Susanna Wesley came to London in April, 1739, to spend the rest of her
days in a place that had been well prepared for her. John had found a
centre at Moorfields for his work in the metropolis. Out of a disused
Government foundry had been constructed a chapel, a house for the
lay-preachers, and apartments for himself, where he wished to have his
mother come and live with him. The new home, though but scantily
furnished, proved to her a little paradise in the communion she now
enjoyed with her son, in the easy access of all her children to her, and
in the pleasure of seeing the great work and increase of the Gospel.
Here also she received in her own soul a wonderful increase of
blessing--so much surpassing all her experience hitherto as to cause her
to make the reflection that "she had scarce heard, till then, such a
thing mentioned as the having God's Spirit bear witness with our
spirit." "But two or three weeks ago, while my son Hall was pronouncing
these words in delivering the cup to me, 'The blood of our Lord Jesus
Christ which was given for thee,' the words struck through my heart, and
I knew God for Christ's sake had forgiven me all my sins."
It caused her no apparent pain a little after to receive a letter from
her son Samuel, saying: "It was with exceeding concern and grief I heard
you had countenanced a spreading delusion, so far as to be one of
Jack's congregation. Is it not enough that I am bereft of both my
brothers, but must my mother follow too? I earnestly beseech the
Almighty to preserve you from joining a schism at the close of your
life, as you were unfortunately engaged in one at the beginning of it.
It will cost you many a protest, should you retain your integrity, as I
hope to God you will." The new joy of his mother evidently so abounded
in charity as to drown all bitterness and take away all fear of any real
separation between them.
Samuel died in the autumn of the same year, during an illness of his
mother, and John Wesley left the house that day rather than break the
sad news to her, and one of his sisters was commissioned to do it with
all gentleness. We find nothing but sweetness and hope in the letter
which Susanna Wesley was enabled to write to her son Charles:--"Your
brother was exceedingly dear to me in this life, and perhaps I have
erred in loving him too well. I once thought it impossible to bear his
loss, but none know what they can bear till they are tried. I rejoice in
having a comfortable hope of my dear son's salvation. He is now at rest,
and would not return to earth to gain the world. He hath reached the
haven before me, but I shall soon follow him. He must not return to me,
but I shall go to him, never to part more."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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