I’m a fan of Charles Wesley’s writings. I like to read his hymns, poems, sermons, and journal. Much was published during his lifetime. Charles also had many unpublished works. When I see quotes from Charles Wesley, they are usually the same ones quoted over and over.
Why is someone who wrote so extensively limited to so few well-known quotes? Here are twenty-one unusual quotes that you won’t see quoted very often. These quotes from Charles Wesley show a different side of his writings, life, and ministry. They help fill out Charles as a man and minister of the gospel.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.
1. Alligators
Wednesday, July 7 [1736]. Between four and five this morning Mr Delamotte and I went into the Savannah. We chose this hour for bathing both for the coolness and because the alligators were not stirring so soon. We heard them indeed snoring all around us, and one very early riser swam by with a few yards of us. On Friday morning we had hardly left our usual place of swimming when we saw an alligator in possession of it. Once afterwards Mr Delamotte was in great danger, for an alligator rose just behind him and pursued him to the land, whither he narrowly escaped.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal, bold added.
Early in his ministry, Charles Wesley served on the mission field in America. He was stationed in Georgia.
When I think about the mission field, I don’t usually think about bathing next to alligators. Do you?
For more about Charles’s thoughts on America, you can read this post: Charles Wesley on America.
2. Sailing With A Drunken Captain
What was still worse, I then had no asylum to fly from the captain, the most beastly man I ever saw, a lewd, drunken, quarrelsome fool; praying and yet swearing continually. The first sight I had of him was upon the cabin-floor, stark naked, and dead drunk.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, August 11, 1736.
Charles describes many accounts of the perils of his sailing from Georgia to Boston with this beastly captain. It’s amazing they arrived safely at their destination.
From August 11 to September 24, 1736, Charles and the entire ship were in danger of being lost due to the negligence of the captain and his drunkenness.
3. Charles Wesley, Dead?
I had no apprehension of death myself. It was reported I was dead, and published in the papers. But God had not finished (O that he had effectually begun) his work in me.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, August 6, 1740, bold added.
Charles was in frail health for much of his life.
Imagine his surprise, during one bout of illness, to see his own death reported in the papers while he was still recovering!
Charles lived almost 48 years beyond the date of this entry. You can read my post about the death of Charles Wesley here.
4. Bringing Down The House
At six went to the Society house next door to our brother [Edward] Bennet’s. Hell from beneath was moved to oppose us. As soon as I was in the desk with David Taylor, the floods began to lift up their voice. An officer (Ensign Garden) contradicted and blasphemed. I took no notice of him, and sang on. The stones flew thick hitting the desk and people. To save them and the house I gave notice I should preach out, and look the enemy in the face.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, May 25, 1743, bold added.
Charles describes in vivid detail some persecution he faced while preaching. He describes a mob of people outside a meeting house shouting and throwing stones.
Charles took the opportunity to preach out to them. He continues his description:
Satan now put it into their hearts to pull down the Society-house, and they set to their work while we were praying and praising God. It was a glorious time with us. … They pressed hard to break open the door. I would have gone out to them, but the brethren would not suffer me. They laboured all night for their Master and by morning had pulled down one end of the house. I could compare them to nothing but the men of Sodom, or those coming out of the tombs exceeding fierce. Their outcries often waked me in the night, yet I believe I got more sleep than any of my neighbors.
-Charles Wesley, ibid.
The mob began to pull down the building. They worked at it all night.
It was quite a disturbance.
Not many can claim to have preached and literally brought down a house!
5. Throwing Money
The churchwardens and others laboured in vain to interrupt by throwing dirt, hay, and money among the people.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Thursday, June 16, 1743.
Charles faced a lot of persecution from officials in the Anglican Church. They were opposed both to Charles and the official teachings of the Church of England that justification was by faith, not works.
In this quote, some of the churchwardens are attempting to interrupt Charles’s preaching of the gospel.
They were throwing dirt and hay at Charles. They were also throwing money among the crowd of people. They were doing anything and everything to distract from the message.
It didn’t work.
6. Sovereign Protection
The news was soon spread through the town, and drew many to the place, who expressed their compassion by wishing all our necks had been broke. I preached out of town, in weariness and painfulness. The Lord was our strong consolation. Never did I more clearly see that not a hair of our head can fall to the ground, without our heavenly Father.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, March 14, 1744, bold added.
This quote shows a bit of Charles’s sarcastic wit. He remarks about the insults and threats of a crowd that wished them harm.
In the midst of their threats, Charles saw clearly the sovereign protection of God. Charles knew he was safe in the will of God. He believed he would remain safe until the Lord completed His work in and through Charles.
7. Correcting the Clergy
I stayed and mildly told the preacher he had been misinformed. ‘No,’ he answered, ‘it was all the truth.’ ‘Sir,’ said I, ‘if you believe what you preach, you believe a lie.’ ‘You are a liar,’ he replied, and I put him in mind of the great day, testified my good will, and left him for the congregation.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, July 17, 1743.
Charles preached the gospel and attempted to correct false doctrine wherever he found it. Including error in fellow clergymen.
8. Lamenting Over Light Leaders
Their lightness had been occasioned by that poor creature, the Ordinary, who is worse than no minister at all. Six times they were forced to wake him before he got through the prayers. He might just as well read them in Latin. His life and actions are worse than ever his words.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry January 26-27, 1743, bold added.
Charles preached with boldness both within and outside the walls of church buildings. When preaching to those who considered themselves “Christian,” Charles often sought to make them more serious about their pursuit of Christ.
