Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/353

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 341

In ver. 2 Charles Wesley wrote, The light of man s direction need. John Wesley put a note, Yes J. W. He altered it in 1780 to its present form to express assured con fidence, without seeming to assert independence of human help.

Hymn 012. How happy is the pilgrim s lot!

CHARLES WKSLEY (i).

Ifymns for those that seek and those that hare Redemption in the r.L\\l of Jesus Christ, 1747; Works, iv. 278. The Pilgrim. Nine Verses.

The autobiography uf the omitted verses unfits them for congrega tional use.

When Mrs. Fletcher was dying she said, I am drawing near to glory, and then

There is my house and portion fair ; My treasure and my heart are there, And my abiding home.

The hymn has been attributed to John Wesley, according to the almost universal testimony. Stevenson says, It was composed and published about five years before the author s marriage, and describes his own views and feelings on that question in terms of eloquent simplicity. Dr. Julian says it is almost universally ascribed to John Wesley in America, the argument usually put forth being that the personal circumstances evidently referred to suited John Wesley rather than Charles. David Creamer, the American hymnologist, says, This hymn, with one omitted verse, with much propriety might be considered as an epitome of Mr. John Wesley s autobiography.&quot; But Charles Wesley was a bachelor when the hymn was written. He did not visit Garth till August, 1747, and was not married till April 8, 1749, and the omitted verse to which Mr. Creamer refers is in Charles Wesley s most characteristic strain, and so indeed is the whole outpouring of a poet s feelings

I have no sharer of my heart, To rob my Saviour of a part,

And desecrate the whole ; Only betrothed to Christ am I, And wait His coming from the sky,

To wed my happy soul.

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