| | PREMILLENNIALISM IN THE EARLY WRITINGS OF CHARLES WESLEY |
 | | One might wish to question the validity of the direct equation made between premillennialism and theological, anthropological, or social pessimism, for it is clear that not all premillennialists are socially inactive or espouse a negative "Augustinian" view of man. |
 | | It might be argued of course that this letter is not representative of Charles' general thinking on the matter, but rather bears witness to a bout of severe pessimism, perhaps brought on by his brother's and wife's recent illnesses and the death of his son, John. |
 | | Premillennialism has always had its exponents, but in general it was with the turn of the eighteenth-century that vivid belief in the literal return of Christ prior to the onset of a millennial period really began to be expounded with a clear voice. |
| wesley.nnu.edu /wesleyan_theology/theojrnl/31-35/32-1-6.htm (6911 words) |