White, Charles Edward. “Spare the Rod and Spoil the Church.” Christian History 20 no. 1 (2001): 28.
Abstract: Though Methodism thrived on big crowds, its survival depended on the discipline of small groups. When the Methodist movement began to grow, John Wesley faced the problem of dealing with converts who returned to their old ways. Many Methodists came from the lowest social classes, so nothing in their background or environment helped them live the “sober, quiet, godly lives” Wesley prescribed. Their backsliding discouraged those who were trying to follow Christ and gave Methodism’s detractors ammunition.
