The Conversion of Charles Wesley: An Event or A Process?

Studying the life, preaching, and poems of Charles Wesley naturally leads to the question, when was Charles converted?

The short answer to when his conversion happened is simple. Charles Wesley records his own conversion event in his manuscript journal on Sunday, May 21, 1738. This entry describes the events of the day, culminating in a new found sense of peace with God through Christ. It also describes a new and profound awareness of his own great weakness apart from Christ.

About a month before this event, Charles had gotten into a heated argument with his brother over conversion. Whether it was a process or an event. Charles was greatly offended at his brother’s view of instantaneous conversions.

Event Vs. Process

On Tuesday, April 25, 1738, Charles records the argument.

Sang, fell into a dispute whether conversion was gradual or instantaneous. My brother was very positive for the latter, and very shocking—mentioned some later instances of gross sinners believing in a moment. I was much offended at his worse than unedifying discourse.

~Charles Wesley (Kimbrough and Newport, Manuscript Journal, 1:100)

This argument was heated. It resulted in both Charles and another participant leaving in a huff.

Mrs Delamotte left us abruptly. I stayed, and insisted a man need not know when first he had faith. His obstinacy in favoring the contrary drove me at last out of the room.

~Charles Wesley (Ibid.)

After his brother returned home, Charles stayed behind and read from the Memoirs of the Life of the Reverend Mr Thomas Halyburton. A book that, according to Charles, was “one instance, but only one, of instantaneous conversion.”

Charles would find his mind radically changed in less than 30 days at his own instantaneous conversion.

Lost Seeking The Lost

Charles begins his manuscript journal on Tuesday, March 9, 1736, two years before this argument. Charles had just arrived on St Simons Island, Georgia. He was there as a missionary and secretary to James Oglethorpe.

Both Charles and John had made the journey from England across the Atlantic. Both had formal training as clergyman in the Church of England.

Neither had been truly converted. Yet.

Charles’s conversion would come first. More than two full years after stepping on the mission field. Brother John would be converted on Wednesday, May 24, 1736. Three days after Charles.

As a missionary and as a Methodist, Charles sought to be saved by his own religious endeavors. Accordingly, he sought to encourage others to a more serious and devout religious life. 

The missionary adventure to America did not go well.

Trouble in America

The missionary adventure began with promise. Charles often battled depression. Yet, his arrival in America lifted his spirits.

Tuesday, March 9, 1736. About three in the afternoon, I first set foot on St Simons Island, and immediately my spirit revived. No sooner did I enter upon my ministry than God gave me, like Saul, another heart.

~Charles Wesley (ibid., 1:1)

This “other heart” should not be confused with his evangelical conversion. Instead, it was the hopeful testimony of a short-lived reality.

The next five months would be filled with difficulties, slanders, and tumultuous relationships. Charles did everything he could to maintain his own integrity amidst false accusations, trials, and tribulations.

Then, on Sunday, July 25, 1736 Charles resigned his position as secretary to James Oglethorpe in a letter. On Monday, July 26, Charles left Savannah.

Three Insights From The American Experiment

Three entries from Charles’s manuscript journal help to illustrate the difference between his pre- and post-conversion Christian experience.

1. Judgment

Prior to his evangelical conversion on May 21, 1738, Charles was trusting in his own religious works. Not trusting in Christ alone.

In the midst of false accusations, Charles longed for the Day of Judgment. The glorious day when all secrets would be revealed. Charles longed for this, not so that God would be glorified through Jesus Christ. He longed for it so that his own innocence could be magnified.

At the same time I feel great joy in the expectation of our Saviour thus coming to judgment, when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed, and God shall make my innocency as clear as the light, and my just dealings as the noonday.

~Charles Wesley, Thursday, March 25, 1736 (ibid., 1:12-13)

After his evangelical conversion, Charles would be much more interested in the glory of God than in his own vindication.

2. Awake

Next, we get a glimpse of the evangelism methods of Charles when a young man is badly injured in an accident.

Thursday, April 1. In the midst of morning service a poor scout-boatmen was brought in, who was almost killed by the burst of a cannon. I found him senseless and dying. All I could do was to pray for him and try by his example to wake his two companions. He languished till the next day, and died.

~Charles Wesley (ibid., 1:18)

Charles used this life and death situation to attempt to “awaken” the companions of this young man.

