The First Great Awakening was a period of spiritual renewal and revival that began in the 1730’s and lasted into the 1740’s. The revival associated with this period was happening in both America and Europe. An often neglected participant in The Great Awakening was Charles Wesley.
Was he a leader in the revivals associated with the Great Awakening? Charles Wesley preached extensively during The Great Awakening. He witnessed powerful transformations of both individuals and entire communities. Here are thirteen examples of the revival seen under Charles Wesley’s ministry.
These transformations were the result of direct gospel preaching and genuine spiritual conversion.
1. A Man of God
Charles was not a stranger to opposition. Part of the revival included the conversion of some of the most violent agitators.
Took several new members into the Society; and among them, the young man whose arm was broke, and (upon trial) Munchin, the late captain of the mob. He has been constantly under the word since he rescued my brother. I asked him what he thought of him. “Think of him!” said he: “That he is a man of God, and God was on his side when so many of us could not kill one man.“
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, October 25, 1743, bold added.
The entry details much of the persecution that had been occurring recently in the area. As the persecution raged, the power of God was also present.
The leader of the mob that had recently attempted to murder Charles’s brother, John Wesley, was soundly converted to the faith he once persecuted. After examining him thoroughly, they admitted this former persecutor to the Methodist society.
From attempted murder to candidate for Methodist society is a drastic change!
This is the nature of true revival. Deep, lasting, radical change. Not superficial emotionalism that is here today and gone tomorrow.
2. Constrained By Love
Charles was often threatened. But he was not dissuaded. He continued to preach under the leading of God and in His power.
Took horse some hours before day, and by ten reached Cardiff. The gentlemen had threatened great things if I ever came here again. I called in the midst of them, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?” etc. The love of Christ constrained me to speak and then to hear. The word was irresistible. After it, one of our most violent opposers took me by the hand and pressed me to come to see him. The rest were equally civil all the time I stayed. Only one drunkard made some disturbance, but, when sober, sent to ask my pardon.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, November 1, 1743, bold added.
Those who threatened were now being softened. Charles was willing to endure for the sake even of his fiercest opponents.
By his continued faithfulness Charles could witness entire communities changing their disposition toward the gospel.
Charles was willing to endure because of his love for both God and people. He was constrained by love to speak. He was also constrained by love to listen.
3. Till The Seed Takes Root
Here a little one is become a thousand. What an amazing work hath God done in one year! The whole country is alarmed, and gone forth after the sound of the gospel. In vain do the pulpits ring of “Popery, madness, enthusiasm.” Our preachers are daily pressed to new places, and enabled to preach five or six times a day. Persecution is kept off till the seed takes root. Societies are springing up everywhere, and still the cry from all sides is “Come and help us.”
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, July 17, 1744.
Here Charles remarks at the awesome work of God over the past year. God has greatly multiplied the number of Christians. The hunger is growing.
As the hunger grows, the preachers are busy. Preaching five or six times a day and travelling extensively. Charles lived by the gospel.
Also remarkable is the fact that persecution is held at bay until there is a firm foundation. A well-rooted group that can endure. Who will continue to serve as a witness for the gospel even in the midst of the storm.
4. A Notorious Drunkard
At Gloucester Lane I discoursed two hours on John 3. A notorious drunkard gave glory to God, declaring he had found mercy last night, through faith in Jesus Christ. This stirred the pharisee in a woman’s soul, and she cried out against him most vehemently. I took and turned her inside out, and showed her her spirit in those who murmured at Christ for receiving sinners. … We daily discover more and more who are begotten again by the word of God’s power, or awakened to a sense of sin, or edified in the faith.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, September 10, 1739, bold added.
This example provides some insight into how Charles viewed the revival and work of God as the gospel was being preached. It tended to have a three-fold effect.
- People are being born-again,
- People are being awakened to a sense of sin, and
- People are being edified in the faith.
This list isn’t meant to be exhaustive. But it does give insight into a leader’s perspective on the effects of the revival as it was happening. Charles was thankful for all of these effects.
5. Sowing and Watering
A big reason for the power experienced during The Great Awakening was the unified preaching efforts of so many different and diverse men of God.
It is a common mistake to focus on one, or a few individuals, as the important preacher or leader. No doubt, there were many important figures.
But these various ministers were working together for the same purpose. It wasn’t to make a name for themselves. It was to lift high the Son of God. To call people to repentance and faith in the Savior.
