Forsaken
Forsaken Samuel stood facing Susanna. His face had become granite and his eyes gleamed with a fierceness she had never seen before. ''Sukey,'' he demanded, ''why didn't you say amen when I prayed for King William?"'
'Because William is a usurper and has no right to the throne!'' She spoke promptly without a blink.
Samuel glared. His lips whitened. When he sucked in his breath and doubled his hands into fists, Susanna cringed. Later she described the scene in a letter she sent to Lady Yarborough on March 7, 1702.
He immediately kneeled down and imprecated divine Vengeance upon himself and all his posterity if ever he touched me or came into bed with me before I had begged God's pardon and his, for not saying Amen to the prayer for the k(in)g.!
Having sworn his vow, Samuel Wesley strode into his study, packed his saddlebags, and headed for the
"all {| NW wy, md outside door. He mounted his horse and galloped away.
The next year Samuel worked in other parishes.
This kept him away from Epworth. And since a curate had already been employed at St. Andrews, the curate took charge of the preaching.
Living alone with the children was hard. Day after day Susanna tried to find a solution to the problem.
After hours spent in prayer, she tried to convince herself that William of Orange was the rightful king.
With William's geneaology before her, she studied his family tree more closely. Going back to Charles I, she followed his line. Yes, it was plain that William III, the Prince of Orange, was a direct descendent of Charles I. But it was as plain as the dovecot outside that this Stuart connection was through Mary, who was merely a sister of Charles II and James II. And this meant that William's claim to the throne was an
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inferior claim. No, it was impossible for her to believe that William III was the rightful king!
In Susanna's mind, and according to the diagram, Mary—daughter of James II—had been the lawful queen. Both she and Samuel were agreed on that. And now that Mary was dead, the legal queen should be the second daughter of James II, Anne. Again, both she and her husband were agreed on that.
But what was she to do? Days and weeks, and then months, slipped by. The real reason for Samuel's absence was not generally known. When questioned,
Susanna always had the ready answer, '"'Samuel is convocation man in the diocese of Lincoln."'
As Susanna sought a solution, the impossible took place. King William fell when his horse stumbled. He died.a few days later on March 8, 1702. This meant that Anne, daughter of James II, was queen. Hours later, when Susanna heard the crowds singing, '"'God
Save the Queen,"' she thought her problem had been solved. But Susanna was wrong.
True, the problem that had separated Samuel from his wife was no more. But Samuel had sworn an oath, and he was determined that he would not break it.
Heartbroken, Susanna dated another letter March 15, 1702, and mailed it to her friend.
He cannot be convinced he has done ill, nor does the present change in State [William's death] make any alteration to his mind; I am persuaded that nothing but an omnipotent power can move him and there I leave it. He is in London at Easter where he designs to try if he can get a Chaplain's place in a Man of War.?
Although Samuel promised that he would take care ~ of his children, Susanna was worried. She remained firm in her belief that King William had been a
FORSAKEN
usurper; but she did agree that she would obey the decision of two referees, provided she could name one of them! Samuel, however, refused to agree; and on Easter, April 5, he left for London.
Utterly wearied and desperate, Susanna appealed to Dr. George Hickes. Dr. Hickes had lost his position as Dean of Worcester Cathedral because he had refused to swear allegiance to King William III. In her letter, Susanna was frank.
If I thought or could be persuaded I'm in error I would freely retract...and ask his pardon before the whole world. He accuses me of pride and obstinancy and insists upon my making satisfaction for the injury he believes I've done him. I dare not plead guilty an Indictment, but yet I hope however I may in other instances be
(guilty), in this I'm pretty innocent.'
Hickes was sympathetic in his answer.* ''Wherefore good Madam, stick to God and your conscience which are your best friends, whatever you may suffer for adhering to them."'
Samuel was finally persuaded to return to Epworth.
