Page:The Methodist Hymn-Book Illustrated.djvu/89

 THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 77

guest of Mr. Osborn, father of the Revs. Dr. Osborn and James Osborn, whose first impression was, This man is a scholar. He arranged a little excursion in order that Wesley might see the view from the hills behind Chatham. After all had ex pressed their delight at the prospect, Wesley took off his hat and began to sing

Praise ye the Lord ! tis good to raise.

Hymn 49. Eternal Wisdom ! Thee we praise.

ISAAC WATTS, D.D. (3).

From Horae Lyricae, 1706. A Song to Creating Wisdom. Wesley s Psalms and Hymns, 1741. Four verses omitted.

In ver. I Watts wrote, With Thy loud name, that is, sounding out loud (cf. Winter s Tale, act iii. sc. 3, Tis like to be loud weather ). Wesley printed it loud in 1741, and it is so given in the three first editions of the 1780 Large Hymn-book. John Wesley is not responsible for a change which seems to spoil the effect of the hymn by anticipating its closing note. See Proceedings, Wesley Historical Society, ii. 7, p. 175.

Hymn 50. In all my vast concerns with Thee. ISAAC WATTS, D.D. (3).

Psalm cxxxix. , Psalrns of David, 1719, where it is headed Psalm cxl. God is everywhere.

After five verses comes a Pause, followed by five inferior verses, which are omitted in our Hymn-Book. Three of these are given below

8. If wing d with beams of morning light,

I fly beyond the west, Thy hand, which must support my flight, Would soon betray my rest.

9. If o er my sins I think to draw

The curtains of the night, Those flaming eyes that guard Thy law Would turn the shades to light.

IO. The beams of noon, the midnight hour,

Are both alike to Thee ; O may I ne er provoke that pow r From which I cannot flee !

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