Wesley Corpus

Last updated: Sept. 3, 2007. Hymns for Times of Trouble (1744)1 Baker list, 82 Editorial Introduction: The early Methodist revival encountered resistance and some persecution from the beginning, for various reasons. The resistance grew significantly in early 1744, as France threatened to invade England and the two countries became embroiled in the War of Austrian Succession (cf. the attacks described in Charles's MS Journal, Jan.-Feb. 1744). The reason that this made things worse for the Methodists is that they were broadly assumed to be Jacobites. "Jacobite" was the nickname for supporters of the claim of James Edward Stuart (1688-1766), exiled son of King James II, to be legitimate holder of the English throne. James II had ascended to the throne in 1685 as an overt Roman Catholic, triggering popular support for the staunchly Reformed William of Orange who was married to James's daughter Mary (also Protestant) to invade and drive James into exile. As fellow Roman Catholics, the French received James II in exile and nurtured his group of supporters, who continued to plot ways of returning him (and, after his death in 1701, his son) to the throne. The threatened invasion in 1744 was one such effort. While Samuel Wesley Jr., the older brother of John and Charles, had favored the Jacobite cause, both of the younger brothers had rejected it and affirmed loyalty to the Hanoverian line. But the fact that they challenged the spiritual vitality of the established church made them targets in times of intrigue for accusation of covert support for the Jacobite cause (and thus the French invaders). As such, much of their energy in 1744-45 was expended in stressing their support of George II and the British cause against the French. Charles devoted his efforts in this regard to a series of hymns for "times of trouble and persecution." This first short collection was rushed to press on March 1, 1744, as the French fleet was gathering in Dunkirk. It drew together manuscript hymns about God's help in times of trouble, with little suggestion of the specific current event. While the volume was issued anonymously, it is clear from manuscript copies that Charles was the author of the six hymns included. John seems to have taken a lead in getting the volume to press. After two printings in early March of 1744, this initial collection was not issued again in its independent form.