This article was written in 1988, which was the 250th anniversary of the conversions of John and Charles Wesley and the 200th anniversary of Charles Wesley's death. In light of the tremendous contributions these men made to Christian hymnody, RW asked Merwin Van Doornik to tell the Wesleys' story and to remind readers of some of the beautiful hymns Charles Wesley left as a legacy to Christians everywhere.
In the early eighteenth century two brothers, John (1703–1781) and Charles (1707–1788) Wesley, joined a small Christian club at Oxford University. Members of the group, who called themselves "The Holy Club," promised to assist each other with homework; read helpful books, especially the New Testament; attend Communion regularly; and pattern their lives in accordance with New Testament teachings. Other students—noting how the Wesleys and their friends organized their lives according to a schedule, or method—soon dubbed them "Methodists."
In 1735 John and Charles volunteered to serve as missionaries to Georgia, an American colony established as an alternative to prison for English debtors. When a violent storm threatened their ship during the ocean crossing, the two frightened brothers were impressed with the peace and courage of some fellow travelers, Moravians. Later, safely on shore in Georgia, the Moravian leader asked John pointedly, "Do you know Jesus Christ?" "I know that he is the Savior of the world," John replied. "True," continued the Moravian, "but do you know he has saved you?" John did not reply.
The brothers' adventures in Georgia didn't last long. Charles returned to London after only four months. John followed him a short time later, fleeing a lawsuit launched against him when he refused to serve Communion to a young woman who had spurned his attentions and married someone else.
Conversion
Although John and Charles were both ordained clergymen in the Anglican Church, neither had really come to terms yet with the question the Moravian had asked John back in Georgia: "But do you know he has saved you?"
John's eyes were opened on May 24, 1738, during an informal meeting of the Anglican Society in London. John sat with the others, listening to a reading of Luther's comments on Romans. Later he wrote: "About a quarter before nine … I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." John noted that he was influenced that day not only by Romans and Luther but also by Psalm 130, which he had heard sung that afternoon at St. Paul's Cathedral (probably to a tune by William Croft): "Out of the deep I have called unto thee, O Lord. O Lord, hear my voice."
A little-known fact is that brother Charles had had a similar conversion experience only four days earlier on Pentecost Sunday, when he "found peace with God and rejoiced in the hope of a living Christ."
Wesley Hymns
John was a preacher and a lover of music, who made many lasting suggestions for improving congregational singing (see box). Charles was the lyricist. How many hymns he actually wrote depends on how one defines a hymn. The number usually cited is 6500—though some would claim that Charles wrote as many as 8989 hymns.
Contrary to some misconceptions, Charles did not ride behind John on the same horse as the latter conducted his itinerant preaching. John traveled; Charles stayed home and supplied a poetical form to the truths they both believed. In short, Wesley's hymns stress the believer's experience rather than the great acts of God. Therefore, the table of contents in the Methodist hymnal of 1780—the Large Hymnbook, in which 487 of the 535 hymns were Wesleys'—is organized according to Christian experience rather than the Christian year or theology:
Part I: Introductory Hymns Exhorting and Beseeching Sinners to Return to God
Part II: Describing Formal and Inward Religion
Part III: Praying for Repentance, for Mourners Convinced of Sin, for those Convinced of Backsliding and those Recovered
Part IV: For Believers Rejoicing, Fighting, Praying, Watching, Working, Suffering, etc.
Part V: For the Meeting of the Society: Giving Thanks, Praying, and Parting
In contrast to the Methodists, Reformed Christians have always put a great premium on hymns that spotlight God rather than ourselves. However, we have also continued to recognize that balance is needed. Even Isaac Watts, an uncontested Calvinist, wrote, "Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all."
Although Wesley's primary focus was the Christian's experience, many of his hymns still center on God. Not surprisingly, these are the selections that appear in our hymnals. Some of Charles Wesley's valued contributions to our musical life are described in the paragraphs that follow.
"Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim" was originally written not as a hymn of praise but as encouragement for believers facing persecution. The hymn first appeared in 1744 in a small collection of thirty-three hymns titled Hymns for Times of Trouble and Persecution and was captioned "To be sung in tumult." That year was a time of great tension and confusion in England and a time of bitter persecution for those new people called "Methodists," who were strangely accused of being Roman Catholics in disguise, working undercover for the pope. Mobs broke up Methodist services and often hurled bricks, cabbages, and eggs at the preachers. Undaunted, the Wesleys maintained a noble spirit, producing the 1744 collection to buoy the spirit of their followers.
Psalm 93:1–4 and Revelation 7:11–12 are the biblical basis for this hymn. The two stanzas that are now omitted especially reveal the local circumstances:
The waves of the sea have lift up their voice,
sore troubled that we in Jesus rejoice.
The floods they are roaring, but Jesus is here.
While we are adoring, he always is near.
When devils engage, the billows arise,
and horribly rage and threaten the skies.
Their fury shall never our steadfastness shock—
the weakest believer is built on a rock.
"Rejoice, the Lord Is King", written about the resurrection, is an obvious echo of Philippians 4:4. Wesley did not appreciate the resurrection as much as he did Calvary, the ascension, and the present intercessory work of Christ. But in spite of Wesley's preferences, this is a good hymn (the tune helps), one I use with my congregation as the opening hymn each Easter morning.
Wesley's other Easter contribution, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today," (said by some to be the greatest Easter hymn ever written) makes a better conclusion than opening for the Easter morning service:
Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia!
following our exalted Head. Alleluia!
Made like him, like him we rise…
Even in this hymn, the most inspiring couplet is about the cross:
Love's redeeming work is done: Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won. Alleluia!
"Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" is, of course, one of our most popular Christmas hymns. Ironically, much of its popularity is due to Mendelssohn's tune, which the composer said would never fit religious words! One of the most God-centered of Wesley's works, this hymn piles up one scriptural phrase after another to describe the person and work of Christ. Incidentally, to my knowledge this is the only hymn in current popular usage that includes the great biblical word reconciled, a precious concept in these days of fractured friendships and fragmented families.
Calvinists and Wesleyans
Inevitably, conflict developed between Calvinists and Wesleyans. Charles Wesley's poetical indictment of Calvinism was called "The Horrible Decree." Calvinist Augustus Toplady retaliated with the hymn we know as "Rock of Ages" but which was originally called "A Living and Dying Prayer for the Holiest Believer in the World."
Today we rejoice that we have moved beyond the name calling and are able to use each other's hymns with appreciation. Albert Bailey, a competent and feisty hymnologist, remarked that "Rock of Ages" became the "number one hymn in the affection of all Christians." And today we Calvinists sing as many or more of Charles's hymns than do some Methodists.
Perhaps the magna carta for union and reunion in the body of Christ will be a hymnal, not a creed. Perhaps. Just wondering.
A Few of Charles Wesley's Best Loved Hymns
"And Can It Be That I Should Gain"
"Arm of the Lord, Awake, Awake!"
"Captain of Israel's Host"
"Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies"
"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"
"Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown"
"Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"
"Come, Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire"
"Come, Let Us with Our Lord Arise"
"Eternal Beam of Light Divine"
"Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go"
"Glory, Love, and Praise, and Honor"
"Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise"
"Hark! the Herald Angels Sing"
"Jesus, Lover of My Soul"
"Jesus, Lord, We Look to Thee"
"Let Saints on Earth in Concert Sing"
"Lo! I Come with Joy"
"Lo! He Comes, with Clouds Descending"
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling"
"Oh, for a Heart to Praise My God"
"Oh, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
"Rejoice, the Lord Is King"
"Shepherd Divine, Our Wants Relieve"
"Soldiers of Christ, Arise"
"Son of the Living God!"
"You Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim"
