The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-03-03
CHARLES WESLEY AS A PREACHER.
Read Before Methodist Mission Epworth
League.

AS Jhuh ana CuafleS wesley were
united in heart, aim and work while
living, SO they are united in immor-
tallitg OF fame aud glory, f. John
was the head of Methodism, Charles
was the heart. Humanity speaking,
John Wesley's work would have
been failure without the luminous
minds, the heroic hearts aI8 fiery
tongues providentially prepared for
the epoch. All this as semblage Of
stalwart strength, splendid genius
and rapt piety, would have consumed
itself in the fires of fanaticism, or
chilled itself in the frOsts Of formal
ism, if a commanding mind had not
been furnished TO give coherency and
permanently to the movement. Among
the coadjutors Of John Wesley,
Charles Wesley must ever hold the
pre- eminent place These two broth
ers were DOUBLE STARS, whose light
cannot well be spared. They have
inner and organic relations that do
not appear at first sight. They OK
erted reciprocal influence which
made each a more completes instru-
ment for the working out Of the
grand and gracious designs Of Provi-
deRce. Charles was fitted for his
work as preacher by rare religious
experience. He knew from expert
ence the heayiness of mere legal ser
vice. His experience in the gloomy
dispensation of the law, with its as
ceticfsm and penance and struggle
was long and terrible. Charles Yves
ley Was the first called Methodist.
Associated with his band Of earnest
workers III Oxford University, he
diligently used all means of grace,
all self denial, all deeds Of charity,
in order to find the peace Of the Cos
pei 5|e TINS had experimental
knowledge Of the great truth, that by
the deeds Of the law cail no flesh be
justified" He learned that the law
was but the school-master to brsug
III to Christ He was hence qnal}-
fed to lead others TO H,m who is the
life, the truth and the way"
! He was Qualified to preach too, be
cause he had been made q happy
partaker OF saSiug faith. We know
not how dit erent might have been
/ the, currents Of tnodern church his
tory, if Charles Wesley's conversion
had not occurred when it did and as
/ it did His byographer tells us that
his happy conversion greatly encour-
aged bis brother John, and in a few
days, he too, rejoiced i'll like precious
faith. Without this clear trium-
phaRt conversion of Charles, John
might have stopped short of his sub
lime possibilities aud Nethodism
might have been a mere dry system
of theology. Dogma without life.
Charles was the fret preacher OF the
new falth. The true methodist evan
gelism was begun by Charles when
John was in Germany. The testi-
mony Of Charles in private and pub
lie was followed by happy CONVEX
sions, and shouts of ezultatlon. Who
eau estimate the influence opon John
Of these evaDgelistic tours Of Charles
in the glow Of his earliest love? The
effects Of the preaching OF Charles
was wonderful; and doubtless in
Auenced all the snbse quent revival
movement. The enthusiasm Of
Charles was another factor in his
equipment as preacher. A great
general is both brave and prudent, |
but more prudent than brave.
Without some coadiuto1s who are
more brave than prudent, the best
general can scarcely succeed in
difficult and perilous campaign.
Charles Wesley knew nothing Of
prudence or caution in his warfare
against the hosts of sin. He dashed
into the enemies ranks like a whirl- I
wind. Aud the incarnate wlirlwind
was needed in that heroic period. I
Marshal Ney himself was not more
brave than Charles Wesley. We
doubt if John could have won his
first victories without the dash and
laring of Charles Johns phiIo-
sophie GOODNESS needed the contact
and contagion of the flaming en-
;husiasm Of Charles.