Columbia SJntoertfttp intljeCttpofitotork LIBRARY PURCHASED FROM THE WILLIAM C. SCHERMERHORN MEMORIAL FUND £*/< &* METHODIST HYMNOLOGY ; CGXIRFIILNDING NOTICES Or THE POETICAL WORKS JOHN AND CHARLES WESLEY. SHOWING THE ORIGIN OF THEIR HYMNS IN THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL, METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOUTH, AND WESLEYAN COLLECTIONS ; ALSO, OF SUCH OTHER HYMNS AS ARE NOT WESLEYAN, IN THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL HYMN-BOOK, AND SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHORS ; tOitt) Critical anb historical ©bseruatione. BY DAVID CREAMER. Wetu-Uork : PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, 200 Mulberry-street. JOSEPH LONGKING, PRINTER. 1848. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1848, By David Creamer, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York. 37-4- °\^%M L %\o P» TO REV. THOMAS B. SARGENT, OF THE BALTIMORE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST E. CHURCH, £l)fs Volume, THE RESULT OF SEVERAL YEARS' STUDY, COMMENCED AND COMPLETED, WITH HIS AID AND ENCOURAGEMENT, IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, AS A TOKEN OF GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT, BY HIS SINCERE FRIEND, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. Unimportant as the present work may appear, and humble the place it may till in the department of our sacred literature, the author would be unjust to himself, were he to send it forth without sending with it some account of the circumstances under which it was prepared. Early in life he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the spiritual birthplace of his ho- nored parents, and of a sainted maternal grandsire. With his religious habits came an increasing desire to do something that would advance the cause of Christ, and promote the interests of his church ; but being sedulously engaged in mercantile affairs, his leisure hours alone could be devoted to literary pursuits. Among these the history of his own denomination ; the records of the good and the great that have adorned her pulpits and literary walks, and the memoirs of whose lives and labors con- stitute an inheritance for the children of the church above all price ; were some of the chief sources whence he derived spiritual and mental food. Of course, the works of the venerated Wes- leys were not overlooked ; and the poetic talent they exhibited presented attractions not to be found elsewhere. The Hymn- book, which is composed principally of their poetical effusions, soon obtained a place high in his affections, and he desired to know more about its history and contents than could be obtained from merely perusing its pages. Collateral aid was invoked. Little, however, could be found in this country ; and years passed by ere he could accomplish his purpose by importing from Eng- land a complete set of the Poetical Works of Messrs. John and Charles "Wesley, as far at least as they contribute to the contents of the Hymn-book. These works he has now secured and con- sulted, with the exception of a single small tract. And, for- tunately, that is noticed so fully by Mr. Jackson in the English edition of his Life of its author, as to leave but little, if anything, unknown concerning it. While in the pursuit of his studies, the thought was suggested to him, that others might feci the same 6 PREFACE. desire to become better acquainted with the history of the Hymn- book ; that prompted him to his researches, and he eventually determined to embody his labors in a volume, and publish them. After he had been thus engaged for some time, he was greatly encouraged in his undertaking by finding, in a minister of our church, one who regarded its hymnology with an interest equal to his own. Since then they have in a measure pursued the sub- ject together, and to him the author is indebted for much valuable information in the preparation of his work. When the author first directed his attention to Methodist or Wesleyan hymnology, the subject had attracted but little public interest. Soon after his earliest newspaper articles were pub- lished, he was somewhat, though agreeably, surprised to find that, simultaneously with himself, two other persons, one in our own country, the other in England, were devoting some attention to the same topic ; both of whom have since published the results of their labors : the former, Dr. Floy, in a review of the M. E. Hymn-book in the Methodist Quarterly Eeview for May, 1 844 ; the latter, Mr. Burgess, in a small volume, entitled " Wesleyan Hymnology, or a Companion to the Wesleyan Hymn-book," which appeared in London, in 1845, and passed to a second edition the following year. During the past year, the M. E. Church, South, have published a new collection of Hymns, pre- pared by an able committee, of which the Rev. Dr. Summers was chairman. An elaborate review of the new Hymn-book, comprising