Limits of a Catholic Spirit

The Limits of aCatholic Spirit presents anextraordinary, in-depth study of John Wesley's relationship with Catholicism,examining the limits to which Wesley, as an evangelical Protestant, practicedhis ideal of a Catholic spirit. Through the use of rare primary sources fromthe National Archives, Kelly Diehl Yates provides a refreshing investigationof Wesley's interaction and strained relationship with Catholicism, takingthe path less trodden in studies of his theology. While revisionist scholarsargue that Wesley proposed principles of religious tolerance in his sermon, CatholicSpirit, Yates argues that he did not expect unity between Protestants andCatholics, remaining wedded to anti-Catholic beliefs himself. By paying attentionto this previously unfilled gap in Wesley studies, Yates' exemplary historicaland critical study tackles questions which have beset Wesley scholarsfor decades, including Wesley's relationship with the Jesuits, Jacobitism, theanti-Catholic Gordon Riots of 1780, and his time in Ireland. Grounded inhistorical case studies, Yates explores these questions from a freshperspective, providing answers to these questions, and more.