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.
84 SUSANNA WESLEY. the very birth of her first man-child, and before it r but a better blessing still. Mrs. Wesley's letters to her daughters are not very numerous, as of course they were at home with her, while the boys were away at school and college. She, however, wrote a very long one, in which was embodied an exposition of the Apostle's Creed, to Susanna while in London, during the year fire: that followed the "Epworth, " DEAR SUKET, January 13th, 1709-10. " Since our misfortunes have separated us from each other, and we can no longer enjoy the opportunities we once had of conversing together, I can no other way discharge the duty of a parent, or comply with my inclination of doing you all the good I can but in writing. You know very well how I love you. I love your body, and do earnestly beseech Almighty God to bless it with health, and all things necessary for its comfort and support in this world. But my tenderest regard is for your immortal soul, and for its spiritual happiness, which regard I cannot better express than by endeavouring to instil into your mind those principles of knowledge and virtue that are absolutely necessary in order to your leading a good life here, which is the only thing that can infallibly secure your happiness hereafter. "The main thing which is now to be done is to lay a good foundation, that you may act upon principles, and be always able to satisfy yourself and give a reason to others of the faith that is in you ; for anyone who makes a profession of religion only because
FIRE AND PERIL. 85 it is the custom of the country in which they live, or because their parents do so, or their worldly interest is thereby secured or advanced, will never be able to stand in the day of temptation, nor shall they -ever enter into the kingdom of Heaven. And though, perhaps, you cannot at present comprehend all I shall say, yet keep this letter by you, and as you grow in years your reason and judgment will improve, and you will obtain a more clear understanding in all things. " You have already been instructed in some of the first principles of religion : that there is one, and but one God ; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three distinct persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; that this God ought to be worshipped. You have learned some prayers, your creed and catechism, in which is briefly comprehended your duty to God, yourself, and your neighbour. But, Sukey, it is not learning these things by heart, nor your saying a few prayers morning and night, that will bring you to heaven ; you must understand what you say, and you must practise what you know ; and since knowledge is requisite in order to practice, I shall endeavour, after as plain a manner as I can, to instruct you in some of those fundamental points which are most necessary to be known, and most easy to be understood. And I earnestly beseech the great Father of spirits to guide your mind into the way of truth. " I cannot tell whether you have ever seriously considered the lost and miserable condition you are in by nature. If you have not, it is high time to begin to do it; and I shall earnestly beseech the Almighty
- Page 46 and 47: 34 SUSANNA WESLEY.
- Page 48 and 49: 36 SUSANNA WESLEY. should be always
- Page 50 and 51: 38 SUSANNA WESLEY. hardly have been
- Page 52 and 53: 40 SUSANNA WESLEY. (tithe?); and wh
- Page 54 and 55: 42 SUSANNA WESLEY. heir. Whether th
- Page 56 and 57: 44 SUSANNA WESLEY. CHAPTER VI. TRIA
- Page 58 and 59: 46 SUSANNA WESLEY. riding before hi
- Page 60 and 61: 48 SUSANNA WESLEY. authority, howev
- Page 62 and 63: 50 SUSANNA WESLEY. was the hero of
- Page 64 and 65: 52 SUSANNA WESLEY. Epworth, June 7t
- Page 66 and 67: 54 SUSANNA WESLEY. I thank God, my
- Page 68 and 69: 56 SUSANNA WESLEY. bring him in not