But he only remained two days. At the time he left, he was grim. "'I will never return,'' he said. By now
Susanna had had more experience with the Lord, and she vowed to herself that she would continue to pray until Samuel returned to Epworth and their problem was settled.
Eventually Sam did return and Susanna's happiness was restored. Then a fresh disaster descended. The new problem was outlined in a letter which Samuel mailed to Archbishop Sharpe on July 31, 1702.
On the last of July, 1702, a fire broke out in my house, by some sparks which took hold of the thatch, and consumed about two-thirds of it before it could
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be quenched. I was at the lower end of the town visiting a sick person, and went thence to R. Cogan's.
As I was returning, they brought me the news. I got one of his horses, rode up, and heard, by the way, that my wife, children, and books were saved; for which God be praised, as well as for what He has taken. They were altogether in my study, and the fire under them. When it broke out, Mrs. Wesley got two of the children in her arms, and ran through the smoke and fire; but one of them was left in the hurry, till the other cried for her, when the neighbors ran in, and got her out through the fire, as they did my books, and most of my goods...
''T shall go, by God's assistance, to take my tithe; and, when that is in, to rebuild my house, having, at last, crowded my family into what is left, and not missing many of my goods.
I humbly ask your Grace's pardon for this long, melancholy story, and leave to subscribe myself your
Grace's ever obliged and most humble servant, S. Wesley The archbishop sympathized with the Wesleys and let it be known that they needed financial help. The response was generous. Many distinguished people sent them money to rebuild the rectory. Before the rebuilding could be done, the Wesleys were obliged to continue living in the remaining one-third of the house. Here, in spite of the charred timbers and stench of smoke, Samuel Wesley became once again a loving considerate person.
As the months slipped by, Susanna continued with teaching her children, and Samuel went on with his writing. One evening while in an unusually confident mood, Samuel said, ''When I was in London, the Lord gave me a lesson in his goodness. Remember
' when I was almost attacked by that foul-mouthed redcoat in Smith's Coffeehouse?"'
FORSAKEN
Susanna laughed. ''Yes, Elizabeth told us about it.
That was the time you sent the waiter over to his table and suggested that the man wash out his mouth for having blasphemed."'
'"Well, this time when I was in London I was going through St. James' Park when I met that gentleman.
He walked up to me and said, 'Remember me?' 'No,'
I replied, 'I don't.' He then took a step closer and said, 'The last time we met was in Smith's Coffeehouse.'
'"The old story rushed back to me. For a moment I was afraid he would beat me up. Do you know what happened?''
"'I have no idea."'
took my hand in his and said, 'I want to thank you. Since that time I have not said a single thing that would be offensive to the Divine Majesty.'
The next year, on June 17, 1703, Susanna gave birth to her fifteenth child. "'And what are you going to name him?"' asked Samuel.
A faint but distinct smile firmed on Susanna's tired lips. While Sam held her hand, she murmured, '' His name is John Benjamin Wesley!''
""Why two names?'' Samuel studied her curiously.
""None of our other children have two names."'
'"Because he's taking the place of both John and Benjamin, our two little boys whom God has already summoned home. And also, Sam, because I'm convinced that he's going to be mightily used by the Lord.
John means Jehovah has been gracious, and Benjamin means son of the right hand! I've prayed that he will live to hold high a candle in this dark world.''
As Susanna and John Benjamin gained strength, the Wesley family settled into methodical routine.
Samuel had just published a three-volume history of
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the Old and New Testament in verse. He was now wearing out pens on other projects.
Samuel's speed in composing verses never slowed, nor did his diplomacy improve. When he and some other preachers were invited to the home of an unusually stingy man, he composed a poem on the spot and quoted it aloud:
Behold a miracle! for 'tis no less Than eating manna in the wilderness.
Here some have starved, where we have found relief, And seen the wonders of a chine of beef.
Here chimneys smoke, which never smoked before; And we have dined, where we shall dine no more.
