The Conversion of Charles Wesley

It is on this date in 1738 that Charles Wesley (December 18, 

1707 -- March 29, 1788) records his conversion to true Christian Faith.  He was the eighteenth child of Susanna Wesley and Samuel Wesley.  They had nineteen altogether, ten of those children survived infancy.

Charles attended Oxford University and was one of the founders of The Holy Club, the forerunner of the Methodist movement.  He was ordained in the Church of England in 1735 and he followed his brother John to America that same year.  He went to the Georgia colony at the invitation of the governor, General James Oglethorpe, to serve as the secretary of Indian affairs.  While in the colony, Charles reported being shot at, slandered, being dreadfully ill and being shunned even by General Oglethorpe. 

Returning to England in a state of great discouragement, he met the Moravians.  He taught English to one of their leaders, Peter Böhler.  Böhler in turn encouraged Charles to examine his heart more thoroughly.  Falling ill in May of 1738 Wesley began studying a commentary on the book of Galatians by Martin Luther.  His diary entry for this date says, “I labored, waited, and prayed to feel 'who loved me, and gave himself for me.' ”  His journal for the next few days points back to May 20 and observes, “I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoice in hope of loving Christ.”  Within two days he had written a hymn celebrating his conversion.

Charles was a scholar, perhaps a more accomplished academic than John.  He was a linguist of some repute in his day.  But we know him best as a hymn writer.  He was said to have averaged 10 poetic lines a day for 50 years. He wrote 8,989 hymns.  It was through the lyrics of these hymns that Methodists taught theology and doctrine to the masses even more than through the writings of John Wesley.  The tip of the iceberg of Charles’ hymns includes:

Arise my soul arise

And Can It Be That I Should Gain?

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Depth of Mercy, Can it Be

Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee

Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Jesus, The Name High Over All

Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

O for a Heart to Praise My God

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

Rejoice, the Lord is King

Soldiers of Christ, Arise

Sun of Unclouded Righteousness

Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose

Ye Servants of God