This was the motto of John Wesley (1703 - 91). He was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, and was brought up to work hard. At Oxford University, he with his brother Charles and several friends formed the Holy Club to devote themselves to study, prayer, charitable works and self sacrifice. The other pleasure loving students mocked them as 'Methodists'. This later became the name of the new movement. After being ordained, Wesley was not satisfied with himself, so in 1736 he went to Georgia, in America where he met Moravians who impressed him. On returning to London and attending a Moravian chapel in 1738 he had a religious experience: 'I felt that I did trust in Christ and an assurance was given me that He had taken my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death'.
Then he began his travels preaching about his belief in personal salvation through Christ. Anglican ministers would not allow him to preach in their churches because of his tremendous fire and enthusiasm, so he preached in the open air. He went where the Church did not go in a period of great industrial change, and preached to tradesmen, miners, factory workers and farm workers. Many knew nothing about Christ.
He set up small local groups called 'classes' who met weekly to pray; a number of classes then joined together to build a chapel for services led by preachers, with preaching and hymn singing. By 1784 there were 356 chapels in places where there were no churches. Wesley wrote books on many subjects, all sold cheaply. In London where he built a chapel he ran a dispensary for the poor where everything was free. He also organised Sunday schools for children to learn to read the Bible. Wesley spoke against slavery and encouraged reform of prisons.
In 1784 the Bishop of London refused to ordain ministers to help him, so Wesley ordained them himself. The Methodist movement became independent after Wesley's death.
Wesley travelled thousands of miles on horseback over 53 years and preached 40,000 sermons. His work prevented revolution in Britain.