The Life and Times of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. I - Enter His Rest

fellows, had need to repent as in dust and ashes, and to seek, through
Christ, the forgiveness of his sins and a change of heart.
But leaving this, we turn to another important matter. There is no
evidence to show, that, when Wesley went to Oxford, he intended or
wished to become a minister of the Established Church; it might be so, but
it might be otherwise. It is true that, by obtaining ordination, he would
become entitled to one of the Church livings at the disposal of the
Charterhouse governors; but Wesley was far too noble and too high
principled to seek admission into so sacred an office as the Christian
ministry merely to secure for himself a crust of bread. He might intend to
devote himself, like his brother Samuel, to tutorship; or he might
contemplate some other mode of maintenance. Certain it is, that it was not
until about the beginning of 1725, when he had been more than four years
at college, that he expressed a wish to become a minister of Christ. The
matter was properly submitted to his parents, and both gave him the best
advice they could.
His father told him that his principal motive for entering the ministry
must be, not, "as Eli's sons, to eat a piece of bread," but the glory of God,
and the good of men; and that, as a qualification for its sacred functions,
he ought to have a thorough knowledge of the Holy Scriptures in their
original languages. He was, however, not in haste for his going into
orders, and would give him further advice at some future time.
On February 23, 1725, his mother wrote to him as follows:—
"DEAR JACKY,—The alteration of your temper has occasioned
me much speculation. I, who am apt to be sanguine, hope it may
proceed from the operations of God's Holy Spirit, that by taking
away your relish of sensual enjoyments, He may prepare and
dispose your mind for a more serious and close application to
things of a more sublime and spiritual nature. If it be so, happy are
you if you cherish those dispositions, and now, in good earnest,
resolve to make religion the business of your life; for, after all, that
is the one thing that strictly speaking is necessary, and all things