upward of sixty pages, appeared in the Southern Methodist Quarterly Review for January, 1848. These publi- cations, together with a small tract of thirty or forty pages, ably written by the Rev. Thomas Roberts, and issued at Bristol in 1808 ; the brief but valuable observations of Mr. Watson, in his Life of Wesley ; the still more concise remarks of Mr. Moore ; and the equally interesting, but more extended, review of Wes- leyan poetry, by Mr. Jackson, in his biography of Charles Wesley ; in connection with which, perhaps, ought to be men- tioned the remarks of Milner, in his Life of Dr. Watts, of Holland, in his Psalmists of Britain, and some brief notices by James Montgomery, in his Christian Psalmist, and other Avorks ; com- prise nearly all that has been published on this deeply interest- ing and important department of church literature. Although the work now presented to the public is the latest PREFACE. 7 and most comprehensive history of Methodist hymnology that has yet appeared, the author having enriched its contents from all available sources, he is fully aware that the subject is by no means exhausted. And if he shall awaken new interest in the minds of the membership in relation to an important, though long-neglected, part of sacred literature, but one intimately asso- ciated with our history as Methodists ; and especially if he shall be the occasion of bringing abler pens, and better hearts, to the consideration and elucidation of this subject, he will find an ample reward for his labors in the pleasing and approving con- sciousness of having done his duty, and accomplished a " good work." The plan of the following work is simple, consisting of three parts. Part First embraces brief sketches of the authors of the hymns in the Hymn-book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, biographical, historical, and critical ; showing the relation each sustained to Methodism, when there was such a connection, and giving such other facts as it was thought would be most interest- ing, in the limited space allowed for that purpose. This portion of his work has cost the author much less trouble, and is, per- haps, of less importance, than either of the other parts. Part Second is devoted entirely to a history and review of the poetical works of John and Charles Wesley. Here is shown the origin of all their hymns, first, in the Hymn-book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, then such hymns as are found in the Hymn-book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, but not in the former work ; lastly, such hymns as are in the Wesleyan collection, but not in either of the other two works. It is desirable that this feature of the plan should be remembered in reading the Second Part. The number of poetical publications, large and small, of John and Charles Wesley, amount to over forty ; but several of them are compilations, principally however from their own works. The first Hymn-book published by Mr. J. Wesley was in 1738, the last in 1788. just half a century intervening be- tween them. In this part of his work the author thinks he has given some facts in the lives of the brothers not mentioned by their biogra- phers, and of course not generally known. He also thinks some additional light has been elicited, by which the future historian 8 PREFACE. of Methodism may be led to correct conclusions on certain ob- scure or uncertain points. Part Tiiird. This part of the work — although in reference to some hymns similar statements are repeated — contains the greatest variety of topics, and by many will be considered the most valuable, if this term may be applied to any portion of it. The hymns in the Methodist Episcopal Hymn-book are noticed in consecutive order : the original title of each hymn is given, when there is one : the text of Scripture on which founded, whether the hymn be a paraphrase of a number of verses, or a dilatation of a single verse, or part of a verse ; the full number of original stanzas ; notices of alterations, omissions, emendations, &c. ; occasional defects developed ; beauties exhibited ; sublime passages of thought or expression pointed out ; omitted stanzas of a remarkable character, and there are many such, are inserted, some of which will be found necessary to a proper understand- ing of those that have been retained ; occasional observations, criti- cal, historical, and exegetical, are introduced : parallel passages from our poet and the best English poets, living and dead, are quoted, showing a remarkable coincidence in thought and ex- pression, from which it will appear that in plethory of poetic inspiration, sublimity of matter and conception, and classical purity of style, Wesley was in all respects their equal. Deficient in many respects as the work may be, no labor nor expense has been spared in procuring from all available sources, but principally by importation from London, works of reference, to insure