After Wesley had quoted the final line and resumed his seat, the host lowered the chill in the room by shaking his head and agreeing with the theme of the poem,
'"No, gentlemen, we won't dine here again. It is too expensive!"'
Though stunted in physical growth, Molly continued as cheerful as ever. Her mind became unusually keen. The entire family took pride in her. '*Molly is unique,'' said Samuel.
In 1704 Susanna's oldest child, Samuel, Jr., celebrated his fourteenth birthday and went away to school at Westminister. This was an ideal place because his uncle, Matthew Wesley, lived in nearby
London. Even so, Susanna's heart went with him.
Each day she rememered his needs in prayer, and she kept a constant stream of letters headed in his direction. The one dated August 4, is typical:
Particularly I am concerned for you, who were, even before your birth, dedicated to the service of the sanctuary, that you may be an ornament of the Church of which you are a member, and be instru- 'mental (if God should spare your life) in bringing many souls to Heaven .
FORSAKEN
You have had great advantages of education; God has entrusted you with many talents, such as health
.a good understanding, memory .
. ; and if any one be misemployed or not improved, they will certainly one day rise up in judgment against you.
To God's merciful protection I commit you.
Susanna Wesley On April 5, 1705, Queen Anne dissolved Parliament.
This meant new elections.
Lincolnshire quivered with excitement. As Susanna listened to reports and noticed anxious faces, she was worried.
At lunch one day she said to Samuel, ''I hope we don't have violence.'' Her anxiety was increased by the fact that she was in the eighth month of her sixteenth pregnancy.
'"The contest here is between Sir John Thorold and Mr. Dymoke on the Tory side, and Colonel Whichcott on the Whig side,'' said Samuel. ''I'm with the Tories! After all, they stand for the queen and the church.
"Sir, I hope you stay out of it,'' said Susanna wistfully.
"T'll try. But it will be hard."'
On May 8, Susanna gave birth to a son. At the time, she was so weary she was unable to nurse it.
Providentially, however, a woman who lived near the rectory offered help. ''I'll care for him until you get your strength back,'' she promised.
Profoundly grateful, Susanna smiled. ''Thank you very much,"' she said.
Queen Anne was against Dissenters. Resenting the persecution of Dissenters during her reign, Daniel
Defoe wrote a sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek pamphlet titled The Shortest Way with Dissenters. It suggested that Queen Anne could solve the dissenting problem by hanging all their preachers and exiling all the members
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found in their worship services. The booklet created a sensation. The House of Commons decreed, '"That this book, being full of false and scandalous reflections on Parliament, be burnt by the hands of the common hangman in New Palace Yard.''
Queen Anne ordered Defoe's arrest, so he went into hiding.
After the London Gazette ran a notice offering 50 pounds to anyone who "'could discover the said Daniel
Defoe,'' he was located and clapped into Newgate.
His sentence was a heavy fine and to remain imprisoned ''during the queen's pleasure.'' In addition, he was scheduled to stand for three days in the pillory.
On July 29 his neck and wrists were clamped into the wooden frame in front of the Royal Exchange. The next day he was humiliated near the Conduit on Cheapside; and on the following day he endured the three-holed affair at the Temple Bar.
The masses sympathized with Defoe. Thousands swarmed about him at each pillory and decorated it with garlands of flowers. Defoe, himself, had carefully prepared for the event by writing the Hymn of the Pillory. 'The document sold briskly to the crowds swarming about him. Thus he enjoyed the last laugh and earned a tidy sum.
This affair, and others, had so stirred England that in some places members of the Church of England and Dissenters treated one another as enemies.
Fearing serious trouble would break out during the election, Samuel agreed to be neutral. But when officeseekers sided with the Dissenters and denounced the High Church, Samuel was infuriated.
'"'T will vote for the Tories!' he said.
Samuel's statement exasperated the Whigs. His own rhembers even shook their fists at him on the steps
FORSAKEN
of the church. Many denounced him as a ''rascal and scoundrel.''
