History Of Methodist Reform, Volume I - Media Sabda Org

Reference has been made to Charles Wesley's intimacy with George Whitefield. It continued
unbroken, though he was as fully an Arminian in his theology and preaching as his brother John. The
latter made open proclamation against the Calvinistic theology, and as the head of the Methodists
made the rupture between them with some tartness of language. Their sweet personal relations were
afterward resumed, and Whitefield selected him to preach his funeral sermon some time before his
[13]
departure, and he fraternally complied. Charles would probably have managed the controversy
so as to prevent a separation, and as Whitefield, despite his peerless eloquence and unprecedented
success in soul-winning, had little organizing capacity, a wiser course could have been pursued at
least conjecturally. Lady Huntingdon, by her earnest sympathy and material support, gave all the
body there was to the Calvinistic Methodists. The scope of this work will not allow more than this
brief mention. His numerous biographers have done him ample justice. Like the Wesleys, he adhered
to the National Church, as did his followers to the end, availing themselves of the ambiguity of its
seventeenth article.
A brief paragraph in conclusion must dismiss Charles Wesley virtually from these pages. His
withdrawal from active official connection with the United Societies laid him open to an
impugnment of his motives from not a few of the Conference zealots. They said it was due to a loss
of zeal and true vital religion; and even Whitehead, a bosom friend and his literary executor,
confesses that he was once of this opinion; "but I have since been more perfectly informed and better
acquainted with the nature of his situation." There seems no foundation for such an imputation
whatever. A family grew up around him, during these thirty years of retirement from the itinerant
plan, and he had a weak body and poor state of health during most of his useful life. He died March
9, 1788, aged seventy-nine years and three months. He was buried at Marylebone churchyard at his
own request, eight clergymen of the National Church acting as pall-bearers. A few days before his
death he composed the following lines. They are tenderly pathetic, and comprised his whole
experience of steadfast faith. None of his lines are more familiar, and they have proved a solace to
many departing Methodist saints. Having been quiet and silent for some time, he called to his wife
and bade her write as he should dictate. It was his swan song.
"In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a sinful worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart;
O! could I catch a smile from thee,
And drop into eternity!"
*************************************