full and correct information on all points. The original texts of all the hymns in the Hymn-book, with but very few exceptions, have been examined in the works of the authors. This has enabled the writer to point out what alterations, omis- sions, and emendations, have been made in the hymns either by the compilers of our collection, or by others. The volume may be consulted with nearly equal interest by the different branches of the great Wesleyan Methodist family ; and the author flatters him- self that his humble attempt to produce a work on a subject that has received, especially in this country, comparatively little attention, will not be deemed altogether undeserving of notice. He, however, with becoming diffidence, places it upon the altar of public opinion, and shall patiently await the verdict. The author's thanks are due to several individuals for their PREFACE. 9 kindness and courtesy in furnishing him, or procuring for him, valuable works of reference, without which his volume would be less complete than it now appears. He therefore returns his most respectful acknowledgments to the Rev. Thomas B. Sargent and John G. Chappell, Esq., of Baltimore; and to Richard Barnes, Esq., of London, for the very important aid they have rendered him in the preparation of this work. D. C. K. Monument-street, Baltimore, May, 1848. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE BALTIMORE ANNUAL CONFERENCE, BALTIMORE, MARCH, 1848. The committee to whom was referred the MSS. of brother David Creamer of this city, entitled, ' ; A History of the Hymn- book of the Methodist Episcopal Church," beg leave respectfully to report, — That they have examined the work as carefully and minutely as the limited time afforded them allowed, and are of opinion that it will be a valuable and important contribution to our sacred literature, on a subject confessedly inaccessible to the re- searches of our ministry and membership generally, and espe- cially in this country. The book contains the results of six years' absorbing study of this engaging branch of sacred poetry, with unequaled aids and facilities, embodying a brief memoir of each lyrist to whose sanctified genius the church is indebted for these ' : Songs of Zion;" verifying the authors of the hymns in our book, as far as they have been discovered, giving in many instances the time and oc- casion of their composition, and, besides, a mass of critical obser- vation-, which we are convinced will give new information to a majority of readers. The entire production is so fully Wes- i.eyax and Metiiodistic, that your committee are of opinion, that this conference may safely advise its immediate publication by our Book Concern ; and as the hymnology of the church is in various quarters attracting increased attention, we may, as a conference, recommend the book to the favorable consideration of the coming General Conference of our church. CONTENTS Preface Page 5 Part First. — Containing some Account of the Authors of the Hymns in the Methodist Hymn-book 11 Part Second. — Comprehending Notices of the Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley 93 Part Third. — Wherein are noticed, in Consecu- tive Order, the Hymns in the Method- ist Episcopal Hymn-book, with Remarks, Critical, Historical, Explanatory, &c 230 Index 465 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. PART I. CONTAINING SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHORS OF THE HYMNS IN THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK. Ix the Hymn-book of the Methodist Episcopal Church there are six hundred and ninety-seven hymns; and, although Mr. Charles Wesley wrote at least five hun- dred, and Mr. John Wesley about thirty, the remaining hymns were contributed by upward of thirty different authors. Among these are the elder and younger Samuel Wesley, father and brother of the founder of Methodism. It will be our province, in this part of our work, to give some account of these several authors : principally, however, as relates to their contributions to Methodist hymnology ; their association, incidental, or otherwise, with Methodism ; or their character as hvmnologists, derived from such sources of information as may be within our reach. These, in some instances, being very limited, our sketches will be correspond- ingly brief ; nor shall we in any case substitute our own imperfect observations for what we may find al- ready prepared to our hand, of an authentic character, and in a more finished style ; making always due ac- knowledgment for every such quotation. We begin with the poet of Methodism. 