Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/186

 174 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED

The fourth verse is based on Elijah s experience after the scene on Carmel. i Kings xviii. 44-5.

��Hymn 219. Arm of the Lord, awake, awake 1

Thine own immortal strength put on.

CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1 749 ; Works, iv. 302. The second part of a hymn, in four parts and fifty-two verses, based on Isa. li. Four verses of the second part are omitted. The second part appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739, but was withdrawn from its fourth edition, and the complete paraphrase printed in 1749-

The wife of the Rev. Joseph Benson asked that the last three verses of this hymn might be read to her on her death bed. When her daughter had read them, she said, Oh, what a blessed hymn ! Let me hear it again. The last time her husband was able to go out to tea at the house of some friends, Jabez Bunting, who was present, told how Mr. Benson repeated these three verses, and gave a heavenly tone to all the evening s conversation.

In 1760 John Fletcher visited Mr. Berridge at his vicarage at Everton. Lady Huntingdon was there, with Martin Madan and Henry Verni. Three days of mighty blessing closed with a service attended by ten thousand people. Berridge preached the last sermon, which closed with this hymn.

Hymn 220. Salvation! O the joyful sound! ISAAC WATTS, D.D. (3).

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1709. Verses I and 3 appear without chorus. The second verse runs

Bury d in sorrow and in sin,

At hell s dark door we lay; But we arise by grace divine

To see a heav nly day.

About 1772 the Countess of Huntingdon s Collection (no date) gives the verse Salvation ! O Thou bleeding Lamb, and the chorus Blessing, honour, praise, and power, which

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