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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82 SUSANNA WESLEY. not been preserved. She wrote to him again in the autumn of the same year, as follows : " Epworth, October 1709. " MY DEAR SAMMY, " I hope that you retain the impressions of your education, nor have forgot that the vows of God are upon you. You know that the first-fruits are Heaven's by an unalienable right, and that, as your parents devoted you to the service of the altar, so you yourself made it your choice when your father was offered another way of life for you. But have you duly considered what such a choice and such a dedication imports? Consider well what separation from the world, what purity, what devotion, what exemplary virtue, are required in those who are to guide others to glory ! I say exemplary ; for low, common degrees of piety are not sufficient for those of the sacred function. You must not think to live like the rest of the world ; your light must so shine before men that they may see your good works, and thereby be led to Father which is in heaven. For glorify your my part, I cannot see with what face clergymen can reprove sinners, or exhort men to lead a good life, when they themselves indulge their own corrupt inclinations, and by their practice contradict their doctrine. If the Holy Jesus be indeed their Master, and they are really His ambassadors, surely it becomes them to live like His disciples ; and, if they do not, what a sad account must they give of their stewardship ! I would advise you, as much as possible in your present circumstances, to throw your business into a certain method, by which means you will learn to improve every precious moment, and find an unspeak-

FIRE AND PERIL. 83 able facility in the performance of your respective duties. Begin and end the day with Him who is the Alpha and Omega, and if you really experience what it is to love God, you will redeem all the time you can for His more immediate service. I will tell you what rule I used to observe when I was in my father's house, and had as little, if not less liberty than you have now. I used to allow myself as much time for recreation as I spent in private devotion ; not that I always spent so much, but I gave myself leave to go so far but no farther. So in all things else, appoint so much time for sleep, eating, company, &c. ; but, above all things, my dear Sammy, I command you, I beg, I beseech you, to be very strict in observing the Lord's Day. In all things endeavour to act on principle, and do not live like the rest of mankind, who pass through the world like straws upon a river, which are carried which way the stream or wind drives them. Often put this question to yourself: Why do I this or that ? Why do I pray, read, study, or use devotion, &c. ? By which means you will come to such a steadiness and consistency in your words and actions as becomes a reasonable creature and a good Christian. " Your affectionate mother, "Sus. WESLEY.*' Truly the mother set a high ideal before her son ; and though he did not prove to be the genius and divine of the family, she had her reward, in the way in which most human wishes are fulfilled. Samuel was always a good son and exemplary Christian, but it was John who became an apostle and a power in the world. Not the identical thing she desired from 6 *

FIRE AND PERIL. 83<br />

able facility in the performance of your respective<br />

duties. Begin and end the day with Him who is the<br />

Alpha and Omega, and if<br />

you really experience what<br />

it is to love God, you will redeem all the time you<br />

can for His more immediate service. I will tell<br />

you<br />

what rule I used to observe when I was in my father's<br />

house, and had as little, if not less liberty than you<br />

have now. I used to allow myself as much time for<br />

recreation as I spent in private devotion ;<br />

not that I<br />

always spent so much, but I gave myself leave to go<br />

so far but no farther. So in all things else, appoint so<br />

much time for sleep, eating, company, &c. ; but, above<br />

all things, my dear Sammy, I command you, I beg,<br />

I beseech you, to be very strict in observing the<br />

Lord's Day. In all things endeavour to act on<br />

principle, and do not live like the rest of mankind, who<br />

pass through the world like straws upon a river, which<br />

are carried which way the stream or wind drives them.<br />

Often put this question to yourself: Why do I this<br />

or that ?<br />

Why do I pray, read, study, or use devotion,<br />

&c. ?<br />

By which means you<br />

will come to such a<br />

steadiness and consistency in your words and actions<br />

as becomes a reasonable creature and a good Christian.<br />

" Your affectionate mother,<br />

"Sus. WESLEY.*'<br />

Truly the mother set a high ideal before her son ;<br />

and though he did not prove to be the genius and<br />

divine of the family, she had her reward, in the way<br />

in which most human wishes are fulfilled. Samuel<br />

was always a good son and exemplary Christian, but it<br />

was John who became an apostle and a power in the<br />

world. Not the identical thing she desired from<br />

6 *

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