- Page 70 and 71: 58 SUSANNA WESLEY. 1 find I walk a
- Page 72 and 73: '60 SUSANNA WESLEY. never intoxicat
- Page 74 and 75: 2 SUSANNA WESLEY. of duty towards a
- Page 76 and 77: 64 SUSANNA WESLEY. will not), and d
- Page 78 and 79: 66 SUSANNA WESLEY. " The eternal, e
- Page 80 and 81: 68 SUSANNA WESLEY. " Epworth, " DEA
- Page 82 and 83: 70 SUSANNA WESLEY. CHAPTER VIII. FI
- Page 84 and 85: 72 SUSANNA WESLEY. One can imagine
- Page 86 and 87: 74 SUSANNA WESLEY. and asked her fo
- Page 88 and 89: 76 SUSANNA WESLEY. to his window, w
- Page 90 and 91: 78 SUSANNA WESLEY. as one of the ha
- Page 92 and 93: 80 SUSANNA WESLEY. but I have thoug
- Page 94 and 95: 82 SUSANNA WESLEY. not been preserv
- Page 98 and 99: 86 SUSANNA WESLEY. to enlighten you
- Page 100 and 101: 88 SUSANNA WESLEY. the purpose of b
- Page 102 and 103: 90 SUSANKA WESLEY. to the principle
- Page 104 and 105: 92 SUSANNA WESLEY. the Danish missi
- Page 106 and 107: 94 SUSANNA WESLEY. soon after the r
- Page 108 and 109: 96 SUSANNA, WESLEY. " Thursday, Dec
- Page 110 and 111: 98 SUSANNA WESLEY. " I am straitene
- Page 112 and 113: 100 SUSANNA WESLEY. CHAPTER X. TEAC
- Page 114 and 115: 102 SUSANNA WESLEY. rated a little,
- Page 116 and 117: 104 SUSANNA WESLEY. day, and not th
- Page 118 and 119: 106 SUSANNA WESLEY. read, alas ! yo
- Page 120 and 121: 108 SU8AXNA WESLEY. sermon read, wh
- Page 122 and 123: 110 SUSANNA WESLEY. The next event
- Page 124 and 125: 112 SUSANNA WE8LET. Both with equal
- Page 126 and 127: 114 SUSANNA WESLEY. variably preach
- Page 128 and 129: 116 SUSANNA WESLEY. body did it to
- Page 130 and 131: 118 SUSANNA WESLEY. parts of our ho
- Page 132 and 133: 120 SUSANNA WESLEY. course this let
- Page 134 and 135: 122 SUSANNA WESLEY. everything that
- Page 136 and 137: 124 SUSANNA WESLEY. failed to visit
- Page 138 and 139: ]26 SUSANNA WESLEY. any connection
- Page 140 and 141: 128 SUSANNA WESLEY. a favourable im
- Page 142 and 143: 130 SUSANNA WESLEY. so very difficu
- Page 144 and 145: 132 SUSANNA WESLEY. emerges from th
84 SUSANNA WESLEY.<br />
the very birth of her first man-child, and before it r<br />
but a better blessing still.<br />
Mrs. <strong>Wesley</strong>'s letters to her daughters are not very<br />
numerous, as of course they were at home with her,<br />
while the boys were away at school and college. She,<br />
however, wrote a very long one, in which was embodied<br />
an exposition of the Apostle's Creed, to <strong>Susanna</strong><br />
while in London, during the year<br />
fire:<br />
that followed the<br />
"Epworth,<br />
" DEAR SUKET, January 13th, 1709-10.<br />
" Since our misfortunes have separated us from<br />
each other, and we can no longer enjoy the opportunities<br />
we once had of conversing together, I can<br />
no other way discharge the duty of a parent, or comply<br />
with my inclination of doing you all the good I can<br />
but in writing.<br />
You know very well how I love you. I love your<br />
body, and do earnestly beseech Almighty God to bless<br />
it with health, and all things necessary for its comfort<br />
and support in this world. But my tenderest<br />
regard is for your immortal soul, and for its spiritual<br />
happiness, which regard I cannot better express than<br />
by endeavouring to instil into your mind those principles<br />
of knowledge and virtue that are absolutely<br />
necessary in order to your leading a good life here,<br />
which is the only thing that can infallibly secure your<br />
happiness hereafter.<br />
"The main thing which is now to be done is to<br />
lay a good foundation, that you may act upon principles,<br />
and be always able to satisfy yourself and give<br />
a reason to others of the faith that is in you ; for anyone<br />
who makes a profession of religion only because
Change language