Wesley Corpus

Last updated: Sept. 3, 2007. Earthquake Hymns, Pt. I (1750)1 Baker list, 181 Editorial Introduction: On February 8, 1750, London was hit by a significant, but not catastrophic, earthquake. John Wesley was in London (Charles currently serving in Bristol) and records the event in his Journal. He followed his account with the comment: "How gently does God deal with this nation! O that our repentance may prevent heavier marks of his displeasure!" As this shows, the Wesley brothers shared the common assumption of their time that earthquakes, major storms, disease epidemic and similar events were more than just "accidents of nature." They were considered to be providential acts sometimes as expressions of divine protection (thwarting the French fleet) or punishment, but more often (particularly in mild cases like this) as portents to awaken complacent humanity to our spiritual failures and duties. Exactly one month later, on March 8, Charles Wesley was taking his turn directing the work in London when a second earthquake hit a stronger shock, but still not catastrophic. The event is noted in Charles's MS Journal in an unusual way. He gives the date, marked with an asterisk, and then left a full page and a half blank. He obviously intended to insert more detail about the quake at some point, but he never returned to do so. He did, however, send a brief account in a letter to his brother, who was then in Bristol (printed in John's Journal entry for March 8). Charles also rushed into print before the end of the month, Hymns occasioned by the Earthquake, March 8, 1750. The hymns emulate the common spirituality, calling for the British populace to acknowledge God's gracious warning and repent of their sins. But the collection ends with a hymn of reassurance, affirming God's power to protect God's people. It is possible that Charles had begun writing some of these hymns after hearing of the first quake. He clearly continued to reflect and compose on the theme, issuing a follow up collection of hymns a month later see Earthquake Hymns, Pt. II (1750). He also published that month a sermon on The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes. For a more detailed introduction to this collection, see Karen Beth Westerfield Tucker, "'On the Occasion': Charles Wesley's Hymns on the London Earthquakes of 1750," Methodist History 42 (2004): 197-221. Editions: Charles Wesley. Hymns occasioned by the Earthquake, March 8, 1750 Pt.