Living almost in his brother John's
shadow, Charles Wesley left a legacy as strong and
sweet to the Christian community as the preaching of his brother. One of
Christianity's most prolific hymnists, his is the legacy far-better
known to those of us outside Methodist circles.
Born on December 18th 1707, Charles was
the third surviving son and eighteenth child of Samuel & Susanna Wesley.
Samuel wanted his three surviving boys to become either clergy or
scholars. While John was educated at Charterhouse, Charles and his older
brother Samuel were sent to Westminster. Charles proved not only to be a
good student but a champion defender against school bullies. In 1726 he
entered Christ Church in Oxford, and John, by now ordained and a Fellow
of Lincoln College, attempted to restrain the fun-loving ways of his
younger brother, who replied - "Would you have me become a saint all at
once?"
Equal to John in scholarship, Charles was
not as calm and level as his brother, and he suffered far more emotional
ups and downs. While at Oxford he became deeply concerned about
spiritual matters and gathered around him others who shared the same
budding feelings. Together they started what they named the 'Holy Club'
... and outsiders were soon to nickname it the 'Methodists'. John Wesley
became the leader of the little group, although Charles started it -
thus he was called the 'first Methodist'.
In 1732 George Whitefield of Pembroke
College joined the group, and a close friendship developed between
himself and the Wesleys. For the next six years all three struggled with
their spirituality and beliefs, each becoming converted to Christ in
their own time. In 1735, before his death, their father imparted a great
store of knowledge in a single piece of advise: "The inward witness,
son, the inward witness, this is the proof, the strongest proof of
Christianity."
During this time of searching the two
Wesleys journeyed to the colony of Georgia in the Americas - Charles
came home after a year, disillusioned and broken in heart. Charles' mood
and attitude had become so severe that one friend wrote that he had
become so reserved as to not communicate with friends or family. His
brother's return a year later brought him out of much of these negative
feelings.
Charles marked May of 1738 as the time of
his conversion, the last of the three to feel Christ's coming into his
life. He wrote: "I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in
hope of a loving Christ ... I saw that by faith I stood ... by the
continual support of faith I went to bed still sensible of my own
weakness, yet confident of Christ's protection."
The following day his life as a hymnist
began by writing the first of 6,000 hymns he would write throughout the
rest of his life:
Where shall my wondering soul begin?
How shall I all to heaven aspire?
A slave redeemed from death and sin,
A brand plucked from eternal fire!
How shall I equal triumphs raise
Or sing my great Deliverer's praise?
Also on the following day the strength
he'd lost through several years of illness literally began to return.
Exactly a year later he wrote the great hymn "O For a Thousand Tongues
to Sing", which he recommended for singing "on the anniversary of one's
conversion."
John and Charles, along with their friend
George Whitefield, began in earnest to preach, having become involved
with the evangelical movement of the day. They felt greatly blessed
through their work, and it was large crowds who came to hear them.
Slowly their individual roles within their "Methodist" movement began to
take shape - Whitefield was the orator, while John Wesley was the one
blessed with organizational skills. Eventually Charles settled into the
role of presiding over a local congregation - and writing hymns. The
Christian world in general may not know Whitefield or John, but through
his hymnal legacy we all know Charles, for his words continue to touch
our souls.
Charles began to publish collections of
his hymns in 1739, and they were instantly popular. Included in his
collection of works include -
Hymns and
Sacred Poems, 1739, 1740
Moral and Sacred Poems, 1744.
Hymns for
the Nativity of our Lord, 1745
Hymns on the Lord's Supper, 1745
Hymns for our Lord's Resurrection, 1746
Hymns for Ascension-Day/Hymns for Whitsunday, 1746
Hymns on the Great Festivals, 1746
Hymns for
Those That Seek, and Those That Have Redemption in the Blood of Jesus Christ, 1747
Hymns on
the Trinity, 1767
Hymnals for
"The People called Methodists" were published beginning in 1779 and
contained many Wesley texts as well as texts from other hymnists.
"In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a helpless worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope Thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart,
0, could I catch a smile from Thee
And drop into eternity!"
Although he chose a place outside the
limelight in which his brother lived and led "The People called
Methodists", history has not left Charles Wesley in anyone's shadow. His
6,000-plus hymn legacy stands as tribute to his faith and rejoicing in
his "hope in a loving Christ" that led him all his days after Christ
entered his life. His texts included in the LDS hymnal are full of
messages of joy and rejoicing - and isn't that what every heart needs?
Let us follow Charles Wesley's admonition:
"Lift up
your Heart, lift up your Voice,
Rejoice, again, I say, Rejoice."
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(See Author
Index for Wesley texts used in LDS hymnals.)
