Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/157

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 145

I stood by her bedside, she did not renounce her faith in her crucified Lord, but died triumphing in Him as her rock, her shield, and her exceeding great reward.

Hymn 167. Thou very Paschal Lamb.

CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Hymns on the Lord s Supper, 1745 ; Works, iii. 251.

Hymn 168. Rock of Ages, cleft for me.

AUGUSTUS MONTAGUE TOPLADY, M.A. ; altered by THOMAS COTTERILL, M.A.

For the account of Toplady and his hymn, see 401.

The three-verse form, which has gained as great, if not a greater hold upon the public mind than the original, is given in Thomas Cot- terill s Selection of Psalms and Hymns, 1815. In the Supplement to the Wesleyan Methodist hymn-book, 1831, where the hymn first made its appearance, Cotterill s version is adopted, with some slight changes. Toplady s could is restored in 7 he Methodist Hymn-Book, ver. 2, ;:nd in ver. 3 my eyes is put for mine eyelids.

Thomas Cotterill (1779-1823) was born at Cannock, Staffs, and became Perpetual Curate of St. Paul s, Sheffield (1817- 23). His Selection of Psalms and Hymns, 1810, has had a great influence on English hymnology.

After Cotterill came to Sheffield in 1817, he proceeded to enlarge and adapt a hymn-book which he had used in his former charge. Great opposition was aroused, and he was brought before the Consistory Court at York. Archbishop Harcourt undertook to mediate, and James Montgomery joined Mr. Cotterill in the preparation of a hymnal, which the archbishop revised and added to.

Sir Roundell Palmer made a strong protest against the use of the three-verse form at the Church Congress in York, 1866. Since then Toplady s own text has been generally adopted.

Theophilus Lessey, who died in 1841, had been the President of the Conference in the Centenary year, 1839. He was reminded as he died of the intercession of Christ and His sympathy with human sorrow. Yes, he replied, Christ is my only hope ; on His atonement I rest, His precious atonement.

In my hand no price I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling.

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