Dr. Annesley’s second wife, the mother of Susanna, was a woman of eminent piety, and beloved of all who knew her.  “How many children has Dr. Annseley?” was a question asked of the eminent Puritan preacher Manton, who had just been officiating at the baptism of one of the number.  “I believe it is two dozen, or a quarter of a hundred,” he replied.  Such was the family into which the mother of the Wesleys was born on the 20th of January, 1669.  Of this crowded household, the majority were daughters, and Susanna was the youngest of these.  In her own Journals, which form the only account of her childhood, we read of several instances of her “preservation from accidents,” and once from a “violent death.”  The method of her education is not clearly stated, but “the tree is known by its fruits.”  There is evidence that it was sound and liberal, and up to the best standard of the day in any rank of society.  French and music were evidently among her attainments, while in her letters and treatises there are abundant tokens that logic and philosophy were also held in effective possession and use.  She tells us that which might have been expected when she says that she “was early initiated and instructed in the first principles of the Christian religion;” and in after days we find her giving to her son a rule which had proved to be a blessing to her own girlhood—­“Never to spend more time in any matter of mere recreation in one day, than I spend in private religious duties.”

The thoroughness of her own “private religious duties” is shown by the fact that in the year 1700 she made a resolution to spend one hour morning and evening in private devotion.  This practice she kept up through life as far as circumstances would admit.

II.

THEOLOGICAL STUDIES.

Soon we find Susanna Wesley studying the works of Jeremy Taylor, of the early Puritan Divines, and the immortal Bunyan, till at length her vigour of intellect and enterprise in reading led her into danger.  By reading Arian and Socinian authors of the period, her faith was shaken.  This, however, was not to be for long, and the manner of her recall was marked by interesting circumstances.

It is at this juncture that Samuel Wesley, her future husband, first appears in the story as the friend of her soul.  This young student, seven years her senior, had himself made “proof” of Socinianism.  In the course of some literary work, he had been specially well paid for the translation of Socinian writings from the Latin; but his strong mind revolted from their principles, the task was resigned, and his faith became more firmly rooted in Christ as the eternal Son of God.  In this frame of mind Mr. Wesley met Susanna Annesley, and by God’s help, succeeded in accomplishing her complete extrication from the meshes of doctrinal error and distress.

It can be gathered from her writings, about this time, that the salutary change proceeded not out of complaisance to the lover, but by reception of a fulness of light from heaven.  Clearness, zeal, and love mark her Meditations and Disquisitions on the Holy Trinity; the Godhead and Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ; the Personality and Work of the Holy Spirit.