The Missionary Spirit of the Wesley Family
Is no family has the missionary spirit been more fully developed, from one generation to another, than in the Wesley family. Hence, missionary operations were largely interwoven with the early history of the Methodist denomination. John Wesley, whose name is so prominent as one of its founders, said: "The world is my parish;" and his life was in harmony with this sentiment. His maternal ancestors, as well as those on his father's side, were distinguished for the zeal, self-sacrifice, and firmness, which they manifested in the support of what they considered Bible truths. It is the manner in which the light of God's word is received, cherished, and exemplified in every-day life, and not the amount of light which shines upon our pathway, which secures the favor of God. Hence it is that many living in the dark ages of the past, and cherishing many errors, have enjoyed the blessing of God in a greater degree than others more highly favored in respect to Biblical knowledge and religious privileges. Upon this principle, the declaration of Christ to his professed people, that publicans and harlots should go into the kingdom of God before them, is made plain. Bartholomew Wesley, the distinguished John Wesley's great grandfather, was a dissenter from the established church of England, a Puritan. On this account, he became a persecuted outcast, and was not allowed to approach within five miles of any of his former parishes, or any borough town. Notwithstanding this, he continued to preach as he had opportunity, until his death. His son John, the grandfather of John Wesley, possessed the same independent, and vigorous character as his father, and was alike distinguished for his religious zeal. Not conforming to the church in the matter of ordination, he was cited before the Bishop of Bristol, to whom he vindicated his preaching by its good results, the approval of good men, and his entire devotion to it, upon which his lordship promised not to molest him. "Here," says Clark, "was a kind of epitome of Methodism." Here was planted its slowly vegetating seeds in the original members of the Wesley family. Notwithstanding the good impression made by John Wesley upon the Bishop of Bristol, he was soon imprisoned, and the remainder of his history was a series of affecting sufferings, which he bore with intrepid steadfastness. He was released from prison only to be re-imprisoned, fined, and driven from place to place, with his family, having no means of support but the charities of dissenting churches. Four times he was thrust into prison, and seven times he fled before his persecutors. But all this did not silence him. He still continued to preach to the people, until under his many trials he sunk into the grave, at the early age of thirty-four. Although a devout and able theologian, he was hunted to obscurity, his spirit crushed, and his lamp which had been lighted by divine rays was quenched by the triumphant spirit of persecution. A burial in the church was denied him, and not even a stone records his worth, or marks the place where he rests. His son, Samuel Wesley, father of Charles John Wesley, also inherited the ancestral spirit of his family. When a young man, without acquainting any one with his design, he set out on foot for Oxford, and entered Exeter College as a "poor scholar." On his arrival, he had but two pounds and five shillings in his possession. During his collegiate course, with the exception of one crown, he received no assistance from his friends, but supported himself by his pen, and by instructing others. Notwithstanding he was noted for his liberality to the poor, he left college with ten pounds in his pocket. He was laborious, devout, and not forgetful of those whom the church of the day seemed most inclined to forget—prisoners, and the wretched poor. He visited the former in the Castle, relieving their necessities, and ministering to their souls. When his sons became distinguished at Oxford for similar labors, he was able to write to them, "Go on, in God's name, in the path which your Saviour has directed you, and that wherein your father has gone before you." Later, his missionary spirit developed itself more fully in a gigantic missionary scheme, which comprehended St. Helena, India, and China, reaching even to Abyssinia, which he offered to attempt in person, if the government would sanction it, and provide a humble subsistence for his family. This offer, it seems, was not accepted. Samuel Wesley was the author of several books of merit, the most of them of a poetical nature. Meanwhile, he performed faithfully his parish labors. He was acquainted with all his parishioners, and visited them from house to house, keeping a record of his visits. His preaching was pointed, and he quailed not when it gave offense. He made no compromise with what he considered wrong; and his boldness in reproving it, subjected him to the ill-will of evil-minded persons, who frequently drummed, shouted, and fired arms under his window at night, besides injuring his cattle, and twice setting fire to his house. Once, upon some slight pretense, he was arrested, and imprisoned three months in Lincoln Castle. Here he immediately became a volunteer chaplain to his fellow-prisoners, with whom he labored daily. A prophetic anticipation of the approaching revival of the Protestant faith seemed to linger in this good man's mind, down to his last hour. When dying, he repeatedly laid his hand on the head of his son Charles, saying, "Be steady; the Christian faith will surely revive in this kingdom; you will see it, though I shall not." He said that after his death God would begin to manifest himself to his family.