12 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. Cljcxrks ilUsleg. The Rev. Mr. Burgess,* author of a valuable and highly interesting work, entitled "Wesleyan Hymn- ology," remarks : " While contemplating the human agency by which God was pleased to carry on the great work of Methodism, we should never forget the venerated name of Charles Wesley. He was a lively and powerful preacher of the gospel, and, in his earlier days, assisted his brother very considerably by his minis- terial labors. But his chief and distinguishing excel- lence was, his talent for sacred poetry. He has been denominated, with great justice and propriety, the bard of Methodism. " As God was about to raise up a new body of pro- fessing Christians, who were in time to become very numerous on both sides of the Atlantic, it was proper and necessary that they should be furnished with a sufficient variety of suitable hymns for public worship and for all devotional purposes. Nothing existed in those days, that could by any means answer the de- * In the " Wesleyan Takings," supposed to be written by the Kev. James Everett, Mr. B. is thus taken: " Considerable skill in music, both as a composer and player on the piano forte. A good volume of voice ; clear in his conceptions, and exquisite in his definitions ; full of interest. A man upon whom the sun of science has shone from above, and upon whom industrious teachers have scattered the seeds of instruction below ; but whose mental soil, independent of these, stirred and manured by self- cultivation, would have produced not only flowers and fruit, but trees of stately and noble growth. Son of a preacher, set out in 1812— no inapt illustration of — For his letters, say the}/, are weighty and powerful ; but his bodily presence is weak.'" METHODIST HYMNOLOOY. 13 mands or supply the wants of this new society. The version of the Psalms by Brady and Tate, though it possesses some merit, and exhibits some specimens of tolerably good poetry, would, on the whole, have been very meagre and unsatisfactory to those who had en- tered so largely into the enjoyment of Christian expe- rience and Christian privileges. Even Watts's Psalms and Hymns, though by far the best collection of de- votional poetry then extant, were in some respects unsuitable, and, as a whole, insufficient. As John Wesley and Fletcher had each his own peculiar depart- ment in the common work — a department for which each was eminently fitted, and to which their energi< a were faithfully and perseveringly applied — so also Charles Wesley had his own peculiar department ; one for which he was specially qualified, and in which no other person could have succeeded so well. Had not Charles Wesley been providentially led to write sacred poetry, there would have been a very serious deficiency in the system of Methodism; its progress would not have been so rapid, nor its influences so extensive. It could not have been so serviceable in kindling and sus- taining the devotional spirit in the great congregation, or in aiding the religious exercises of the family and the duties of the closet. It could not have contributed so largely to alarm the careless and impenitent sinner ; to encourage and assist the sincere seeker of salvation ; to comfort the Christian believer amid all the difficulties and discouragements of his way ; to urge him on to the pursuit and attainment of high degrees of holiness; to administer consolation to the subjects of pain and af- fliction ; and to enable the dying Christian to meet the last enemy with composure and fortitude, triumphing 14 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. through his great Redeemer. To Watts and to Charles Wesley this honor peculiarly belongs ; and to the latter in as high a sense as to the former. Watts, indeed, took the lead ; he had the precedence, in point of time : but, in every other respect, the two poets may be con- sidered as occupying the same rank : only with this difference, that Wesley's talents were destined specially to serve the interests of Methodism ; and Watts's, those of other Christian denominations. " If we view the Wesleyan hymns merely as poetical compositions, we shall find them to be of a very supe- rior description, and deserving of the highest rank among productions of this class. Excepting a small proportion of Watts's hymns, and some of more recent date by Cowper, Montgomery, Heber, and a few others, there are no hymns whatever that deserve to be ranked with those of Charles Wesley. Doddridge, Toplady, Newton, Cennick, Steele, Beddome, and a host of others, are of an inferior class. Even Watts, with all his greatness and excellence, is not entitled to that unqualified commendation which by many has been bestowed upon him. It has long been the opinion of the writer of these remarks, that in a poetical point of view the great majority of Watts's psalms and hymns are not a whit above mediocrity, and many of them be- low it. It was a circumstance highly advantageous to the poetical character of Charles Wesley, that his com- positions were submitted to the keen and discriminating eye of his brother John, and that from the whole was formed that admirable selection which is found in the general Hymn-book. For, on examining the entire mass, it will appear that those hymns