WESLEY
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WESLEY
liditv, strength, and tire. Covvper is the greatest name in the hymii-books; but Cowper's best poeras, which are very few, are but equal, not superior, to Wesley's best, which are very maiiv. Toplatly approaches most nearly the Jlethotlist poet, but Toplady borrowed his in- spiration from Wesley and reproduced his style; and it is the Calvinist's highest praise that his finest pieces are undistinguishable from those of his Arminian neigh- bor. No otlier names in British sacred lyric poetry can be mentioned with that of Charles Weslej% And when it is remembered that all these counted their poems by dozens or hundreds, while he by thousands; and that his tliousands were in power, in elegance, in devotional and literary value, above their few, we call him yet more contidently great among poets and prince of English hymnists" (p. .S18). This high praise comes from one who — not a Methodist — has by long and patient study earned for himself a place among the very few authori- ties in the hymnology of Wesley.
It is needless to mention single hymns of surpassing excellence. Several have been already referred to in the art. Hymnology. Suffice it here to call attention to three only :
(a.) The poem on " Wrestling Jacob" has enraptured all readers. Who has not felt the power of that master- piece ? " With consummate art he carries on the action of a lyric drama ; every turn in the conflict with the Mys- terious Being, against whom he wrestles all night, being marked with precision by the varying language of the speaker, accompanied bj' intense increasing interest, till the rapturous moment of the discovery, when he pre- vails and exclaims, ' I know thee. Saviour, who thou art' " (Montgomery, Chrislian PscUiiiist [1828]).
(6.) "Jesus, lover of my soul" is the essence of a thou- sand hymns and praj'ers.* Tributes innumerable might be laid down here. But what are these? The heart of the world is brought near to God.
(e.) " Stand the omnipotent decree," " the finest lyric in the English language," says Southey.
III. Literature. — We classify this for convenience' sake, under separate heads.
1. Charles Wesley's own poetical works (published during his life) may be enumerated, as follows, in tabu- lar form (we include a few prose writings) :
Dats No. of
of Publ. Title. Hymns.
1T39, Hymns and Sacred Poems 139
1740, Hymns and Sacred Poems ^&
1711 , Hymns of God's Everlasting Love ,S8
1742, Hymns and Sacred Poems 155
1743, Collection of Psalms and Hymns (enlarged) 138
1744, Hymns for Times of Trouble and Persecution.. 33
1744, Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord 18
1744, Hymns for Watch-night 11
1744, Fimeral Hvmns 16
1745, Hymns for Times of Trouble for the Year 1745. . 15 1745, A Short View of the Differences between the Mo- ravian Brethren.
1745, Hvmns for the Lord's Supper 166
1746, Hymns for Times of Trouble 6
1740, Gloria Patri, etc. : Hymns to the Trinity 9
174G, HymnsonGrent Festivals (with music by Lampe) 24 1746, Hymns of Petitiou and Thanksgiving for the
Promise of the Father (Whitsunday) 32
1746, Hymns for Ascension-day 7
1746, Hymns for our Lord's Resurrection 16
1746, Graces before and after Meat 26
1746, Hymns for Public Thanksgivino; (Oct. 9, 1746). . . 7
1747, Hymns for those that Seek and' those that Have
Redemption in the Blood of Jesus Christ 62
174S, Hymns on his Marriage 17
1749, Hymns and Sacred Poems 455
1750, Hymns for New-year'f5-day (1751) 7
1750, Hymns Occasioned by the Earthquake (Mar. 8). 10
1753, Hymns and Spiritual Soni;s 116
1755, An Epistle to Rev. John Wesley (churchly and
brotherly [see Jackson, Life of Charles Wesley, N. Y. ed., p. 50]).
1755, An Epistle to Rev. George Whitefleld (brotherly
[ibid. p. 518]). 17.56, Hymns Occasioned by the Earthquake (2d ed.). 22
1756, Hymns for the Year 1756 (particularly for the
Fast Day, Feb. 6) ." 17
1758, Hymns of Intercession for all Mankind 40
1758, Hymns for the Use of Methodist Preachers 10
1759, Funeral Hymns (enlarged) 43
Dale Xo. of
f>f I'ubl. Title. Hymm.
17.59, Hymns on the Expected Invasion S
1759, Hymns for Thanksgiving-day (Nov. 29) 15
1761, Hymns for those to whom Christ is All in All. . . 134
1761, Select Hymns, with Tunes Annexed 132
1762, Short Hymns on Select Passages of Holy Script-
ure (2 vols.) 2030
1763, Hymns for Children lOO
1705, Hymns on the Gospels (left in MS.) —
1767, Hymns for the Use of Families on Various Occa- sions 1S8
1767, Hymns on the Trinity 182
1772, Preparation for Death 40
1780, Hymns Written in the Time of Tumults (June,
1780) 13
1782, Hvmns for the Nation and for the Fast Day,
Feb. 8, 1782 32
1785, Prayers for Condemned Malefactors (in verse). . 10 See Stevenson, Memorials of the Wesley Family, p. 412.
2. Collective Poems. — A Collection of the Poems of John and Charles Wesley (Wesl. Conf. Office, Loud. 1868- 72, 13 vols. 8vo), reprinted from the originals with the last corrections of the authors, collected and arranged by G. Osborne, D.D. ; Charles Wesley Seen in his Finer and Less Familiar Poems (N. Y. 1867, 24mo), edited with notes by Frederic M. Bird; Wesley [Chas.], A Poetical Version of the Psalms (Lond. 1854, 8vo), edited, with an introduction, by Henr}^ Fish, A.M.