Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/237

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 22$

Hymn 335. Stay, Thou insulted Spirit, stay. CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749 ; Works, iv. 370. The last of nine Penitential Hymns. Seven verses.

In ver. 2 the original is, For forty long rebellious years. Ver. 5, From now my weary soul release.

Hymn 336. Now, from this instant now, I will.

CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Short Hymns on Select Passages of Scripture, 1762; Works, -x.. 6. Jer. iii. 4, 5. Ver. 2 is taken from Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742, Groaning for Redemption ; Works, ii. 128.

In ver. i, Now is substituted for Yes ; and in ver. 3, Guide of my life 1 for youth. Ver. 4 reads

The prodigal in justice spurn, Or pity and forgive me all.

Hymn 337. When, gracious Lord, when shall it be.

CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742; Works, ii. 258. Come, Lord Jesus. Thirteen verses.

In ver. I, When, dearest Lord is changed to gracious. The second verse, here omitted, borrowed from Samson Agonistes : O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon -

O dark, dark, dark (I still must say) Amidst the blaze of gospel day !

In ver. 2 Charles Wesley wrote bimpleness, as in the Prayer-book Version of Ps. Ixix. 5, God, Thou knowest my simpleness.

Hymn 338. Weary of wandering from my God. CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749; Works, iv. 442. After a Recovery.&quot;

The Chaplain of Glasgow prison (see Life and Work} once found a young woman of eighteen or nineteen standing in her cell with her hymn-book in her hand. She looked up, and, holding it out, said to me, &quot;This is a hymn which I m much ta en up wi .&quot; I read the first two lines, and found my eyes filling with tears as I looked at her and said, &quot; Are you weary of

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