and verses which were omitted, were, with few exceptions, much inferior METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 15 to those which were taken ; and that we have in that publication the best and choicest portions of the whole. Had the excellent Watts possessed some friend, who would have acted in a similar way toAvard him, by se- lecting, abridging, and retrenching, from the entire mass of his sacred poetry, and would have published this residuum only, that eminent man might have appeared to greater advantage as a Christian poet. There are many of Watts's compositions so meagre, so barren in poetic beauty, so destitute of dignity, that were these the only specimens of his ability, we might doubt whe- ther he ought to be numbered among poets at all. But, on the other hand, it must be allowed, that some of his compositions possess high degrees of excellence and merit. Those of Watts's psalms and hymns that are em- bodied in the Wesleyan collection are the best that he ever wrote. Had he written no others, his name would have been immortalized among the lovers of sacred poetry, and his rank among Christian poets would have been as high as it now is. " Some may be disposed to inquire how it is, that the high claims of Charles Wesley, as a writer of sacred verse, have been so generally overlooked, and that his compositions are so little known beyond the pale of the Methodist societies and congregations. Various causes, undoubtedly, have concurred to produce this effect. That they who are strangers to inward and experimental religion, should not relish or admire such works, is just what might be expected. These hymns are full of religion ; every sentiment is most decidedly edifying and devout. There is nothing to gratify a carnal taste ; nothing to encourage pride, self-esteem, love of worldly honor and applause ; nothing to meet the feelings of 16 METHODIST HTMNOLOGT. those who are desirous of sensual pleasures and in- dulgences ; and nothing adapted to the views of those who would reduce religion to a mere set of opinions, and a round of external observances. They who reject all that constitutes the life, and power, and essence of inward religion, will, of course, reject a book which everywhere assumes the supreme importance and the absolute necessity of that experience, to which they know themselves to be total strangers. The depravity of our fallen nature, the carnality of the mind, and our consequent aversion to the heart-searching and hum- bling truths of Holy Scripture, will fully account for the neglect and dislike of these hymns among many. " That these hymns have been greatly undervalued by others, may be attributed to Calvinistic prejudices. They who in their theological views adopt a larger or smaller proportion of the peculiarities of Calvinism, will, of course, seek for hymns written by persons of their own sentiments : and this, unquestionably, is one prin- cipal reason why, by many, the hymns of Watts, Doddridge, Toplady, Hart, and Newton, are preferred to those of Wesley. Had Charles Wesley been a Cal- vinist, and had he, with precisely the same degree of poetical talent and skill, interspersed a little Cahinian theology throughout his hymns, they would, no doubt, have been lauded and prized most highly among the Independents, the Baptists, and all classes of evangelical non- conformists ; and ere this time if Watts, Doddridge, Hart, and similar writers, had not been excluded from their sanctuaries, at any rate Wesley would have taken the precedence of them all, and would have stood first on their list. And among the pious ministers and mem- bers of the Church of England, some, in consequence METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 17 of their Calvinistic predilections, and others, througli a fear of receiving or sanctioning anything that is not stamped with the approbation and recommended by the authority of prelates and convocations, royal declara- tions and acts of parliament, have remained insensible to the merits of Charles Wesley's sacred poetry." But the church is waking up to the claims of her poet, and the literary world is beginning to appreciate his merits. James Montgomery, himself one of Eng- land's noblest poets, in his Lectures on Poetry, Gene- ral Literature, &c. — a work Avhich has become a part of the standard literature of the age — has made honorable mention of Charles Wesley as a poet ; as he has also done in two other works, namely, the Christian Poet and the Christian Psalmist. In the last-mentioned work he speaks of him thus : " Christian experience, from the deeps of afflictions, through all the gradations of doubt, fear, desire, faith, hope, expectation, to the transports of perfect love, in the very beams of the beatific vision ; Christian experience furnishes him with everlasting and inexhaustible themes : and it must be confessed that he has celebrated them with an affluence of diction, and a splendor of