The Poet Preacher - A Brief Memorial Of Charles Wesley The Eminent Preacher And Poet (Paperback, illustrated edition)

POET PREACHER of CHARLES WESLEY, THE EMIITENT PEEAOHER AWD POT5T. BY OHABLES ADAMS. FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS. JXtm Dork PUBLISHED BY OAELTOIT POETEB, BU2TOAY-80HOVI, TOIOIT, SCO inTEBB CHARLES WESLEY AND THE ABCHBTSHOP. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, BY OiRLTOff PORTER, in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. PEEEACE. THIS unpretending compilation is designed to supply a want in our Sabbaih-school litera ture. It has seemed to me that a memorial of Charles Wesley, canvassing the main and important facts of his career, drawn up with appropriate brevity and sprightliness, and in a shape to attract youthful readers, would be of positive use to the Church, The English biography by Jackson, which was republished at New York in 1842, and from which this little volume is principally compiled, has its value as a book for minis ters, and for the study but is quite too voluminous and cumbersome for common 6 PREFACE. readers. la fact, the spirit of the age and the American taste require that authors who would be read must be brief, and earnest, and to the point. They must be chary of side-issues, characters, and reflections deal sparingly in generalities, keep the subject of their pencilings as vividly as possible before the eye, and cease their touches as soon as the picture is finished. Such has been the endeavor in the little volume hereby submitted to the public. The story of Charles Wesley is highly instructive, and, for the most part, greatly beautiful and it is hoped that the present version of it may not be unwelcome to the youth of the land. THE EDITOR. CONTENTS. FAOX EARLY DAYS 9 COLLEGE LEFK ..... 15 THE SOCIETY. 19 MISSION TOGEORGIA 26 HOMEWARD VOYAGE 82 RELIGIOUS STATE 8T SEARCH FOE FAITH 42 SUCCESS 60 EARLIEST RESULTS 55 FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS 6 HELD PREACHING 68 OPPOSITION 7T INCIDENTS 85 PERSECUTIONS 91 THE GWYNNES 108 MARRIAGE 108 THE EARTHQUAKE 118 CORRESPONDENCE 118 SORROWS .. 128 METHODISM AND THE CHURCH 129 PAINFUL SOLICITUDE 186 RETIREMENT f 148 8 OOITCENTS. MAS LETTERS 149 LETTEBS COftTlfl UJED 158 EEMOVAL AND EFFOETS M THE FAMILY CHABLES, JHNIOB 170 THE FAMILY SAMUEL 178 THE FAMILY SABAE 182 ASSOCIATES 187 THE VESLE YAff OEDINATIONS 182 CHABLES WESLEY A POET 201 POETICAL SPECIMENS 207 PEEACHING AND SCHOLAESHIP 216 SOCIAL CEABACTEB -.. 222 BEATS 226 Illustrations, PACtB CHASLBS WBSLBT AJOT THE AEOHBISHOP 2 SOHOOI. 11 69 CH BLES WBSUET or jk MOB 94 teTM CHAKUBT AT THE PIANO 172 THE POET PEEACHEB. EAELY DATS. CHARLES WESLEY was born December 18, 1708. He was the youngest son of Kev. Samuel Wesley, rector of Epworth, and five years younger than his brother, the celebrated John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. His mother, Susanna Wesley, was a more than ordinary woman, being characterizecfcby sincere piety, a strong and well cultivated mind, elevated views of parental duly and responsibil ity, and uncommon talent and energy as a Chris tian mother. Under her tuition all her children were sever ally placed, and all were trained in accordance with the most careful rules of instruction and 10 THE POET PBEAOHEB. discipline. Never, perhaps, were children more blessed in a mother than Charles Wesley and his brothers and sisters and never did children receive more faithful attention and care with a view to their growing up in true knowledge and wisdom Nor can it be reasonably doubted that maternal influenceupon the Wesleys had much to do with shaping their future character and destiny. They were trained to habits of regularity, diligence, order, self-denial, honesty, benevolence, seriousness, and devotion, and well did they, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, reward the pious toil of their accomplished preceptress. At eight years of age Charles was sent to Westminster School, and was placed under the care of his brother Samuel, then an usher in the establishment...