Charles referred to the apathetic Christian attitude as “lightness” – as opposed to the more serious, and heavy attitude he saw more fit for true, biblical Christianity.
Charles lamented leaders who instilled lightness amongst the congregation. Surely, a preacher who fell asleep six times while reading the prayers was a sorry excuse for a minister!
9. Blood A-Boiling
But such a preacher have I never heard, and hope I never shall again. It was beyond description. I cannot say he preached false doctrine, or true, or any doctrine at all, but pure, unmixed nonsense. Not one sentence did he utter that could do the least good to any one soul. Now and then a text of Scripture, or a verse quotation, was dragged in by head and shoulders. I could scarce refrain from stopping him. He set my blood a-galloping, and threw me into such a sweat, that I expected the fever to follow.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, August 5, 1751, bold added.
This quote shows some of Charles’s passion for preaching truth. He was so worked up at the hearing of this particular preacher that he assumed he’d fall sick with a fever!
Sadly, a great deal of preachers fit this same description. Speaking endlessly while saying nothing.
10. Handling Hypocrites
The woman who keeps the Society house could not be satisfied acquainting me how rich and strong she was in grace, that she could not be proud, could not be deceived, could not fall, etc. I assured her a common harlot was in a far better state. But she was above all reproof, or conviction. … God deliver us from these saints of the devil’s making! One such more hinders the work than a hundred drunkards.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, July 6, 1746, bold added.
Charles laments the effect of hypocritical “Christians” on the work of the ministry.
11. Revival
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 expected persecution. He had received plenty of it.
But he also saw communities and individuals changed. In this quote, Charles remarks on the work of God in turning people back to Him.
12. The Blessing of Opposition
Expounded with great liberty of spirit, and found the blessing of opposition.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, June 11, 1749.
Many view opposition as a discouragement. Charles viewed it as a blessing.
Opposition meant Charles was truly engaged in the ministry of the gospel.
13. Walking In God’s Will
May I never run before God’s call, or stay one moment after it.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, September 25, 1739.
Charles didn’t want to run ahead of God. He also didn’t want to lag behind.
Charles longed to keep in step with the Holy Spirit.
14. Wesley on Whitefield
The people fled before the reprobating lion. But again and again, as he observed them depart, the preacher of sad tidings called them back with general offers of salvation. Vain and empty offers indeed! What availed his telling them that for ought he knew, they might be all elect. He did not believe them all elect; he could not. Therefore, he only mocked them with an empty word of invitation; and if God sent him to preach the gospel to every creature, God, according to his scheme, sent him to deceive the greatest part of mankind.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, May 3, 1741, bold added.
Charles Wesley and George Whitefield were dear friends. They considered each other brothers in Christ.
But they had sharp disagreement on the doctrine of election and reprobation.
This scathing description shows Charles’s attitude toward the doctrine of reprobation. It also records his thoughts on the preachers of this doctrine and the implication for the character of God.
15. Smile or Frown
But let the world smile or frown, my work goes on.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, February 13, 1743.
Charles didn’t work for the world. He worked for the Lord.
No matter the response he got from the world Charles continued his work until the Lord released him from his duty.
16. Beware False Assurance
To tell one in darkness he has faith is to keep him in darkness still, or to make him trust in 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.
Charles was cautious in giving assurance without the accompanying biblical evidence. Charles understood the danger of trusting in your own sincerity and the intentions of your own, deceitful heart.
Charles spent many years trusting in his own sincerity and Christian endeavors prior to his conversion. He didn’t want anyone else to build upon a false hope.
They must trust in the power of God, not the words of men.
17. Faithful, Not Fashionable
Called on a friend, near death yet unprepared for it, and faithfully, not fashionably, told him his condition.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, December 30, 1744.
Charles preached and ministered faithfully, not fashionably.
Many are tossed here and there by winds and waves of doctrine. By the changing seasons of the culture.
Not Charles. He built his ministry on the enduring Word of God. You can read more about Charles’s thoughts and strategies in my post on evangelism.
18. Going, and Going, and Going
Began again and again, after I had, as I thought, concluded.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry, Friday, April 5, 1745.
Sounds like many modern-day preachers! Thought he was concluding then began again.
19. Comfort And Trouble
I laboured to trouble the careless, as well as comfort the troubled, hearts.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry August 15, 1745.
Charles labored to comfort troubled hearts. He also labored to trouble those who were careless about their own souls.
In all things, Charles sought to lead people to faith in Christ. He pleaded with them to be reconciled to God.
For those who thought they needed no reconciliation, Charles sought to show them they were in need. He wanted to trouble their careless hearts.
For those awakened to their need for reconciliation and their sorry condition apart from Christ, Charles sought to comfort them. To tell them a Savior had come into the world to save sinners.
20. Tolerating True Christianity
Error of every kind may meet with favour, but the world never did nor ever will tolerate real Christianity.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, September 23, 1746.
The world often accepts with pleasure worldly and perverted forms of Christianity. However, real Christianity always expects persecution.
Consider many versions of Jesus seen in Hollywood movies or in the minds of men. Many think Jesus simply preached, “love, love, love!” But you don’t crucify people for that.
21. Heart To Heart
Felt every word I spoke this morning. What comes from the heart usually goes to the heart.
-Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, June 13, 1749.
It is easy to think of Charles Wesley as a stiff, emotionless preacher. But the truth is quite the contrary!
Wesley preached with emotion and heart. He knew that when he did so, his hearers were also affected.
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