Augusta Road United Methodist Church

3 weeks ago

On March 2nd, 1791, 232 years ago today, John Wesley died. His final hours were a wonder to everyone at his bedside. Earlier he had scheduled a 100-city preaching tour across three countries, at age 87. He caught a cold preaching and never recovered. On his deathbed, with a fever raging, he sang hymns and prayed. Among his final words were, "Now we have done all.” “Pray and praise!” “Farewell, farewell!” and “The best of all is, God is with us.” He told those near him to pray. Through the night he often attempted to recite a Psalm, but could say only, “I’ll praise… I’ll praise…” Wednesday morning he spoke his final word: “Farewell.”

Wesley had “accidentally got rich” several times from book sales. He added, “But I gave it away as fast as I could, lest it find a home in my pocket.” In an earlier sermon he said, “If I leave behind me £10, you and all mankind may bear witness against me, that I have lived and died a thief and a robber.” When he died in 1791, he possessed only enough to bury him. All the rest he had given away. (From Tom Fuller) ... See MoreSee Less