Mrs Esther Brook called, and told me she had been awakened (as others who now believe) by George Whitefield’s ministry; convinced of sin by Mr Bray’s; set at liberty under mine.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Saturday, September 22, 1739.
Mrs. Brook serves as an example of the sowing and watering effect. She was blessed to hear the preaching of varied ministers. Each had a different influence. They all contributed to her salvation.
As someone moved from dead, to awakened, to convicted, then finally to regenerated, Charles could see the hand of God at work in his own ministry and the ministry of others. These ministries were not separate.
They served the same God. Preached the same faith. And God received all the glory.
6. Denomination Immaterial
Charles Wesley is well-known for his ardent adherence to the Anglican Church. However, the spirit of unity with all true believers – even outside of the communion of the Church of England – was also an enduring mark of his ministry.
For example:
He followed a letter he wrote, inviting me thither. Of what denomination he is, I know not; nor is it material, for he has the mind which was in Jesus.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, October 8, 1739.
Charles wasn’t going to leave the Church of England as long as the gospel remained in the Articles and Homilies. He also fought against any actions of the Methodists which may lead to separation.
Yet, Charles was also willing to accept invitations to preach from anyone who had the mind of Jesus. This strained his relationship with the Church. But Charles was open enough to know that his brothers and sisters in Christ could also be found among the Dissenters.
Revival will not be constrained to one denomination. It will affect the whole Church. This was certainly the case during The First Great Awakening.
7. No Neuters
My late discourses have worked differently. Some are wounded, some hardened. I hear of no neuters. The word has turned them upside down.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, March 30, 1740.
Wherever the word of God is preached and received with apathy, there is no revival. When the word is preached with power it works differently.
Charles could see it in his own ministry.
Some of his hearers were wounded by the gospel. They saw their sin. They were awakened to their lost estate. They felt the weight and burden of their unrighteousness. They could then seek the salvation and perfect righteousness freely offered to them in Christ.
Others were hardened. They stumbled over the stumbling block. They opposed the word. They showed their hostility against Christ.
But none were neutral. No one was apathetic. When the gospel was preached with power it was truly an aroma either of death to death or of life to life.
8. Words Vs. Power
One of the reasons the revival of this time is remembered, while other “revivals” come and go without any lasting effect, was the emphasis on true conversion. Not a superficial pandering for “decisions.”
Charles makes it clear that his preaching was looking for souls changed by God.
Spake to the bands severally and tried if their faith could bear shaking. We have certainly been too rash and easy in allowing persons for believers on their own testimony; nay, and even persuading them into a false opinion of themselves. Some souls ’tis doubtless necessary to encourage, but it should be done with the utmost caution. To tell one in darkness he has faith is to keep him in darkness still, or to make him trust in a false light, a faith that stands in the words of men, not in the power of God.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, June 8, 1743, bold added.
This statement wasn’t popular in Charles’s day. It isn’t popular in ours, either.
But Charles wasn’t interested in inflating the numbers so they’d look good in the newsletter. He was interested in true conversion by the power of God to the praise of His glorious grace.
If we are likewise interested in seeing true spiritual revival in our own day, we should take this encouragement to heart. (For more on Charles’s methods and thoughts on evangelism, you can check out this post.)
9. Stopping The Work
Related to the quote above, Charles thought a surefire way to stop the work of God was to assure someone of their justification in human terms.
A woman told me she had received a great measure of the love of God in her heart and thought it forgiveness. I thought so too, especially as it was an immediate answer to our prayer. Upon my warning her against pride, she very innocently told me she “was never proud in all her life.” Now what madness to tell this soul so utterly ignorant of herself if she is justified. She may be so, for what I know, but for me positively to determine it would be the way, I think, to stop the work in its beginning. Several have come with the same report since I have been here. I neither reject nor receive their saying, but require their fruits and bid them go on.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Saturday, June 18, 1743, bold added.
Ministers today would do well to consider this counsel.
The Bible describes salvation as life from death. As being transferred from darkness into light. This will result in tangible, lifelong change.
The Scriptures again and again urge believers to bring forth fruit. To endure until the end. Charles required this knowing that the Scriptures also warn of those who profess Christ but who will fall away.
10. A Surprising Change
Rode to Bexley and expounded the character of wisdom, Proverbs 3. God, as it seems, is turning the heart of this people back again. A surprising change I find in walking the streets. Nothing but kind salutations, instead of my usual reception with stones and curses.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, January 1, 1744.
