Susanna Wesley
This is the story of Susanna Wesley, 1669-1742 Mother of Charles and John Wesley, who were founders of the Methodist Church. Susanna and her husband, Samuel, had nineteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. Her son Charles became a well-known hymn writer and her son John became the found of Methodism. Susanna was brought up in a Puritan home as the youngest of twenty-five children. As a teenager, she became a member of the Church of England. She became the wife of a chronically debt-ridden parish rector in an English village. She said, "I have had a large experience of what the world calls adverse fortune." Nonetheless, Susanna managed to pass down to her children Christian principles that stayed with them.
This is the story of Susanna Wesley, 1669-1742 Mother of Charles and John Wesley, who were founders of the Methodist Church. Susanna and her husband, Samuel, had nineteen children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. Her son Charles became a well-known hymn writer and her son John became the found of Methodism.
Susanna was brought up in a Puritan home as the youngest of twenty-five children. As a teenager, she became a member of the Church of England. She became the wife of a chronically debt-ridden parish rector in an English village. She said, "I have had a large experience of what the world calls adverse fortune." Nonetheless, Susanna managed to pass down to her children Christian principles that stayed with them.
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152 SUSANNA WESLEY.<br />
will be, I believe, for the most part at Wroote, as mine, if<br />
I can at Epworth, though sometimes making an exchange.<br />
The truth is, I am ipped (sic) by my voyage<br />
and journey to and from Epworth last Sunday, being<br />
lamed with getting wet, partly with a downfall from<br />
a thunder-shower, and partly from the wash over the<br />
boat. Yet, I thank God, I was able to preach here in<br />
the afternoon, and was as well this morning as ever,<br />
except a little pain and lameness, both which I hope<br />
to wash off with a hair of the same dog this evening.<br />
" I wish the rain had not reached us on this side<br />
Lincoln, but we have it so continual that we have<br />
scarce one bank left, and I can't possibly have one<br />
quarter of oats in all the levels ; but, thanks be to God,<br />
the field barley and rye are good. We can neither go<br />
afoot or horseback to Epworth, but only by boat as far<br />
as Scawsit Bridge, and then walk over the Common,<br />
though I hope it will soon be better. ... I would have<br />
your studies as little interrupted as possible, and hope<br />
I shall do a month or two longer, as I 'm sure I ought<br />
to do all I can both for God's family and my own ;<br />
and when I find it sinks me, or perhaps a little before,<br />
I '11<br />
certainly send you word, with about a fortnight's<br />
notice ;<br />
and in the meantime sending you my blessing,<br />
as being your loving father,<br />
" SAMUEL WESLEY."<br />
A few days later he wrote :<br />
" I knew John could not get between Wroote and<br />
Epworth without hazarding his health or life ;<br />
whereas<br />
my hide is tough, and I think no carrion can kill me.<br />
I walked sixteen miles yesterday ; and, thank God,<br />
this morning I was not a penny<br />
A worse."<br />
glimpse of dutiful conduct and industry on the
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