Radical Grace. S T Kimbrough
which Charles speaks of the poor as his best friends, he says, “With these I continued praying, singing, and rejoicing for two hours.”14 These were indeed not times of formal worship in the sense of the liturgies of the BCP, though given the way in which the Wesleys’ worship, prayer, and devotional life were rooted in the BCP, no doubt its phraseology and theology were integral to their articulation of faith in such gatherings. Of course, Charles integrated them into his hymns as well.15
Prayer
Prayer is, of course, a vital part of worship and devotional life. Wesley notes in the MSJ instances in which he spent time in prayer with the poor and marginalized outside the context of either formal or informal worship.
The first entry in the MSJ in which Wesley states that he spent time in prayer with poor people is dated Monday, September 4, 1738, not quite four months after his conversion on May 21st: “Charles Kinchin, now my inseparable companion, accompanied me to Bexley and Blendon. I prayed, and was comforted with the poor people.” This experience brought solace to him. Presence among the poor and marginalized and prayer with them were a source of consolation. This would continue throughout Charles’s life and ministry.
On February 19, 1739, he records:
Prayed in the prison with Anne Dodd, well disposed, weary of sin, longing to break loose. Preached powerfully on the last day. Prayed after God for the poor harlots. Our sisters carried away one in triumph. I followed to Mrs Hanson’s, who took charge of the returning prodigal. Our hearts overflowed with pity for her. She seemed confounded, silent, testifying her joy and love by her tears only. We sang and prayed over her in great confidence.16
Charles says that in prison he prayed with Anne Dodd. He does not say she is a prisoner, but one assumes that she was. He prayed as well for the prostitutes, one of whom, according to his account, “seemed confounded” and bore witness to “her joy and love by her tears.” He goes on to say that they “sang and prayed over her in great confidence.”
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