This was not an attempt to get them to put their faith in Christ. Instead, it was an earnest desire to get them to take religious pursuits more seriously. This approach would change after his evangelical conversion.

3. Work!

This leads to the third insight. Charles urged the religious pursuit on others because that’s what he found his hope in.

After relating a lengthy and sensitive conversation, Charles dwelt on his own humanity.

Soon after, I got some time for meditating on death, and felt an hope of being accepted through Christ.

~Charles Wesley, April 16, 1736 (ibid., 1:26)

Understanding the context of Charles’s life and ministry helps us understand his sentiment. Charles is trusting that his own religious works, done for the Church of England, will give him a hope to stand at his own judgment after death.

Charles is taking great comfort in his own works. This perceived strength is what he abandons at his genuine conversion event. He will trade his fleshly confidence for a surer confidence. A confidence truly found in Christ alone.

Back To England

After leaving Georgia, Charles sailed for Boston. After a month, Charles was aboard the Hannah headed for London.

On the way, a fierce storm arose. Charles was duty bound to encourage the fainthearted. He felt strongly that he must once again evangelize one of his companions.

Charles records his effort on October 28, 1736.

At the same time I found myself constrained in spirit to bear witness to the truth, perhaps for the last time, before my poor friend Appee. I went to him, declared the difference between one that feareth God and one that feareth him not; avowed by hope, not because I had attained but because I had endeavoured it, and testified my expectation, if God should now require my soul of me, that he would receive it to his mercy.

~Charles Wesley (ibid., 1:60-61)

Charles continued,

I only added I then hoped, if God spared him now, he would immediately set himself about the working out his salvation, which depended on the one condition of exchanging this world for the next.

~Charles Wesley (ibid., 1:61)

Charles trusted in his own works and sincerity. He sought to get others to do the same. Endeavoring to live a new life in the power of their own flesh.

After his evangelical conversion, Charles would put no trust in his own efforts. He would trust in Christ’s perfect righteousness alone.

The New Birth

Starting on August 25, 1737, the “new birth” begins to be a regular topic of conversation.

Eight conversations are recorded in the six month period between August 25, 1737 and February 1738 about the new birth and conversion. These conversations are often theoretical. In a few cases, Charles is seeking the conversion of others. It was February 18, 1738, when Charles would meet another powerful influence toward his own spiritual new birth.

Charles doesn’t make explicit in his journal the reason for his new interest in the new birth. However, the influence of George Whitefield seems unmistakable.

George Whitefield’s Influence

Friend and fellow Oxford Methodist George Whitefield records a general rendezvous with the Methodists at Oxford between June 21st and his arrival in London about the end of August, 1737.

Whitefield also describes the factors that led to him publishing his sermon on the new birth.

About this time [August 1737], through the importunity of friends, and aspersions of enemies, I was prevailed upon to print my sermon On the Nature and Necessity of our Regeneration or New Birth in Christ Jesus, which under God began the awakening at London, Bristol, Gloucester, and Gloucestershire.

~George Whitefield (Journals, 86)

This sermon was the talk of England. It was influencing many to think about spiritual conversion, regeneration, and the new birth in Christ. Charles was not immune.

Robbed Of His Endeavours

After six months of conversations about the new birth, Charles records praying with some scholars and a Moravian on Saturday, February 18, 1738. That Moravian was Peter Böhler.

Two days later, Charles began teaching Böhler English. Charles remarked that Böhler “talked much of the necessity of prayer and faith” (February 22, 1738).

A severe toothache gave opportunity for a direct witness from Böhler. Charles asked Böhler to pray for him. During this encounter, both Charles and Böhler are candid.

He asked me, “Do you hope to be saved?” “Yes.” “For what reason do you hope it?” “Because I have used my best endeavours to serve God?” He shook his head, and said no more. I thought him very uncharitable, saying in my heart, “What, are not my endeavours a sufficient ground of hope? Would he rob me of my endeavours? I have nothing else to trust to.

~Charles Wesley, February 24, 1738 (ibid., 1:97, bold added for emphasis)

Böhler’s Doctrine of Faith

Shortly after considering Böhler uncharitable for his comments on February 24, Charles records on April 19 his “satisfaction of once more meeting that man of God, Peter Böhler.”