Susanna was alarmed. When Samuel announced that he was going to Lincoln on May 29, the day before the election, she was gripped by sudden fear.
This meant that she would be alone with the children on the day the voting began, and her unnamed son was less than three weeks old.
What would she do if she were attacked?
While Sam was inthe courtyard of Lincoln Castle, a clergyman friend approached. ''Sam, you'd better be careful,'' he warned. ''I just passed a group of about twenty men. I heard one of them say that they were going to squeeze your guts out."'
Fearing for his life, Samuel fled to Gainsborough.
This may have saved him, for while he was gone a mob descended on the rectory. Samuel described what happened in a letter to Archbishop Sharpe:
A great part of the night our isle people kept drumming, shouting, and firing pistols and guns under the windows where my wife lay, who had been brought to bed not three weeks before. I had put the child to nurse over against my own house; the noise kept his nurse waking until one or two in the morning. Then they let off; and the nurse being heavy to sleep, overlaid the child. She waked, and finding it dead, ran with it to my house almost distracted, and calling my servants, threw it into their arms. They as wise as she, ran up with it to my wife, and, before she was well awake, threw it cold and dead into hers.
She composed herself as well as she could, and that day got it buried.
Having to bury her son without Samuel being there was extremely hard. But feeling that it was her duty in life to hold her candle high, Susanna managed with
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a minimum of trouble. By the time Samuel returned home, she had managed to get hold of herself. Indeed, she was so serene, Samuel was amazed. In the letter to Archbishop Sharpe he added the incredible line:
"All this, thank God, does not in the least sink my wife's spirits. "
The mob, however, was not satisfied.
Upon Samuel's return, they beat drums, fired guns, and made as much noise as possible until midnight. Then on Friday evening, while Samuel and Susanna listened, the crowds shouted to their children in the yard,
''O ye devils! we will come and turn ye all out of doors a-begging shortly.''
At first Susanna was disturbed, but that night retreating into her fortress of faith, she put out the candle and was soon asleep.
Notes 1. Newton, John, Susanna Wesley, (Epworth Press, 1968), p. 89.
2. Ibid. p. 90
3. Ibid. p. 91
4. Ibid. p. 92
rk ri Prison Susanna's world continued to crumble. Of the sixteen children, nine were already dead.
In addition to the constant problems of life and death, Susanna lived in fear that Samuel would be imprisoned for debt. Each rap at the door quickened her pulse. She had done everything possible to conserve money. It was wasted effort. Then, following the Duke of Marlborough's stunning victory at Blindheim near the city of Ulm on the Danube, Susanna saw a dim light at the end of the tunnel.
At the time of the death of the Spanish king, Charles II, Louis XIV decided that his opportunity had come to annex Spain and its entire empire. Alarmed,
England, Prussia, Austria, the Netherlands, and much of the Holy Roman Empire, formed the Grand
Alliance in order to stop the French and Bavarians.
Marlborough's victory was the turning point of the war, and the Duke of Marlborough became England's celebrated hero. Indeed, Queen Anne ordered the
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magnificent Palace of Blenheim built and presented to him as part of his reward.
Inspired by Marlborough, Sam wrote a 506 line poem in his honor. This poem inspired the duke to appoint Samuel chaplain of Colonel Lepelle's regiment.
''God is answering prayer!'' exulted Samuel.
''With this additional income, we'll be able to pay all our debts. You can buy some new clothes."'
'"The children need new clothes more than I do,'' put in Susanna. ""The girls are almost in rags."'
That wasn't the end of Samuel's blessings. A nobleman summoned him to London and started procedures that could end in his receiving a prebend—an endowment income—from one of the cathedrals.
Also, his field of flax was ripening, and it seemed that it would soon be ready to sell.
Alas, these near-blessings, all of them, turned sour.
