at Oxford.
Pietas Hallensis 1705
Pietas Hallensis 1727
Faith’s Work Perfected – Orphan House 1868
Nicodemis – On the Fear of Man 1801
Francke’s Memoirs 1830

 
Philipp Jakob Spener   1635-1705
Spener was a German Lutheran theologian who is considered the father of Pietism. A prolific writer, Spener’s main work Pia Desideria (1675) was published while a pastor at Frankfurt. It is an important historical resource for understanding the influence of Pietism on the Wesleys and early Methodism. John Wesley read the Pia Desideria in April 1738, about a month before his Aldersgate conversion. The Pia Desideria is only available in English by purchase or in libraries. The German edition is listed before along with a biography on Spener by Marie Richard.
Pia Desideria (German) 1841
Richard Life & Work of Spener 1897

Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg   1704-1792
Spangenberg was a bishop in the Moravian Church. As successor to Count Zinzendorf, he helped develop international missions, as well as stabilize the theology and organization of the Moravian Church. During the voyage to Georgia in the winter of 1735/36 John Wesley had begun to question his assurance of salvation. Soon after he discussed the matter with Spangenberg, who asked Wesley directly if he had a personal assurance of salvation. This conversation began a process in Wesley’s life that eventually led to his evangelical conversion at Aldersgate in May 1738. The following book on Moravian doctrine serves as a source by which to compare Moravianism with Methodism. He also wrote a biography on Zinzendorf.
Discourse on Christian Docrtrine 1784
Life of Count Zinzendorf 1838

Johann Albrecht Bengel   1687-1752
Bengel, or better known as Bengelius, was a Lutheran clergyman, pietist, and one of the most respected Greek-language scholars in the 18th century.  His edition of the Greek New Testament and commentaries on the New Testament were highly regarded and served as primary source material for John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament (1755). Wesley relied heavily on Bengal for his commentary on the Book of Revelation. Wesley presentation of two future millenniums came from Bengel.
Gnomon of NT Matt-Acts 1862
Gnomon of NT Rom-Rev 1860
Introduction to Revelation 1757

John Gambold   1711-1771
Gambold entered Christ Church, Oxford, in 1730 and became friends with Charles Wesley who introduced him to John. He was ordained in 1733 and became vicar of Stanton Harcourt in 1735. The following year he wrote an account of his time as an Oxford Methodist. This account is found in Tyerman’s The Oxford Methodists and is located below. In 1738 John Wesley introduced Gambold to Peter Bohler and the Moravians. Gambold eventually joined the Moravian Church in 1742 and was ordained bishop in their church.
The Oxford Methodists 1736
Christianity Tidings of Joy 1741
Reasonableness & Extent Religious Reverence 1756
Martyrdom of Ignatius, A Tragedy 1773
Works of John Gambold 1789
Works of John Gambold 2nd ed 1823

James Hutton   1715-1795
Hutton was the son of a clergyman and cousin to Sir Isaac Newton. Early on, he was a bookseller by trade and published a number of Methodist writings, including the journal of George Whitefield. In 1739 he visited the Moravian settlement at Herrnhut, where he became acquainted with Count Zinzendorf. Hutton was one of the founders of the Moravian Church in England. He retired from business in 1745 and in 1749 was ordained diaconus in the Moravian Church. Hutton was a personal friend of the Wesleys and experienced evangelical conversion around the same time as they did. The Wesleys often stayed with Hutton’s parents. His Memoirs offer important information on the period surrounding the Wesleys’ conversions and their relationship with the Moravians. The editor of Hutton’s Memoirs was Daniel Benham. Hutton also wrote one of the early histories of the Moravians.
Memoirs of James Hutton 1856
Short History of the Moravians 1895

John Cennick   1718-1755
Cennick was the first Methodist lay preacher who served under the Wesleys, then with Whitefield, before joining the ranks of the Moravians as an evangelist and hymnwriter. Having been raised an Anglican, Cennick experienced evangelical conversion in 1737. His testimony of conversion has parallels with the Wesleys’ testimonies. He was a popular preacher who published a number of writings, including an autobiography of himself.
Treatise of Holy Ghost 1742
Sermon St. Paul Conversion 1744
Sermon On New Birth 1744
Sermon Gift & Office Holy Spirit 1744
Sermon On Fall & Redemption 1754
Discourses on Important Subjects 1819
Account of Edward Lee Conversion 1756
Cennick Autobiography 2nd ed 1745

Benjamin Ingham   1712-1772
Ingham was a member of the Oxford Methodists and served alongside the Wesleys in Georgia in the mid-1730s. He also traveled with John Wesley to Herrnhut in the summer of 1738. Having experienced evangelical conversion in 1737, Ingham became an effective evangelist and established more societies than he could manage. So, in 1742 he turned them over to the Moravian Brethren and joined the movement, though he retained an affinity toward Methodist principles. Later in life he was drawn toward Sandemanianism. In 1763 he published a work explaining his understanding of the gospel and where he differed from the Wesleys and Moravians.
Discourse on Faith & Hope of Gospel 1763

Quakers

George Fox   1624-1691
Although Fox was not a Pietist, the message he preached and the organization he founded (Quakers or Religious Society of Friends) fit best in the Pietist section. Fox was an English Dissenter who grew up in a Puritan home and experienced the “inner voice” of the Spirit. This became a cardinal truth of his beliefs about the Christian life. Jailed many times for his preaching in public areas (i.e. field preaching), a practice later picked up by the Wesleys and early Methodism, Fox gathered a following and in his mature years worked at organizing the movement. He traveled through Great Briton, Europe, and America spreading his message that stressed spiritual regeneration over the externals of religion. As Anglicans, the Wesleys were critical of Quaker theology that downplayed the role of the organized church and the means of grace. However, John Wesley considered Quakers to be authentic Christians. Here are Fox’s journal and letters that detail his life and ministry.
Journal of George Fox Vol 1
Journal of George Fox Vol 2
Select Letters of George Fox 1848

Robert Barclay   1648-1690
Barclay was a Scottish Quaker who was one of the eminent writers of the Quaker faith in the late 17th and 18th centuries. He joined the Society of Friends in 1667 and began soon after writing doctrinal works explaining the faith. Barclay’s Apology is one of the important works outlining the beliefs and doctrines of the Quaker tradition. John Wesley refers to him several times in his writings on matters of theology. 
Barclay Apology for True Christian Divinity 1780
Barclay Catechism & Confession of Faith 1780
Barclay On Justification 1835

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