Peter Böhler and John Wesley (London, 1738)

On March 4, 1738, a young Moravian missionary, Peter Böhler, met with the Anglican priest John Wesley in London and spoke a word that proved pivotal: “Preach faith until you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.” Wesley had returned from ministry labors troubled by setbacks and inward uncertainty. Böhler’s counsel did not flatter Wesley’s feelings; it directed him to Christ. He urged Wesley to hold fast to the gospel—salvation by grace through faith—and to seek the inward witness of the Holy Spirit that confirms the believer’s standing before God.

Böhler’s guidance carried a quiet heroism. Rather than withdrawing from service until he felt strong, Wesley was called to humble obedience: to continue declaring what God has said while pleading with God to make his own heart sure. The counsel echoed the apostolic message: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith… not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). It also reflected the Spirit’s confirming work: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16).

London, the Moravians, and the Search for Assurance

London in the 1730s was a crossroads of spiritual hunger and formal religion. The Moravians, shaped by a warm, Christ-centered piety, emphasized personal trust in the Savior and a living assurance grounded in His finished work. Wesley, diligent and earnest, had labored hard, yet found that duty without settled confidence left him weary. Böhler pointed him away from self-reliance and toward the sufficiency of Christ—urging him to preach faith not as a theory, but as God’s appointed means to awaken faith in others and, by God’s mercy, to deepen it in himself.

Aftermath and Awakening

In the weeks that followed, Wesley found new assurance, and his preaching gained a clearer evangelical note. Many were awakened as the message of repentance and faith was proclaimed with renewed conviction. The moment stands as a reminder that God often strengthens His servants through timely counsel, steadfast proclamation, and the Spirit’s inward witness—so that weary hearts learn to rest in the promise: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).