Politicians whom Wesley had offended used their influence to cancel his chaplaincy. Next, through their contacts in London, they ended his chances of receiving income from the cathedral. Shoulders slumped, eyes lackluster, Samuel turned to Susanna, ""The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away,'' he murmured.
''Blessed be the name of the Lord'' ( Job 1:21), finished Susanna.
That evening, attracted by a red glow, Susanna went outside and discovered that all their flax was on fire. As she watched, Samuel put his arm around her.
"I was counting on that crop to pay some debts," he murmured.
After breakfast, Wesley put on his robe and donned his wig. ''Have a christening over at the church,"' he explained. "'I'll see you at lunch."
As Susanna watched him disappear, she had an uncanny feeling that more trouble was ahead. She was
PRISON
right. Immediately after the ceremony, a former servant stepped up to Samuel. '*You're under arrest,'' he said.
'*And for what?"'
S Debt,'
""And to whom?"'
Se Mr..:Pinder."* "Yes, I do owe him money. But it's less than 30 pounds. Give me time. I have furniture and cattle that can be sold."'
''We don't have time for that."'
'"What can I do?''
'"Pay the entire amount, or go to prison.'
'Let me tell my wife goodbye.'"' eeuerccain t. tine."
Samuel was led away.
When Susanna learned what had happened, she went to her room, sank to her knees, and prayed.
Then she began to plan a way out. Altogether, she had only ten shillings in cash. But a mere half a pound was not enough for a 30 pound debt. Then she remembered her rings. Yes, they would help! She wrapped them in a package and asked a servant to take them to Lincoln Castle.
The rings, she knew, would not pay the debt; but they would pay for Samuel's board and keep for a few days. In the meantime, she would sell a cow or two— even though she and the children depended on the milk for food.
Samuel Wesley took the affair in stride. On June 25, 1705, he wrote to Archbishop Sharpe:
My Lord,—Now I'm at rest, for I have come to the haven where I have long expected to be.
. .I thank God my wife was pretty well recovered, and was (in church) some days before I was taken from her; and I hope she will be able to look to my family,
. 4
AL \ / Win if they do not turn them out of doors, as they have often threatened to do. One of my biggest concerns was my being forced to leave my poor lambs in the midst of so many wolves. But the Great Shepherd is able to provide for them. My wife bears it with that courage which becomes her, and which I expected from her.
I do not despair of doing some good here, and it may be, I shall do more in this new parish than in my old one; for I have leave to read prayers every morning and afternoon in the prison, and to preach once a Sunday, which I have chosen to do in the afternoon...
. I am getting acquainted with my fellow jail-birds as fast as I can, and I shall write to London next post to the Society for Propagating
Christian Knowledge, who, I hope, will send me some books to distribute among them.
On the night following Samuel's arrest, Susanna heard the family dog barking and growling outside.
PRISON
Terrified, she lit a candle and went from one room to another. Hurried inspection indicated that all the children were asleep and each door was securely locked. Satisfied, she returned to her room.
In the morning Susanna was gripped by a cold terror. The iron latch on the front door had been twisted off and three of their cows had been so severely stabbed they had gone dry. This meant there was no milk for the children. While considering what to do, the dog came whimpering over to her. One leg had been almost hacked off.
On Sunday morning Susanna dressed the children in their Sunday best. At breakfast, Emilia enquired about their father. ''He's at Lincoln and won't be back for a while,'' she explained.
'"'Our services this morning will be conducted by the curate. We must pray for him."'
As Susanna sat in her customary pew, she battled with her emotions. Two-year-old John snuggled in her arms, three children sat on one side, and two on the other side. Only Samuel Jr., being away at school, was absent.
Amidst the singing, Susanna was extremely conscious of the stares of those behind her and the question marks on the faces of those on either side.
Soon the curate, dressed in his new robe, stepped into the pulpit. His subject was the moral duty of Christians to pay their debts. As he preached he kept glancing at Susanna and her brood. His voice was cruel and his finger kept jabbing in her direction.
