Charles Wesley powerfully experienced saving faith at his conversion. He boldly preached faith in Christ from that time forward. He had many experiences with faith–both his own and in the lives of others.
What did he say about faith? Charles Wesley spoke about faith in Christ with powerful language. He saw power to justify before God and save lost sinners. He experienced growing victory and freedom over sin. He saw true healings, both physical and spiritual. He witnessed lives transformed. All by faith. Amazing faith!
Here are forty quotes from Charles Wesley on faith.
1. Never Cease Seeking
Charles Wesley was an ordained clergyman for the Church of England before he was a born-again follower of Jesus Christ. Prior to his evangelical conversion he met a man named Peter Böhler. While suffering illness again, Charles records his thoughts:
I immediately thought it might be that I should again consider Böhler’s doctrine of faith; examine myself whether I was in the faith; and if I was not, never cease seeking and longing after it till I attained it.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, April 28, 1738, emphasis original.
We’ve covered the conversion process of Charles Wesley at greater length in this post.
Here we see Charles’s attitude about seeking faith. This would be foundational in his ministry to others. He fervently sought faith. He expressed a desire to never cease seeking or longing after true saving faith until it was his.
After finding faith he would encourage others to likewise never cease seeking faith until it was theirs.
2. Labor After Faith
Charles was aware that he lacked true, saving faith. He still wanted others to find it, even if he himself didn’t yet have it.
Mr Piers called to see me. I exhorted him to labour after that faith which he thinks I have, and I know I have not.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, May 1, 1738.
Some people speak of faith in easy terms. Charles thought it was something to labor after. To strive for.
While it may be easy to believe whatever we want, this is not the faith that Charles speaks of. It’s not enough to simply believe something. There is a true, saving faith in Christ. This is worth laboring after.
3. Faith to Receive The Faith
As Charles sought and labored after the faith, he was encouraged.
Some time ago I had taken leave of Peter Böhler, confessed my unbelief and want of forgiveness, but declared my firm persuasion that I should receive the atonement before I died. His [John Bray] answer was, “Be it unto thee according to thy faith.”
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Thursday, May 11, 1738.
Charles didn’t yet have faith. But he did express faith that he would receive the faith before he died. This faith would be rewarded in just a few short weeks when Charles received the faith.
4. Faith Which Works By Love
Who would believe our Church had been founded on this important article of justification by faith alone! I am astonished I should ever think this a new doctrine, especially while our Articles and Homilies stand unrepealed, and the key of knowledge is not yet taken away.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, May 17, 1738.
Charles was astonished at his own ignorance. He had served as a minister of the Church, taught the Articles and Homilies, yet missed the key of knowledge. He missed the truth of the doctrine of justification by faith alone.
Now that he saw it, even though he didn’t yet possess true faith, his ministry changed.
From this time I endeavoured to ground as many of our friends as came in this fundamental truth, salvation by faith alone, not an idle, dead faith, but a faith which works by love, and is necessarily productive of all good works and all holiness.
Ibid., bold added.
The faith Charles preached was not an idle faith. It was a faith which worked by love. It was a faith that necessarily produced both good works and personal holiness. It was a living faith.
5. Unwillingly Preaching Faith
Shortly after his conversion, Charles continued preaching faith. He was often reluctant. Unwilling. But he did it anyway. To the glory of God.
In the evening I broke through my own great unwillingness, and at last preached faith in Christ to an accidental visitant.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, May 26, 1738.
6. Praying For Those Who Oppose The Faith
After she was gone, I was much assisted to intercede for her, and for poor Mr Broughton, who continues the very life of all those that oppose the faith.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Saturday, May 27, 1738.
The life of all those that oppose the faith is the externally religious life. A life that trusts in good works. Religious attainments. Personal piety.
Charles saw all of these things as opposing the faith. They were stumbling blocks to faith. The same ones he himself had stumbled over.
True saving faith abandoned all hope or trust in anything other than Christ’s perfect righteousness. This faith would then overflow into good works and holiness.
This distinction may seem subtle. Even nit-picky. But to Charles it was the difference between living a life of faith and living a life of opposition to the faith.
Charles prayed for those living in opposition. He interceded on their behalf that they might see the truth and repent of their error.
7. Faith and Conflicts
Today Mrs Bray related to me the manner of her receiving faith in public prayer and the great conflicts she has since had with the enemy.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, May 28, 1738.
Some people think faith is for weak-minded people. Faith only helps you get through difficult times.
This is not true. Quite the contrary!
Charles understood that true faith in Christ was opposed by the enemy. By Satan himself. This meant that true, saving faith was often accompanied by new difficulties, trials, and problems.
The faith Charles urged people to labor after and never cease seeking until they attained was a faith that brought spiritual warfare along with salvation.
