Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/142

 130 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED

Translations and Paraphrases, 1745, but apparently not in England till 1775. Verses 2, 4, and 6 of the original MS. read

2. On Him the Spirit largely poured

Exerts its sacred fire ; Wisdom and might and zeal and love His holy breast inspire.

4. He comes from the thick films of vice

To clear the mental ray ; And on the eye-balls of the blind To pour celestial day.

6. His silver trumpets publish loud

The jub lee of the Lord j Our debts are all remitted now, Our heritage restored.

Earl Selborne thinks Doddridge generally more laboured and artificial than Watts, but in his better works distinguished by a graceful and pointed, sometimes even a noble style. This hymn, he says, is as sweet, vigorous, and perfect a composition as can anywhere be found.

An intimate friend of Colonel James Gardiner, who was killed at Prestonpans in 1745, wrote to Doddridge, Your spiritual hymns were among his most delightful and soul-improving repasts ; particularly those on beholding transgressors with grief, and Christ s Message.

Pope s Messiah has suggested his lines

He from thick films shall purge the visual ray, And on the sightless eye-balls pour the day.

As Doddridge puts it, in his Life of Colonel Gardiner, This stanza is mostly borrowed from Mr. Pope.

Hymn 140. Jesus, Thy far-extended fame.

CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749; Works, iv. 374. Heb. xiii. 8. Jn twelve verses.

The original of ver. 6 reads

My sore disease, my desperate sin To Thee I mournfullv confess.

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