CHAPTER IV. Charles Wesley. IN 1790, when Jesse Lee came to New England for the purpose of introducing Methodism, he stood under the Old Elm, on Boston Common, and sang: "Come, sinners, to the Gospel feast, Ye need not one be left behind, For God hath bidden all mankind." In this hymn the author, Charles Wesley, struck the keynote of the Wesleyan Revival. It was the proclamation of a salvation for all, that stirred English society to its very depths, that transformed whole communities, and that finally gave birth to Methodism. The Wesleys had been reared in the Established Church. Their father, Samuel Wesley, was for many years rector of the Church at Epworth, and there Charles was born in 1708. He was not a precocious youth, but was "exceedingly sprightly and active, and so remarkable for courage and skill in juvenile encounters that he afterwards obtained at Westminster, the title of 'Captain of the school."" He received a careful training at the hands of his remarkable mother, Susannah Wesley. It is said that she had a personal talk with each of her children on the subject of religion once a week. Charles's turn came on Saturday evening. Some of the regulations of the household sound very strict to our ears. For instance, the children were only allowed to cry under their breath. Another one was, that in addressing each other the children should always place "brother" or "sister" before the proper name. Adam Clarke says of them, that "they had the common fame of being the most loving family in the county of Lincoln." While still a youth Charles's character was severely tested. An Irish nobleman by the name of Garrett Wesley made his acquaintance, and wished to adopt him, and make him his heir. Charles appealed to his father to help him decide; but his father refused. Charles decided, finally, to decline the offer. He was destined to belong to a higher nobility. The one who was taken in his stead became the ancestor of the Duke of Wellington, of Waterloo fame. In view of Charles's future, it is interesting to read that his father, on his death-bed, repeatedly laid his hand upon his son's head and said, "Be steady; the Christian faith will surely revive in this kingdom; you shall see it, though I shall not." Wesley was a very devout young man. While a student in Oxford he and a few companions formed the "Holy Club." The object of this organization was to quicken the spiritual life of its members. They not only spent much time in meditation, prayer, and other religious duties, but they did much charitable work. They visited the prisons, taught the children of the poor, and ministered to the sick. This systematic work was probably what gained for them the name of "Methodists." Charles was the first to receive the epithet. In 1735, when John Wesley went to Georgia, Charles went with him. For a year the brothers labored most earnestly for the conversion of the Indians, but the mission proved a failure. Discouraged at the result, and ill at ease, Charles returned to London in 1736. He had found that neither mysticism, philanthropy, nor even missionary zeal, could satisfy soul-hunger. Craving he knew not what, he went to several of his friends when he reached London. They were devout men, but were not able to help him for some time. At length, however, on the twenty-first of May he received peace. The testimony of the great Hebrew hymnwriter might well have been that of Charles Wesley, "He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God." Up to this time Wesley had written very few hymns, but from this time until his death, "his facility for poetic expression never failed." As a result, the rest of David's prediction was verified: "Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord." Perhaps Wesley's first hymn after his conversion was, “And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Savior's blood?" It is without doubt a description of his own experience. No one who had not felt the joys of conversion could write so graphic an account of the change as is contained in the fourth stanza: "Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature's night; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light: Every line of the hymn throbs with the joy, love, and wonder of a new convert. Not long after this he received the living of Isingham; but his earnestness and zeal soon offended his parishioners, and he was forcibly driven from the Church. He now entered upon his life-work. His preparation was admirable. He had a strong body, a trained mind, and a consecrated heart. He knew whom he had believed, and he declared Him unto others. The Church doors having been closed against him, he preached wherever he could,-in private houses, on the streets, and in the fields. For several years he traveled almost constantly, visiting nearly every part of England and Wales. He had many thrilling experiences. He was waylaid by robbers, attacked by mobs, exposed in storms, and threatened by opponents. Yet he went on tirelessly, "To serve the present age, That was the purpose, the ambition, the ruling passion of his life. In all their work, he and his brother John insisted upon two great truths. First, that salvation was free to all; second, that every one might know that he was saved. These were revolutionary doctrines. The former was diametrically opposed to Calvinism, which was the popular creed |