8. Merit Vs. Faith
Had much talk with a lady about the fall and faith in Christ. She openly maintained the merit of good works. I would all who oppose the righteousness of faith were so ingenious, then would they no longer seek it as it were by the works of the law.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Thursday, June 8, 1738.
Charles had a lot of opportunity to discuss the difference between the righteousness of faith and the trap of trusting in self-righteousness.
9. Ready to Receive
Charles viewed faith as a gift from God. He was happy to find people ready to receive it.
In riding to Bexley with Mr Piers, I spake of my experiences in simplicity and confidence and found him very ready to receive the faith.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, June 9, 1738.
Mr. Piers had not yet experienced true faith. But he was eagerly awaiting it.
10. Feed Upon Christ
Yesterday (the devil of secrecy being expelled) Miss Betsy plainly informed me that after her last receiving the Sacrament, she had heard a voice, “Go thy way, thy sins are forgiven thee,” and was thereby filled with joy unspeakable. She said within herself, “Now I do indeed feed upon Christ in my heart by faith,” and continued all day in the spirit of humility and exultation.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, June 9, 1738.
Miss Betsy testified of an inward change. She proceeded from external religious works and she received true inward faith.
This faith was accompanied by unspeakable joy, humility, and rejoicing in the Lord.
11. God Gives Faith
Came home with the Miss Delamotte, Mrs Searle, and the man, who declared before us all that God had given him faith by hearing “the sick of the palsy are healed.” We returned hearty thanks.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, June 21, 1738.
Charles affirmed that God gives faith. He gave thanks to God when he heard testimony of someone finding faith.
12. The Unspeakable Gift
Since Charles believed faith to be a gift from God, he often prayed for God to give it and for people to receive it.
I had proof of this today after Mr Searle’s, where meeting a poor woman, and convincing her of unbelief, I used a prayer for her that God who hath chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, would now impart to her his unspeakable gift. In the midst of the prayer she received it, avowed it openly, and increased visibly therein.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Thursday, June 22, 1738.
If you’re interested, you can read more from Charles Wesley on prayer in our post linked here.
13. The Obedience of Faith
True faith is not lawless. It is obedient.
He had left town, well disposed to the obedience of faith, but now I observed his countenance altered.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Saturday, June 24, 1738.
Charles was confident when he observed obedient faith in others. When they deviated from obedient faith, Charles was concerned for them.
14. Instantaneous Faith
Those who hold to the merits of religious works often stumble over faith and salvation coming instantly. The self-righteous object to sinners being freely justified by grace through faith. It seems to them unfair. Unjust.
She accused my brother with preaching an instantaneous faith. “As to that,” I replied, “‘we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ I received it in that manner; as have above thirty others in my presence.” She started up, said she could not bear it, and ran out of the house.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, June 26, 1738.
15. No More Preparation
A man was disputing with Charles about the doctrine of justification by faith alone. He had written out an argument against on two sheets of paper.
Then he read Titus 3:5.
He became convinced of the truth and burned what he had written. The only stumbling block that remained was whether that faith could come quickly.
I asked what it was he was still stuck at. “Nothing,” said he, “but God’s giving faith instantaneously.” I replied, that alone hindered his receiving it just now, no more preparation being absolutely necessary thereto than what God is pleased to give.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, June 27, 1738.
This man lacked faith that he could receive faith in an instant. Charles told him that was the only remaining stumbling block.
16. Faith To Love and Die
We went to prayer directly, pleaded the promise, and rising, asked him whether he believed. His answer was, “Yes, I do believe with all my heart. I believe Christ died for my sins. I know they are all forgiven. I desire only to love him. I would suffer anything for him; could lay down my life for him this moment.” I turned to my scholar and said, “Do you now believe that God can give faith instantaneously?” He was too full to speak….
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, June 27, 1738.
The instant faith that Charles experienced and witnessed in others was not wishy-washy. It wasn’t superficial. It was deep and transformative.
17. God Opened The Door
A man wrote to Charles and told him that God has answered Charles’s prayers for him.
O my friend, I am free indeed! I agonized some time betwixt darkness and light. But God was greater than my heart, and burst the cloud, and broke down the partition-wall, and opened to me the door of faith.
Letter from William Delamotte, in MS Journal entry Friday, June 30, 1738.
Charles was overjoyed at God’s goodness expressed to his friend.
18. A Fire Within Me
Charles knew that faith came because of the goodness of God. Not because of the goodness of the individuals who are saved. He records someone else coming to this same realization.
I was much assisted, rose, and asked her whether she believed. “I do not know but I do. For I never found myself so in my life. So strangely warmed! Such strong beating of my heart. I seem to have a fire within me. Thought, while kneeling down, how could I expect to receive faith, when so many better than me were here?
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, June 30, 1738.
19. Cured of the Incurable
Charles heard testimony of the power of faith.