After the service, Susanna shook the curate's hand.
This took effort; and she had to force herself to be pleasant. That afternoon she barely found enough food to feed her children.
Fire While lingering in prison, Samuel Wesley had both cause and time to be discouraged. But he believed that ''All things work together for good to them that love
God.''
Even iron bars could not dampen his enthusiasm for the work of Christ.
During his third month of imprisonment, he concluded a letter to Archbishop Sharpe with a paragraph which no one but an optimist could have written:
Most of my friends advise me to leave Epworth, if ever I should get from hence. I confess I am not of that mind, because I may yet do good there; and it is like a coward to desert my post because the enemy fire thick upon me. They have only wounded me yet, and, I believe, cannot kill me. I hope to be home at Christmas. God help my poor family!
Five days later, although still in prison, and still concerned about his family, Samuel Wesley addressed another letter to the archbishop. Having marked it
'Lincoln Castle'' and dating it, "'Sept. 17, 1705," he began:
FIRE
My Lord,—I am so full of God's mercies that neither my eyes nor my heart can hold them. When
I came hither, my stock was but little above ten shillings, and my wife's at home scarce so much. She soon sent me her rings, because she had nothing else to relieve me with; but I returned them, and God soon provided for me. The most of those who have been my benefactors keep themselves concealed. But they are all known to Him who first put it into their hearts to show me so much kindness; and I beg your Grace to assist me to praise God for it, and to pray for His blessings on them.
Friends came to the aid of Samuel in his troubles.
Susanna, also, was remembered. The Archbishop of York even came to see her.
"Tell me, Mrs. Wesley,'' he asked, ''whether you ever really wanted bread."'
''My Lord,"' she replied, "'I will freely own to your grace that strictly speaking, I never did want bread.
But then I had so much care to get it before it was ate, and to pay for it after, as has often made it very unpleasant to me. I think to have bread on such terms is the next degree of wretchedness to having not at all."'
On the following morning the church official from York returned with a ''handsome present."'
After three or four months of imprisonment Sam was back at Epworth—and life continued as usual.
On May 8, 1706, Susanna gave birth to her seventeenth child—a daughter whom they named Martha.
Then a little over nineteen months later, she was confined again. This time the baby—a son—was two months early. At first he neither cried nor opened his eyes, and he wasn't much larger than a farmer's shoe.
Remembering the two sets of twins and other infants she had lost, Susanna wondered if this one
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would live—especially since he seemed even more feeble than some who had died. Peering at him doubtfully, the midwife said, ''Keep him wrapped in warm wool for at least two months.''
Susanna felt a special need to keep praying for this new one who had made his appearance on December
18, 1707. It was a cold winter and there were drafts in the house. Miraculously, he stayed alive. In February he opened his eyes.
''And what are you going to name him?'' asked Samuel after his first most welcome cry.
''Charles.''
'*That isn't a biblical name. All the others—"'
that doesn't matter. His name is Charles!"'
About this time, Samuel appeared at the rectory with a heavy, expensive-looking book.
''And what is that?'' asked Susanna.
'"This is Walton's Polyglott Bible.'' Samuel laid it on the table and slowly leafed through it. ""The Old and New Testaments have been printed in both Greek and Hebrew. In addition, other parts are printed in additional languages. The first five books are in Samaritan. Some of it is in Arabic, Syrian, Chaldean,
Persian—and even Ethiopian."'
'It must have cost a fortune-"'
"Yes, it did. But Sukey, I'm going to write a commentary on the Book of Job. It may take twenty to twenty-five years. It will be my life's work. And,
Sukey, it will earn us a fortune. Future generations will remember me as Samuel Wesley, author of the Commentary on the Book of Job!"'
Day after day, Samuel closed the door in his study in order to keep his appointment with Job. He read the text in other languages and filled page after page with notes. ''This commentary has to be the best,"' he said. But one morning as he emerged from his
FIRE
study he held something different in his ink-stained fingers.
