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
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