The younger daughter told me her mother many years ago had been cured of an incurable disease through faith.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Saturday, July 1, 1738.
Charles believed in the power of God. This power was often experienced through faith.
20. Perceiving The Beginning
As Charles preached instant faith the point of stumbling became more and more clear. The idea that a person could perceive the beginning of their faith was hard to grasp. For those who had been trained in formal, external religion, the idea of knowing the moment of salvation was difficult.
They believed you began a path that ended at salvation. The doctrine of justification by faith taught the opposite. It taught that you entered salvation at the moment of faith, and began a new path in salvation not to salvation.
All she stuck at was the instantaneousness of faith, or, in other words, the possibility of any one’s perceiving when the life of faith first began.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, July 7, 1738.
21. Answered Only With Tears
Charles believed that people could hinder their own receipt of the gift of faith. They could stumble over their own unwillingness to forsake everything else that they might gain the gift of God.
In walking home with Mrs Burton, I said, “Surely there must be something which you are not willing to give up, or God would have given you comfort before now.” She answered only by her tears.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, July 9, 1738.
True saving faith is free to receive. But we must be willing to lose everything else in order to gain Christ.
Many are not willing to make such a trade.
22. Healed By Faith
Charles had heard testimony of healing in others. He also experienced God’s healing power in his own life.
The pain in my side was very violent, but I looked up to Christ, and owned his healing power. … No sooner did I enter the coach than the pain left me, and I preached faith in Christ to a vast congregation with great boldness, adding much extempore.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, July 11, 1738.
Charles was healed, not only for his own comfort, but to give him strength to preach with boldness and power.
23. God Set His Seal
Found that God had set his seal to my ministry, Mr Dandy and Miss Branford declaring faith had come to them by hearing me. We rejoiced, and gave thanks from the ground of the heart.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, July 11, 1738.
Charles believed that he was an instrument in God’s hand. As Charles preached, God showed His approval of Charles’s ministry by giving the gift of faith to two of Charles’s hearers.
Charles responded by giving thanks to God from the bottom of his heart. He was pleased to be used by God in the salvation of others.
24. Cured of an Ague
Charles records another healing by faith.
In the evening met several sincere seekers at Mr Piers’s, with some who knew in whom they have believed, particularly one poor man who faith has cured him of an ague.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, July 26, 1738.
Some versions of Charles Wesley’s journal do not include this testimony. For the best and most complete journal, see our resources page.
An ague is a type of illness which includes fever and shivering. By faith, this man was healed.
25. Offended By Faith
In the coach to London I preached faith in Christ. A lady was extremely offended, avowed her own merits in plain terms, asked if I was not a Methodist, threatened to beat me. I declared I deserved nothing but hell; so did she, and must confess it before she could have title to heaven. This was most intolerable to her.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Thursday, July 27, 1738.
Charles makes it clear why his preaching on faith offended some. He was explicit that if we trust in our own merits, we deserve nothing but hell.
He also explained that a person must confess that this is what they deserve before they can ever hope to find salvation in Christ alone.
For more on Charles’s views on this, see our posts on Evangelism and The Gospel.
26. Prayer Immediately Answered For Faith
Mr Exall received faith in immediate answer to our prayers.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, July 28, 1738.
Charles prayed constantly for faith in others. Sometimes these prayers were answered immediately.
27. The Gift of God
Preached faith to a dying woman … She was satisfied God had sent us, told me I was the instrument of saving her soul. I asked, “Had you then no faith before we came?” She answered, “No, how should I? It is the gift of God, and he never gave it me till now.” Do you now think you shall be saved? “Yes,” she replied smiling. “I have no doubt of it.”
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Thursday, August 17, 1738.
Faith was a gift. Charles was the instrument God used. She had no doubt in her salvation. It was built on nothing less than the perfect righteousness of Christ. Proven acceptable by His resurrection from the dead.
28. Justification By Faith Only
I preached faith, as the only instrument of justification.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, August 21, 1738.
Preaching the gospel can make people uneasy. In particular, Charles had made one woman very uneasy after saying a person must be sure of their forgiveness.
If a person trusts in themselves, even in the smallest degree, there will be room for doubting their salvation. That’s why Charles preached faith alone as the only instrument of justification. Faith in Christ, not in anything else.
29. Power in Professing
His warmth, he told me, had returned through professing his faith.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Thursday, September 28, 1738, emphasis original.
Some believe that their faith is private. Something to be concealed within.
Charles records a man who was strengthened by professing his faith. By declaring it.
30. Asked in Faith
Prayed, pleading the promises in much bodily pain. Asked in faith that it might leave me. It did, while I was walking to James’s.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Thursday, October 12, 1738.
Charles was plagued with frequent health issues. It gave him many opportunities to lean into God by faith for healing and strength.
31. Faith Vs. Works
Preached at St Antholin’s, reconciling those who never differed–St Paul and St James.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Saturday, November 4, 1738.
