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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68 SUSANNA WESLEY. " Epworth, " DEAR SAMMY, November 27th, 1707. " We both complain of not having often heard from each other. What foundation there is for complaints on your side I know not ; but I am apt to have written more letters to me than suspect you I have received, for you lately sent one that never came to my hands, though I was advertised of some part of the contents of it, as of you having received the Sacrament, at which I was greatly pleased, and **#* ' ' Of temperance in recreation I shall say little. I that you desire some directions how to resist temptations, and some particular advice how to prepare for the reception of the blessed Communion. do not know what time is assigned you for it, and I think your health and studies require that you should take a pretty deal of exercise. You know whether your heart be too much set upon it. If it be, I will tell you what rule I observed in the same case when I was young and too much addicted to childish diversions, which was this : never to spend more time in any matter of recreation in one day than I spent in private religious duties. I leave it to your consideration whether this is practicable by you or not. I think it is. " I am so ill, and have with so much pain written this long letter, that I gladly hasten to a conclusion, and shall leave your request about the Sacrament unanswered till I hear from you; and then, if I am in a condition to write, I will gladly assist you as well as I can. May God, in His infinite mercy, direct you in all things. " SUSANNA WESLEY."

MATERNAL SOLICITUDE. 69 About three weeks after the writing of this letter Mrs. Wesley was prematurely confined of her eighteenth child, Charles, who became the sweet singer of Methodism. This was on December 18th, 1707. The babe was a frail and almost inanimate little creature, and neither cried nor opened his eyes for several weeks. He was too fragile even to be dressed, and was kept wrapped up in wool for some time. When the moment arrived at which he should have come into the world if all had been well with his mother, he opened his He eyes and cried, and thenceforth throve tolerably. was somewhat delicate as a youth and young man, but lived to a good old age. In these circumstances Mrs. Wesley could not be expected to write letters, and there is a long gap in her correspondence with Samuel, which the father did his best to fill up.

68 SUSANNA WESLEY.<br />

" Epworth,<br />

" DEAR SAMMY, November 27th, 1707.<br />

"<br />

We both complain of not having often heard<br />

from each other. What foundation there is for complaints<br />

on your side I know not ;<br />

but I am apt to<br />

have written more letters to me than<br />

suspect you<br />

I have received, for you lately sent one that never<br />

came to my hands, though I was advertised of some<br />

part of the contents of it, as of you having received<br />

the Sacrament, at which I was greatly pleased, and<br />

**#*<br />

' ' Of temperance in recreation I shall say little. I<br />

that you desire some directions how to resist temptations,<br />

and some particular advice how to prepare for<br />

the reception of the blessed Communion.<br />

do not know what time is assigned you for it, and I<br />

think your health and studies<br />

require that you should<br />

take a pretty deal of exercise. You know whether<br />

your heart be too much set upon it. If it be, I will<br />

tell you what rule I observed in the same case when<br />

I was young and too much addicted to childish diversions,<br />

which was this : never to spend more time in any<br />

matter of recreation in one day than I spent in private<br />

religious duties. I leave it to your consideration<br />

whether this is practicable by you or not. I think<br />

it<br />

is.<br />

" I am so ill, and have with so much pain written<br />

this long letter, that I gladly hasten to a conclusion,<br />

and shall leave your request about the Sacrament unanswered<br />

till I hear from you; and then, if I am<br />

in a condition to write, I will gladly assist you as<br />

well as I can. May God, in His infinite mercy, direct<br />

you in all things.<br />

" SUSANNA WESLEY."

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