John Wesley:
To imagine none can teach you but those who are themselves saved from sin, is a very great and dangerous mistake. Give not place to it for a moment.
I know too many folks who think that only saints can teach them. (Of course, saints can teach, but not only saints can teach.)
my better half is a Wesley scholar and he was an interesting fellow, not unlike a more priggish William James in that he searched out many accounts/methods of mysticism, was focused on experiential-knowing, and made his own hybrid theology out of various sources including natural philosophers, too bad his followers generally haven’t followed suit reducing this rich approach to their ridiculous “quadrilateral.”
What’s ridiculous about it?
[1] Scripture: we find that we live in a story. We act the portion of the play in which heaven and earth are brought together, where Christ’s love is made manifest over and over. That’s a fairly mystical framework.
[2] Tradition: he wasn’t just talking about Church tradition. He meant anything in the world that contributes to one’s understanding of God. The natural philosophers can do that.
[3] Experience: we see what needs repair. We actively make two worlds one.
[4] Reason: we learn and think about how best to do that.
What am I missing?