Sometimes skeptics attempt to put the teaching of Paul and James against each other. This is nothing new. It results from misunderstandings about both faith and works.
Charles taught what he viewed as clear Bible doctrine. Works can never justify. Justification is by faith alone.
But not all “faith” is the same. There is a dead faith. There is a living faith. A living faith will produce good works. Only a living faith can save.
32. Pretensions to Faith
As Charles believed only true faith could save, he sought to get people to give up their pretensions of faith. Nothing short of true faith in Christ could justify.
My sister would not give up her pretensions to faith. Told me, half angry, “Well, you will know in the next world whether I have faith or no.” I asked her, “Will you then discharge me, in the sight of God, from speaking to you again? If you will, I promise never more to open my mouth till we meet in eternity.” She burst into tears, fell on my neck, and melted me into fervent prayer for her.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, November 8, 1738.
People often get tired of hearing the gospel. Especially the externally religious. When Charles’s sister Kezzy grew tired of hearing Charles preach faith in Christ, he asked her to discharge him from his responsibility to her on Judgment Day.
33. Finding Power to Believer
Charles believed that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). He testified that this was true in his experience.
Many find power to believe, either in or soon after hearing.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, October 1, 1739.
This trust in God’s word helps to understand Charles’s fervent desire to obey the command to preach the gospel to every creature.
34. Restored Faith in God’s Power
Charles had begun to lose confidence in God’s ability to save older people. His faith was renewed at the salvation of a seventy-three year old woman.
I look upon this instance as a peculiar blessing to me, for I had scarce any faith for old people. They are so strong in self-righteousness, so entrenched in their own works, so hardened by the abuse of means.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, October 3, 1739, emphasis original.
35. Faith and Temptation
During Charles’s time, there were some preaching that true faith was above being tempted.
Charles disagreed.
From our Lord’s temptation I reasoned, that our being immediately tempted is no proof of our not being baptized with the Holy Ghost; that the devil’s questioning our sonship is no disproof of it; that we may be in heaviness through manifold temptations, and yet have faith.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Tuesday, April 15, 1740.
True faith was not above temptation. However, it was able to overcome.
36. Imperfect Faith
“How then can you have faith?” “I have it not in the full proper sense. But I am in no fear. I have the full assurance of hope, and know my Saviour will give it me.” This, in my opinion, is giving up the point. Here is a lower faith, where the abiding, indwelling Spirit is not yet. And I see no necessity of denying the imperfect faith, in order to gain the perfect.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Friday, April 25, 1740, emphasis original.
While Charles would not allow for salvation being attained by this lower, imperfect faith, he also did not deny it was a form of faith. Charles expressed some hope that this lower, imperfect faith would grow to the perfect.
37. False Faith
Charles strongly objected to the notion that all faith is the same. There is a true faith. Then there is everything else. All the rest is false.
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.
Charles wasn’t interested in a faith built on the words of men. He was only interested in a faith built on the power of God.
38. Prideful Faith
Charles counseled a fellow Christian to be careful declaring people are truly in the faith.
Be not over sure that so many are justified. “By their fruits you shall know them.” … I don’t know whether we can infallibly pronounce at the time that anyone is justified. I once thought several in that state who, I am now convinced, were only under the drawings of the Father. Try the spirits therefore, least you should lay the stumbling block of pride in their way; and by allowing them to have faith too soon, keep them out of it for ever.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, June 13, 1743, emphasis original.
Charles wasn’t interested in inflating numbers of conversions to print in his newsletter. If God’s work was truly begun, it would bring forth fruit. Therefore, Charles counseled to be patient to see if persons confessing Christ would demonstrate that they are truly in the faith.
39. Faith in the Ministry
Preaching the gospel can be discouraging work. Even when some respond positively and believe, the majority reject and persist in unbelief.
After evening service we had all the islanders that were able to come. I asked, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?” About half a dozen answered “It is nothing to us”–by turning their backs. But the rest hearkened with greater signs of emotion than I had before observed. I found faith at this time that our labour would not be in vain.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Sunday, June 8, 1746.
Charles didn’t see what he wanted to see. But he saw something. He found faith in these small signs of stirring that God would bless their labor.
The next day, Charles records God powerfully working. His faith and steadfastness were rewarded.
Now the power and blessing came. My mouth and their hearts were opened. The rocks were broken in pieces, and melted into tears on every side.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Monday, June 9, 1746.
40. Lowest Mark of Faith
Charles taught plainly what the lowest mark of faith was.
I insisted largely on freedom from sin, as the lowest mark of faith, and the necessity of laboring after holiness.
Charles Wesley, MS Journal entry Wednesday, September 29, 1756.
For more on Charles’s thoughts on freedom from sin and laboring after holiness, check out our article on Christian Perfection.
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