Editing John Wesley (section)

==Education==
[[File:Christ Church Cathedral Interior 2, Oxford, UK - Diliff.jpg|thumb |left |[[Christ Church, Oxford|Christ Church]], cathedral of the [[Diocese of Oxford]], Wesley's college chapel and place of ordination]]

In June 1720, Wesley entered [[Christ Church, Oxford]]. After graduating in 1724, Wesley stayed on at Christ Church to study for his [[master's degree]].{{sfn|Tomkins|2003|p=22}}

He was ordained a [[deacon]] on 25 September 1725—[[holy orders]] being a necessary step toward becoming a [[fellow]] and tutor at the university.{{sfn|Young|2015|p=61}} On 17 March 1726, Wesley was unanimously elected a fellow of [[Lincoln College, Oxford|Lincoln College]], Oxford. This carried with it the right to a room at the college and regular salary.{{sfn|Tomkins|2003|p=27}} While continuing his studies, he taught [[Greek language|Greek]] and philosophy, lectured on the New Testament and moderated daily disputations at the university.{{sfn|Tomkins|2003|p=27}} However, a call to ministry intruded upon his academic career. In August 1727, after completing his master's degree, Wesley returned to Epworth. His father had requested his assistance in serving the neighbouring cure of [[Wroot]]. Ordained a priest on 22 September 1728,{{sfn |Young|2015|p=61}} Wesley served as a parish [[curate]] for two years.{{sfn |Tomkins|2003|p=23}}

In the year of his ordination, he read [[Thomas à Kempis]] and [[Jeremy Taylor]], showed his interest in [[Christian mysticism|mysticism]],{{sfn |Wesley |Whaling |1981 |p=10}} and began to seek the religious truths which underlay the great revival of the 18th century. The reading of [[William Law]]'s ''Christian Perfection'' and ''A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life'' gave him, he said, a more sublime view of the law of God; and he resolved to keep it, inwardly and outwardly, as sacredly as possible, believing that in obedience he would find salvation.{{sfn |Law |2009}} He pursued a rigidly methodical and abstemious life, studied Scripture, and performed his religious duties diligently, depriving himself so that he would have alms to give. He began to seek after holiness of heart and life.{{sfn |Law |2009}}

Wesley returned to Oxford in November 1729 at the request of the [[Rector (academia)|Rector]] of Lincoln College and to maintain his status as a junior fellow.{{sfn |Tomkins|2003|p=31}}

===Holy Club===
{{further |Holy Club}}
During Wesley's absence, his younger brother [[Charles Wesley|Charles]] (1707–88) matriculated at Christ Church; along with two fellow students, he formed a small club for the purpose of study and the pursuit of a devout Christian life.{{sfn |Tomkins |2003 |p=31}} On Wesley's return, he became the leader of the group which increased somewhat in number and greatly in commitment. The group met daily from six until nine for [[Christian prayer|prayer]], [[psalm]]s, and reading of the Greek [[New Testament]]. They prayed every waking hour for several minutes and each day for a special virtue. While the church's prescribed attendance was only three times a year, they took [[Eucharist|Communion]] every Sunday. They [[fasting|fasted]] on Wednesdays and Fridays until [[Nones (liturgy)|nones]] (3:00&nbsp;pm) as was commonly observed in the ancient church.{{sfn |Stoughton |1878 |p=296}} In 1730, the group began the practice of visiting prisoners in [[gaol]]. The men preached, educated, and relieved gaoled debtors whenever possible, and cared for the sick.{{sfn |Iovino |2016}}

Given the low ebb of spirituality in Oxford at that time, Wesley's group provoked a negative reaction. They were considered to be religious "enthusiasts", which in the context of the time meant [[Religious fanaticism|religious fanatics]]. University wits styled them the "Holy Club", a title of derision. Currents of opposition became a furore following the mental breakdown and death of a group member, William Morgan.{{sfn |Tomkins |2003 |p=37}} In response to the charge that "rigorous fasting" had hastened his death, Wesley noted that Morgan had left off fasting a year and a half since. In the same letter, which was widely circulated, Wesley referred to the name "Methodist" with which "some of our neighbors are pleased to compliment us".{{sfn |Wesley |1931 |loc=letter 1732}} That name was used by an anonymous author in a published [[pamphlet]] (1732) describing Wesley and his group, "The Oxford Methodists".{{sfn |The Methodist Church |2011}} This ministry, however, was not without controversy. The Holy Club ministered and maintained support for Thomas Blair who in 1732 was found guilty of [[sodomy]].{{sfn|Heitzenrater|1972|p=393}} Blair was notorious among the townspeople and his fellow prisoners, and Wesley continued to support him.{{sfn |Heitzenrater|1972|p=392}}

For all of his outward [[piety]], Wesley sought to cultivate his inner holiness or at least his sincerity as evidence of being a true Christian. A list of "General Questions" which he developed in 1730 evolved into an elaborate grid by 1734 in which he recorded his daily activities hour-by-hour, resolutions he had broken or kept, and ranked his hourly "temper of devotion" on a scale of 1 to 9. Wesley also regarded the contempt with which he and his group were held to be a mark of a true Christian. As he put it in a letter to his father, "Till he be thus contemned, no man is in a state of salvation."{{sfn |Wesley |Benson |1827 |p=108}}