Charles Wesley in Historical Context: Poet, Priest and Theologian

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Charles Wesley in Historical Context Poet,
Priest and Theologian

• Gresham College Lecture
• December 13, 2007
• Kenneth G.C. Newport

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Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
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(No Transcript)
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The Letters of Charles Wesley

• Covers whole of CWs Life
• How many?
• C. 850?
• Example Letter of Charles Wesley to his wife
  (Sarah) c. 1755

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Charles Wesleys Manuscript Journal

• Example Charles Wesley Arrives in America (1736)

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Grimalkin the Cat (Artists Impression)

• On a battle of Cats
• (MS nursery prior to 1779)
• I Sing Grimalkin brave and bold
• Who Makes Intruders Fly
• His claws and whiskers they behold
• And squall and scamper by
• Charles Wesley

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The Poetical Compositions

• c. 9000 Poetical Compositions
• c. 2,500 hymns
• Example Hark how all the Welkin Rings (Better
  known as Hark the Herald Angels Sing)

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Shorthand Journal Section

• Charles reflects on his brothers impending
  marriage

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Thomas Maxfield

• Died 1794
• First Lay preacher
• Perfection disputes
• Bells Apocalypse
• Split with Wesley in early 1760s

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Charles Report on the French Prophets (1739)

• Apocalyptic group
• Rejection of sacrament
• Charles took firm line

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Poetical Compositions

• Hymns on Gods Everlasting Love (1741)
• Anti-Calvinist
• The Horrible Decree

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For the Mahometans

• The smoke of the infernal cave,
• Which half the Christian world o'erspread,
• Disperse, Thou heavenly Light, and save
• The souls by that Impostor led,
• That Arabchief, as Satan bold,
• Who quite destroyed Thy Asian fold.
• O might the blood of sprinkling cry
• For those who spurn the sprinkled blood!
• Assert Thy glorious Deity,
• Stretch out Thine arm, Thou Triune God
• The Unitarian fiend expel,
• And chase his doctrine back to hell.

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Dr Thomas Coke1747-1814

• Ordained by Wesley, 1784
• Methodist superintendent for America

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Sermon on Acts 20.7

• Shows Charles working with his head

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CharlesSermon on John 8.1-11

• Shows Charles ability to speak to the those who
  did not have the benefits of an education

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The Sermons of Charles Wesley

• 23 Sermons
• 50 in shorthand
• Most prior to 1743

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John and Charles Wesley
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If well I know the tuneful artTo captivate the
human heartThe glory, Lord, be thineA servant
of thy perfect willI here devote my utmost
skillTo sing thy praise divine Charles
Wesley, 1707-1788