broke the windows, flooded the rooms and spoiled the goods. We were withdrawn to a small upper room in the back of the house, seeing no way to escape their violence. They first laid hold on the man who kept the Society house, dragged him away and threw him into the horse pond, and it was said broke his back. We gave ourselves unto prayer, believing the Lord would deliver us-how or when we saw not, nor any possible way of escaping. We therefore stood still to see the salvation of God. * * * In less than an hour, of above a thousand wild beasts, none were left but the guard. "Upon their revisiting us we stood in jeopardy every moment. Such threatenings, curses and blasphemies I have never heard. They seemed kept out by a continual miracle. I remembered the Roman Senators sitting in the Forum when the Gauls broke in upon them, but thought there was a fitter posture for Christians and told my companions they should take us off our knees. We were kept from all hurry and discomposure of spirit by a Divine power resting upon us. "They were now close to us on every side, and over our heads untiling the roof. A ruffian cried out, "There they are behind the curtain.' And I said, "This is the crisis.' In that moment Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm." The silence lasted for three quarters of an hour. Mr. Wesley was then promised a safe deliverance, provided he would promise never to preach again in that town. His answer was, "Ishall promise no such thing; I cannot come again at this time, but I will not give up my birthright as an Englishman of visiting what place I please of his Majesty's dominions." "The hearts of our adversaries," he goes on to say, "were turned. Whether pity for us or fear for themselves wrought strongest, God knoweth." In such labors Charles Wesley continued with his brother, during most of his remaining years until his death in the year 1788, when he was nearly fourscore years of age. Eight clergymen of the Church of England carried his body to its last resting place. On his tombstone to-day may be read the following lines: With poverty of spirit blessed, A sinner saved, through grace forgiven, By thee forgot, are crowned above; And now as to Charles Wesley's hymns. Our own poet Whittier once wrote, "A good hymn is the best use to which poetry can be devoted." As a religious poet, as a writer of hymns, Wesley is unsurpassed. He wrote them at all hours and upon all occasions; on horseback, and in bed. When he died he left behind him more than six thousand hymns of his own composition, some of them among the best in the English language. When you and I wish to sound the Advent note we cry with Charles Wesley, aided by John Cennick: 39 Lo, He comes with clouds descending, Christ, the Lord, returns to reign. Or, in other language, we sing with him: 48 Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, From our fears and sins release us; When we wish to give utterance to our feeling of Christmas joy, it is Charles Wesley who shouts for us: 51 Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the new-born King; When we wish to lift up our Easter praise, Charles Wesley being dead, yet speaketh, as he says: III Christ the Lord is risen to-day, Raise your joys and triumphs high, From the Mount of the Ascension we are taught by him to say: 132 Our Lord is risen from the dead; Our Jesus is gone up on high; It was Charles Wesley, too, who taught the world to sing: 330 Blow ye the trumpet, blow The gladly solemn sound; Let all the nations know, To earth's remotest bound, The year of jubilee is come; Return, ye ransomed sinners, home! And those other words also, so sweet and uplifting: 432 Love divine, all love excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down; Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, It was Charles Wesley who first cried aloud: 439 Oh for a heart to praise my God, A heart from sin set free; A heart that's sprinkled with the blood |