Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/246

 234 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED

��Hymn 362. Now I have found the ground wherein.

JOHANN ANDREAS ROTHE (1688-1758) ; translated by JOHN WESLEY (36).

Ich habe nun den Grund gefunden, Joy in Believing, appeared in Zinzendorf s Christ-Catholisches Singe- und Bet-Biichldn&amp;gt; 1727.

Wesley s translation is in Hymtis and Sacred Poems, 1740 ; Works, i. 279. He sent his MS. to P. H. Molther, one of the London Moravians, on January 25, 1740, and adopted a suggestion of his as to one verse.

Rothe was born in Silesia, and studied theology at Leipzig University. He became a private tutor at Leube. Count Zinzendorf was much pleased with a sermon he preached at Gross-Hennersdorf, and made him pastor at Berthelsdorf in 1722. Herrnhut was in his parish, and he took great interest in the Moravian settlement there. A report he had to give to the authorities on the doctrinal teaching of the Moravians offended the Count, and Rothe accepted a call to another parish. He died at Thommendorf in 1758. He was a man of high character, and an earnest, fearless, and impressive preacher. He wrote about forty hymns, which first appeared in Zinzendorf s hymn-books. The Lutherans were shy of this hymn at first, but gladly adopted it when they found it was not by Zinzendorf, but by Rothe.

Edward Bickersteth, Vicar of Watton, Herts, and father of Bishop Bickersteth, broke out singing on his death-bed in 1850

Mercy s full power I then shall prove, Loved with an everlasting love.

When John Fletcher, of Madeley, was dying, he always took a peculiar pleasure in repeating or hearing the lines

While Jesu s blood, through earth and skies, Mercy, free, boundless mercy ! cries.

Whenever his wife repeated them he would answer, Boundless, boundless, boundless ! As his strength failed, he added, though not without much difficulty

Mercy s full power I soon shall prove, Loved with an everlasting love.

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