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Because King Solomon wrote in the book of Proverbs that women of virtue ought to hold our gaze and receive our praise, Susanna Wesley deserves our attention.
She was the youngest of 25 children in her family, with no education and no status as a woman in her era. Life looked bleak for the ordinary English girl. Little did London know what would become of this lawyer’s daughter who held such bold Bible-based convictions.
Susanna Annesley who later became Susanna Wesley was a stay-at-home mom of nine surviving children, though she bore 19. Though a poor pastor’s wife, Susanna lived with ardor. She transformed the means she had into masterful works of love and godliness.
She educated herself for the sake of giving herself daily to the schooling of her sons and daughters—raising two world-changing sons: a revivalist preacher, John, and a masterful hymn-writer, Charles.
She persevered in prayer and spiritual disciplines for the spiritual prosperity of her children, setting an example that provided the foundation for an entire movement, called Methodism, within Christianity.
She stoked the faith of her friends and family constantly as she read and taught God’s Word, whatever it cost her. She died to her own desires and lived to serve others.
Why? Because Susanna believed that the God of the Bible was serious, in all that he said, commanded, and promised, and she served him with a loyalty rooted in true love.
I verily think one great
reason why Christians
are so often subject to despond is that they
look more to themselves
than to their Savior.
You will say “We are great sinners.” Very true; but Christ came into the world to save sinners; he had never died if man had never sinned. If we were not sinners we should have had no need of a Savior; but God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. The greatest saints in heaven were once sinners upon earth; and the same redeeming love and free grace that brought them to glory are sufficient to bring us also thither.
I verily think one great reason why Christians are so often subject to despond is that they look more to themselves than to their Savior: they would establish a righteousness of their own to rest on, without advertising enough to the sacrifice of Christ, by which we alone are justified before God…only give me leave to add one request, which is, that you would commit your soul, in trust, to Jesus Christ, as God incarnate, in a full belief that he is able and willing to save you. Do this constantly, and I am sure he will never suffer you to perish.
Whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience,
obscures your sense of God,
takes off your relish for spiritual things, whatever increases the authority of the body over the mind,
that thing is sin to you,
however innocent it may seem in itself.
Train up a
child in the
way he
should go;
even when he is old
he will not depart from it.
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
I cannot but look upon
every soul you leave under my care as
a talent committed to me,
under a trust,
by the great Lord
of all the families
of heaven and earth.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
In his series, “Susanna Wesley: Spiritual Guide Par Excellence,” Bob Kellemen gives us a peek into Susanna’s personality. Using primary source material, he shows us how she handled her full household and the way she cared for the souls of others.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
You, O Lord, have called us to watch and pray. Therefore, whatever may be the sin against which we pray, make us careful to watch against it, and so have reason to expect that our prayers will be answered.
In order to perform this duty aright, grant us grace to preserve a sober, equal temper, and sincerity to pray for your assistance. Amen.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
I am content
to fill a little space
if God be glorified.
Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
In sure and steadfast hope to rise
And claim her mansion in the skies,
A Christian here her flesh laid down
The cross exchanging for a crown.
True daughter of affliction, she,
Inured to pain and misery,
Mourned a long night of griefs and fears,
A legal night of seventy years:
The Father then revealed his Son,
Him in the broken bread made known;
She knew and felt her sins forgiven,
And found the earnest of her heaven.
Meet for the fellowship above,
She heard the call, ‘Arise, my love,’
‘I come,’ her dying looks replied,
And lamblike, as her Lord, she died.
Written by her son, Charles Wesley
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