Charles was used to being mocked, ridiculed, opposed, and persecuted. But a surprising change was happening in Bexley. Where he was usually greeted with stones and curses, now he found only kind salutations.
According to his journal record, Charles had been in Bexley at least fifteen times between November 13, 1737 and this entry on January 1, 1744. A few entries are worth mentioning.
- October 8, 1738. Charles preached at Bexley and records that “the people were very outrageous.”
- November 8, 1738. Charles records that threats at Bexley were causing some to give up meeting Wednesday nights for fear.
- January 28, 1739. Charles records preaching twice. People walked out of both services while he preached.
- February 25, 1739. About twenty people walked out at the beginning of Charles’s sermon.
But now, on January 1, 1744, Charles was being welcomed warmly. A surprising change indeed! Fruit of genuine revival was being produced after years of faithful sowing and watering.
11. From Persecutors To Defenders
Near a hundred of the fiercest rioters were present, who a few months since had cruelly beat the sincere hearers, not sparing the women and children. They were hired by the pious minister for that purpose. Now these very men, expecting a disturbance, came to fight for me, and said, they would lose their lives in my defence. But there was no occasion for their service. All was quiet, as it generally is when Satan threatens most.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, July 20, 1746.
The sarcasm regarding the “pious minister” who hired these rioters should be noted.
The change in disposition over a few short months can only be attributed to the power of God. It shows the deep transformation characteristic of the revival.
Nearly a hundred men who were willing to beat women and children were now present to defend, even with their lives, this preacher. They were no longer persecutors. Now they were defenders.
12. God’s Great Work Begun
God has begun a great work here. The people of Tyrrellspass were wicked to a proverb; swearers, drunkards, Sabbath-breakers, thieves, etc., from time immemorial. But now the scene is entirely changed. Not an oath is heard, or a drunkard seen, among them. Aperto vivitur horto.* They are turned from darkness to light. Near one hundred are joined in Society, and following hard after the pardoning God.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, February 8, 1748, emphasis original. *The Latin phrase means “Life is lived in an open garden” or “He lives in an open garden.”
This is much more than setting up a tent and having a series of meetings.
The entire character of this place has been changed.
This place in Ireland had built a reputation for as long as anyone could remember of immorality. Now they had turned to light from their darkness. They were seeking hard after the Lord.
This truly was a great work of God.
13. False Revival
Charles Wesley wasn’t simply looking for external change. He knew superficial, external things weren’t as important as deep, spiritual change.
At present we pass through honor and good report. The chief persons of the town favour us. No wonder then that the common people are quiet. We pass and repass the streets, pursued by their blessings only. The same favourable inclination is all round the country. Wherever we go, they receive us as angels of God. Were this to last, I would escape for my life to America.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, August 22, 1748, bold added.
Many would love to be favorably received everywhere. To be honored. Blessed. To suffer no opposition.
But Charles was troubled. He says if this were to last, he would need to flee. He knew this superficial comfort was not a product of God’s work. He continues that same entry:
Many are turned from their outward sins, and if they went no farther the saints of the world would like them well enough. When the power of godliness, the forgiveness of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost is preached, many will fall off. But as yet the work is very superficial. Not one justified person have I yet found.
Ibid., bold added.
Charles had no interest in a false, superficial revival. He had no desire of a moralistic renewal that was found in the power of men.
He knew that this type of revival would be short-lived. When the full message was proclaimed, people would fall away.
Those seeking genuine revival in our day should be encouraged to likewise seek first the justification of souls through the preaching of the gospel. From this foundation lasting fruit will be produced. And, it will be accompanied by persecution.
Be prepared. Be encouraged. Endure until the end.
Related Questions
What caused The Great Awakening? This is a complicated question to which a simple answer will not suffice. However, there is an underlying principle of increased devotion to prayer and preaching the gospel which began in the hearts of some and spread to others that prevails throughout the movement. As God worked in the hearts of individuals who responded in obedient faith, God then worked in the hearts of multitudes.
Why is The Great Awakening important? Some historians consider The Great Awakening to be the most significant religious movement of the 18th century. It has permanently affected the religious landscape of two continents, both North America and Europe. It is impossible to truly understand modern religious expression without some awareness of the events of The Great Awakening that have shaped modern experience.
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