Susanna Wesley
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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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190 SUSANNA WESLEY. our language and religion. He came hither to see me, and we talked about your brothers. I told him I did not like their way of living, wished them in some place of their own, wherein they might regularly preach, &c. He replied, ' I could not conceive the good they did in London that ; the greatest part of our clergy were asleep, and that there never was a ' greater need of itinerant preachers than now ; upon which a gentleman that came with him said that my son Charles had converted him, and that my sons spent all their time in doing good. I then asked Mr. Whitfield if my sons were not for making some innovations in the Church, which I much feared. He assured me they were so far from it that they endeavoured all they could to reconcile Dissenters to our communion ; that my son John had baptised five adult Presbyterians in our own way on St. Paul's Day, and, he believed, would bring over many to our communion. His stay was short, so I could not talk with him so much as I desired. He seems to be a very good man, and one who truly desires the salvation of mankind. God grant that the wisdom of the serpent may be joined to the innocence of the dove ! " My paper and sight are almost at an end, therefore I shall only add that I send you and yours my hearty love and blessing. Service to Mrs. Berry. I had not an opportunity to send this till Saturday the 13th ult. Love and blessing to Jacky Ellison. Pray let me hear from you soon. We go in April." Whether the Halls went to London at that time for more than a brief visit is not known, nor has any intimation been found of Mrs. Wesley's knowledge of the trials her daughter had to go through, or the angelic

WIDOWHOOD. 191 manner in which she bore them. In the autumn of the same year Mrs. Wesley was again at Tiverton with her eldest son. Charles, who was very open-hearted, wrote to her fully and freely about the new lights that had dawned upon him and John, and she replied, not wishing to discourage him, but with much wonder as to what the novel ideas might be, and whither they were tending : " CHARLES, October 19th, 1738. "It is with much pleasure I find your mind is somewhat easier than formerly, and I heartily thank God for it. The spirit of man may sustain his infirmity, but a wounded spirit who can bear ? If this has been your case, it has been sad indeed. But blessed be God, who gave you convictions of the evil of sin, as contrary to the purity of the Divine nature and the perfect goodness of His law. Blessed be God, who showed you the necessity you were in of a Saviour to deliver you from the power of sin and Satan (for CKrist will be no Saviour to such as see not their need of one) , and directed you by faith to lay hold of that stupendous mercy offered us by redeeming love. Jesus is the only Physician of souls ; His blood the only salve that can heal a wounded conscience. " It is not in wealth, or honour, or sensual pleasure, to relieve a spirit heavily laden and weary of the burden of sin. These things have power to increase our guilt by alienating our hearts from God ; but none to make our peace with Him, to reconcile God to man, and man to God, and to renew the union between the Divine -and human nature. "No, there is none but Christ, none but Christ,

190 SUSANNA WESLEY.<br />

our language and religion. He came hither to see<br />

me, and we talked about your brothers. I told him I<br />

did not like their way of living, wished them in some<br />

place of their own, wherein they might regularly<br />

preach, &c. He replied, ' I could not conceive the<br />

good they did in London that<br />

;<br />

the greatest part of<br />

our clergy were asleep, and that there never was a<br />

'<br />

greater need of itinerant preachers than now<br />

; upon<br />

which a gentleman that came with him said that my<br />

son Charles had converted him, and that my sons spent<br />

all their time in doing good. I then asked Mr. Whitfield<br />

if<br />

my sons were not for making some innovations<br />

in the Church, which I much feared. He assured<br />

me they were so far from it that they endeavoured all<br />

they could to reconcile Dissenters to our communion ;<br />

that my son John had baptised five adult Presbyterians<br />

in our own way on St. Paul's Day, and, he believed,<br />

would bring over many to our communion.<br />

His stay was short, so I could not talk with him so<br />

much as I desired. He seems to be a very good man,<br />

and one who truly desires the salvation of mankind.<br />

God grant that the wisdom of the serpent may be<br />

joined to the innocence of the dove !<br />

" My paper and sight are almost at an end, therefore<br />

I shall only add that I send you and yours my<br />

hearty love and blessing. Service to Mrs. Berry. I<br />

had not an opportunity to send this till<br />

Saturday the<br />

13th ult. Love and blessing to Jacky Ellison. Pray<br />

let me hear from you soon. We go in April."<br />

Whether the Halls went to London at that time for<br />

more than a brief visit is not known, nor has any intimation<br />

been found of Mrs. <strong>Wesley</strong>'s knowledge of the<br />

trials her daughter had to go through, or the angelic

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