Who was Charles Wesley?

Answer

Charles Wesley (1707–1788) has sometimes been referred to as “the forgotten Wesley.” Despite being famous in his own right, Charles Wesley is often overshadowed by his older brother, John Wesley, who is considered the founder of the Methodist denomination. Charles established his own legacy as the author of some of the most memorable and lasting hymns of the church. Among his 8,989 hymns are “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” “O for a Thousand Tongues,” “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” and “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.”

Charles was born prematurely in 1707 as the eighteenth of nineteen children to Samuel and Susannah Wesley. Only ten of those children lived to adulthood, and it seemed that Charles would not be among them. As an infant, he lay ill for weeks, wrapped in a woolen blanket. However, God’s hand was upon him, and he survived, eventually joining his siblings in their daily studies of Greek, Latin, and French taught by Susannah. He then spent thirteen years at Westminster in his native England, followed by another nine at Oxford where he earned a master’s degree.

During his time at Oxford, Charles was troubled by the worldly environment. In response, he and a few classmates formed what other students referred to as the “Holy Club.” Together, Wesley and his friends partook in communion weekly and adhered to a strict regimen of spiritual activities that included early rising, Bible study, and prison ministry. Due to this disciplined routine, their peers began labeling them as “Methodists.”

Upon completing his studies, Charles Wesley, an Anglican, was ordained into the ministry, just like his brother John. The two Wesley brothers then embarked on a mission to evangelize the colony of Georgia in America. However, this endeavor subjected them to significant opposition, pain, and defeat, prompting their return to England after a year. John expressed his disappointment in his journal: “I went to America to conv

Convert the Indians, but, Oh! Who will convert me?”

That turned out to be a pivotal question in both of their lives. Charles delved more deeply into the Scriptures for his own spiritual nourishment, rather than using Bible reading as a discipline or a means by which he could earn God’s favor. It was after reading Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians that Charles’ eyes were opened to the truth of justification by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Finally, he had found the doorway to peace with God. Two days after his conversion, Charles Wesley wrote his first hymn celebrating the joy that filled his heart. Through the influence of evangelist George Whitefield, John, too, found peace with God through faith in Christ alone “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”, (Titus 3:5). The zealous evangelistic brothers had been delivered from religion and were finally saved.

At the age of 40, Charles married 20-year-old Sally Gwynne. He continued traveling, preaching, and penning the lyrics to passion-filled, doctrine-rich hymns of faith that have defined Protestant Christianity for decades. Although John is the better-known itinerant preacher, Charles also preached to nearly 150,000 people. He gradually withdrew from traveling and spent the remainder of his years writing music until he died in 1788 at the age of 81.

The story of Charles and John Wesley reflects the truth of Romans 10:2–3, which says, “They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.” Their brilliant minds sought to understand and master Christianity as a discipline rather than seeing it as a relationship made possible only through grace.

We can learn from Charles Wesley that true power and fruitfulness only come when we exhaust our efforts to serve God and simply allow His Holy Spirit to live through us: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”, (Galatians 2:20).

No condemnation now I dread,

I am my Lord’s and He is mine;

Alive in Him, my living Head,

And clothed in righteousness divine.

Amazing love! How can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

(Charles Wesley, “And Can It Be?” 1738).