It was on April 25 that Charles and his brother engaged in their heated debate on conversion (see Event Vs. Process above). Three days later, Charles once again fell ill.

Having disappointed God in his last visitation, he has now again brought me to the bed of sickness. … In the morning Dr Cockburn came to see me; and a better physician, Peter Böhler, whom God had detained in England for my good.

Charles Wesley, April 28, 1738 (ibid., 1:100)

Böhler once again testified of Charles’s need of spiritual conversion and true saving faith.

He stood by my bedside, and prayed over me, that now I might see the divine intention in this and my late illness. 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 (ibid., emphasis in original)

Seeking Faith

Charles began seeking in earnest. He began encouraging others to do the same.

Monday, May 1. 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 (ibid., 1:100-1)

This internal wrestling was causing Charles to examine his previous experiences and doctrines, in addition to the doctrine of his Moravian friend.

Charles continued to search for what he thought he had before but now knows he never possessed. God provided another witness: Mr Bray.

A Poor Ignorant Mechanic

Charles describes meeting Mr Bray on Thursday, May 11:

I was just going to remove to old Mr Hutton’s when God sent Mr Bray to me, a poor ignorant mechanic, who knows nothing but Christ—yet by knowing him, knows and discerns all things.

~Charles Wesley (ibid., 1:101)

Mr Bray was pleased to continue in fervent prayer, study, and encouragement with and for Charles during this important time.

Although Bray expressed some concern at the length of time it was taking for Charles to find the faith he was seeking, Bray was a steady participant until Charles’s conversion event on May 21.

Finding The Key

On May 17, 1738, Charles experienced victory over sin through Christ and discovered the truth of the gospel in plain sight.

Charles had long wrestled with his own powerlessness over sin. Lamented over it often. To find some power external to his own strivings through Christ was no small discovery.

Additionally, Charles discovered the gospel in Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians.

I marveled that we were so soon, and so entirely, removed from him that called us into the grace of Christ unto another gospel. 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 (ibid., 1:104)

They key had been hiding in plain sight. Charles continued to wrestle and seek after saving faith in Christ. He would find it less than a week later.

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 holiness.

~Charles Wesley, May 17, 1738

The Day of Pentecost

On Sunday, May 21, 1738, Charles Wesley believed the gospel. He laid hold of Christ by faith. He was converted. Born-again. Saved by grace through faith to the glory of God.

I now found myself at peace with God and rejoiced in the hope of loving Christ. My temper for the rest of the day was mistrust of my own great, but before unknown, weakness. I saw that by faith I stood; by the continual support of faith, which kept me from falling, though of myself I am ever sinking into sin.

~Charles Wesley (ibid., 1:108)

Charles had given up his trust in his own religious endeavors. What he had previously found great encouragement in, he now recognized was a great weakness.

Now he trusted in Christ alone. By faith.

That was Sunday.

On Monday, Charles remarked in the past tense about “what God had done for my soul” in his conversion. On Tuesday , Charles records beginning to write “an hymn upon my conversion.”

On Wednesday, Charles “bore my testimony with plainness and confidence, declaring what God had done for my soul.” He also rejoiced at hearing the testimony towards ten that evening of his brother John Wesley’s conversion.

Concluding Thoughts

Was Charles Wesley’s conversion an event or a process? I think the longer answer is: both. It was a lengthy process culminating in a dramatic event.

There is a clear moment where Charles came to saving faith. The moment of his conversion and new birth are evident by his own testimony.

Nevertheless, the events leading up to this life altering moment certainly played a role.

The event on Pentecost Sunday, May 21, 1738, is the defining moment of Charles Wesely’s life and the beginning on his new life in Christ.

Timeline

Born	December 18, 1707
Begins meetings with small group that would be termed “Methodists”	1729
Completed MA at Oxford	1733
Death of Samuel Wesley Sr., father of Charles	April 25, 1735
Arrives on St Simons Island, Georgia	March 9, 1736
Arrives in Boston, Massachusetts	September 24, 1736
Arrives back in London, England	December 4, 1736
Emphasis on New Birth begins	August 25, 1737
Robbed of confidence in his religious endeavors	February 24, 1738
Begins earnest search for faith in Christ	April 28, 1738
Born again Finds Christ and is Converted	May 21, 1738
Marries Sarah “Sally” Gwynne	April 8, 1749
Died	March 29, 1788