Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/327

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 315

Dr. Osborn says, After the ever-memorable 24th of May, 1738, Wesley knew &quot;the way of God more perfectly,&quot; and wrote as in the text.

In the Large Hymn-book, 1 780, Wesley changed Be fixed in ver. 2 to Seem fixed, and made the last line, To taste Thy love is all my choice, a prayer by changing it into be all my choice.

Two verses are omitted

O Love, Thy sovereign aid impart. Ah no ! ne er will I backward turn.

The opening paragraph of Augustine s Confessions has supplied the note for this hymn : Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee ; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.

Earl Selborne says, Of all the more copious German hymn- writers after Luther, Tersteegen was perhaps the most remark able man. Pietist, mystic, and missionary, he was also a great religious poet. 1 Miss Cox speaks of him as a gentle, heaven- inspired soul, whose hymns are the reflection of a heavenly, happy life, his mind being full of a child-like simplicity.

Hymn 532. For over here my rest shall be. CHARLES WESLEY (i).

Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1740; IVorks, \. 283. Christ our Righteousness. I Cor. i. 30. The first two verses are

Jesu, Thou art my Righteousness,

For all my sins were Thine : Thy death hath bought of God my peace,

Thy life hath made Him mine.

Spotless and just in Thee I am ;

I feel my sins forgiven ; I taste salvation in Thy name,

And antedate my heaven.

The third verse is For ever here my rest shall be.

From his death-bed at Cannes, in March, 1901, William Arthur sent a parting word to his old friend Dr. Rigg. Give him this message from me : The Lord crowneth the year with His goodness. He maketh the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. What is called the &quot; dark valley ; has not

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