THE YOUTHFUL DAYS OF JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY.
By Stephen N. Haskell
SAMUEL WESLEY'S home, the Epworth rectory, was twice fired at night by the rabble. The second time it was entirely consumed, together with its furniture, and the books and manuscripts of the rector, the family barely escaping. Mrs. Wesley was in feeble health, and, unable to climb with the rest through the windows, she was thrice beaten back from the door by the flames. Committing herself to God, she at last waded through the fire to the street. It was found that one child was missing. The father attempted several times to pass up the stairs to rescue him, but the consuming steps would not bear his weight. He returned in despair, and kneeling down upon the earth, resigned to God the soul of the child. Meanwhile, the latter waking from his sleep, and finding his chamber and bed on fire, flew to the window, beneath which two peasants placed themselves, one on the shoulders of the other, and saved him at the moment the roof fell in and crushed the chamber to the ground.9 "Come, neighbors," exclaimed the father as he received his son, "let us kneel down and give thanks unto God; he has given me all of my eight children; let the house go, I am rich enough." This child was John Wesley. In after life, he had the emblem of a house in flames engraved on one of his portraits, with this motto, "Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" This providential escape, in his sixth year, gave him an early impression that God had a special work for him to perform. His mother, partaking of the same, felt herself called upon to specially consecrate him to God. In the early life of Charles Wesley, he was also, at one time, apparently lost to the cause which he afterward espoused. While in school, Garret Wesley, of Ireland, proposed to adopt him, and settle upon him his rich estate. This proposition seems to have received the approval of Charles Wesley's father, but it was finally declined by Charles himself, who, as his brother John remarked, thus made a fair escape from fortune. The refusal of such an offer as this, by a young man who had all his days suffered the inconveniences of poverty, cannot be explained from a worldly stand-point. His subsequent history, however, throws light upon the motives which actuated him, and reveals the fact that a useful life in the cause of God was considered more desirable by him than wealth and earthly greatness. By the time the Wesley's were abroad founding Methodism, the young man who was adopted by Garret Wesley, in Charles Wesley's stead, had entered Parliament. Under George II., he became Lord Mornington, and was the grandfather of the Marquis of Wellesley, the governor-general of India, and of the Duke of Wellington, the conqueror of Napoleon. Had Garret Wesley's wish been accomplished, the hymns of Charles Wesley, as well as the name of the Duke of Wellington, might never have been known to the world. From the stand-point from which people viewed matters in those days, it would seem that of the two persons, Charles Wesley and the adopted son of Garret Wesley, the latter became the most distinguished and honored, but to us it seems otherwise. The name of Wesley is now recognized and honored in every Christian community, while that of the former is almost unknown. God preserves the reputation of those, who, seeking to do his will and to honor him, relinquish all claims to worldly distinction and fame, even though their names may be for a time covered with reproach for Christ's sake. Those whom God has called to lead out in great reforms, have never been appreciated at the time in which they lived, but afterward generations rise up and call them blessed. In the life to come, also, they will shine with the brightness of the firmament forever and ever, while the favored ones of earth who have sought only worldly honor and distinction, will be lost in darkness and death, and their names forgotten. "For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." "I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. Yet he passed away, and lo, he was not; yea, I sought him but he could not be found."