I was in prison, I kept thinking about the Cross,'' he said. "'And this morning I had to forget
Job for a while and work on a hymn. I've titled it Behold the Saviour of Mankind. Listen to the first verse.
Behold the Saviour of mankind Nail'd to the shameful tree!
How vast the love that Him inclined To bleed and die for thee!
'"The Cross, Sukey, and the Resurrection are the great events in the history of mankind.''
The clock had just passed the midnight hour on February 9, 1709, when twelve-year-old Hetty (Mehetabel) was awakened by the smell of fire and a shower of sparks. Terrified, she leaped out of bed to awaken the family. ''Fire! Fire!'' she shouted, as she pounded on her father's door.
Dressed in only a pullover gown and one stocking, Samuel seized his pants and ran to the room where his sick wife was sleeping with Emilia and Susanna.
"'Fire! Fire!'' he repeated.
Startled from deep sleep, Susanna thought about the 20 pounds in gold and silver stored in her room.
But with the flames pushing in, and being eight months along in her latest pregnancy, there was no time to look for it. Soon the entire family with the exception of six-year-old John was in the hallway. But the outside door was locked and the keys were above the stairway.
While shielding his face with his pants held high in his right hand, Samuel rushed up the steps, secured the keys, opened the door, and let the family out.
""Where is Jackie?'' cried Susanna.
Samuel had assumed that John was outside. But
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where was he? As he pondered, he heard a tiny voice in the upstairs nursery. Now that the door was open, a northeast wind blew into the house fanning the flames, and the steps were burning. Nonetheless,
Samuel tried three times to mount them. Each time he was turned back. In desperation, he sank to his knees in the flaming hall and gave the soul of his child to God.
In the meantime, a nurse escaped with Charles in her arms. She had just stepped out of the danger area when a man confronted her. Having cursed, he exclaimed, ''And so they burned their house again for the second time.!"'
While staring at the house bulging with fire, Susanna was dominated by one determination. She had to rescue John! ''I was not in condition to climb windows,'' she wrote, ''neither could I get to the garden door, but was driven back by the fury of the flames."'
Having on nothing but a wrapping-gown, a pair of shoes, and a loose gown, Susanna waded through several yards of flame. But those growing tongues of fire were too much. Unable to proceed, she prayed,
''Lord, help me save John,"' and tried again, and then again. It was like stepping into the mouth of a furnace.
As this was going on below, John opened his eyes.
Seeing the light, he supposed it was time to get up.
After yawning, he called for someone to help him get ready for breakfast. When no one responded, he opened the door and was confronted by lapping flames. After closing the door, he went to the window and scrambled up on a chest. At that moment someone in the yard saw him.
'There he is! Get a ladder!'' called a man almost beside himself with excitement.
'There isn't time!'' screamed another.
Then a stout man flattened himself on the wall.
'*Put a man on my shoulders,'' he shouted.
A tall, thin man ran over and positioned himself on the stout man's shoulders. By stretching he barely reached the window. Miraculously, he got hold of John and eased him to the ground. Moments later the roof fell in and lighted the Epworth sky with an inferno of sparks.
; At first Samuel could not believe that little John was still alive. Indeed, he was not convinced until he had kissed him two or three times. Then he became alarmed about the whereabouts of Susanna. ''Where's my wife?'' he shouted.
Several pointed to her. She was standing in the crowd. But as Wesley remarked later, ''When I came to her, her lips were black. I did not know her."'
It was soon learned that almost all of Wesley's library had been destroyed; and included in this
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destruction were Dr. Annesley's private papers, Samuel's recent revision of his Life of Christ, and many other valuables. But Samuel was not overly concerned.
Thankful that both John and his wife were alive, he turned to those about him and said, ''Come, neighbors, let us kneel down; let us give thanks to God; He has given me all my eight children; let the house go; I am rich enough!"'