coloring, rarely surpassed. At the same time he has invested them with a power of truth, and endeared them both to the imagination and affections, with a pathos which makes feeling con- viction, and leaves the understanding little to do, but to acquiesce in the decisions of the heart. As the poet of Methodism, he has sung the doctrines of the gospel as they are expounded among that people, dwelling espe- cially on the personal appropriation of the words of eternal life to the sinner, or the saint, as the test of his actual state before God, and admitting nothing less 18 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. than the full assurance of faith as the privilege of be- lievers : 1 Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, Eelics on that alone, Laughs at impossibilities, And says, " It shall be done." ' Faith lends her realizing light ; The clouds disperse, the shadows fly, The Invisible appears in sight, And God is seen by mortal eye.' " These are glimpses of our author's manner : broad indeed, and awful, but singularly illustrative ; like light- ning out of darkness, revealing for a moment the whole hemisphere." This beautiful extract, while it does justice to Charles Wesley, is creditable to Montgomery, as the opinion of the greatest living English poet, and the most compe- tent person to appreciate the merits, and describe the true character, of C. Wesley as a poet ; and, whatever others may say to the contrary, the sentiments here recorded will hereafter be the standard by which his poetry must be estimated. The first poetical productions of John and Charles Wesley were published jointly, but without any means of distinguishing between them. The Rev. Samuel Bradburn, the intimate friend and companion of Mr. John Wesley, says : "He had a fine taste for poetiy, and composed himself many of our hymns ; but he told me, that he and his brother agreed not to distinguish . their hymns from each other." This is an exceedingly ! interesting fact, and one which, we think, none of Mr. METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 19 Wesley's biographers have noticed. It is evident, how- ever, that it refers only to such of their compositions as were published together in the same volume ; for Charles Wesley published several volumes of hymns and poems in his name alone, which were thus authen- ticated to be his own. But most of their tracts, and some volumes of hymns, were published without either of their names, which may be accounted for by the circumstance related by Mr. Bradburn ; although it is well known that much the larger proportion of hymns were written by Charles. This fact is stated in the preface to the English Hymn-book ; but the mystery involving the authorship of some hymns will ever be matter of regret to the admirers of the brother bards : but at the same time it will form a lasting memorial of their indissoluble friendship. " Lovely in life, in death not divided," is a sentiment perhaps never more aptly applied than to these incomparable men. There were in all the earlier poetical publications of the Wesleys a number of translations from the German. To ascertain satisfactorily the authorship of these com- posures has been the anxious desire of some of the most eminent and learned waiters of the Wesleyan Methodist Church ; among whom, as the most promi- nent, may be named Mr. Watson and Mr. Jackson. These gentlemen have both recorded their sentiments upon the subject, but they differ in opinion ; hence the point, by some, is considered not only unsettled, but having been left undetermined by the brothers them- selves, must remain for ever doubtful. And when such minds as those above referred to, in their search after truth, have failed to arrive at a coincidence of opinion, well may those of an inferior mold hesitate ere they 20 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. venture to decide. Mr. Jackson, in his Life of Charles Wesley, attributes the translations to John Wesley; while Mr. Watson, in his biography of the latter, ascribes them to Charles Wesley. Before entering upon an enumeration and examina- tion of the different poetical works of the two brothers, it will be necessary to notice in a prehminary way, and to settle, if possible, the question involved in this con- troversy, namely : " Who was the translator of the hymns from the German V As this is a highly interesting and important ques- tion, it is proper, in an attempt to elucidate it, that the arguments, pro and con, should be fairly exhibited. We shall therefore quote from the sixth English edition of Watson's Life of John Wesley, part of his long and valuable note, which occurs in the fourteenth chapter, on the subject of Wesleyan poetry. These remarks, not being found in the American edition of the work, are of course not familiar to American readers, and, on that account, will prove the more acceptable. " How many," says Mr. Watson, "of the above-mentioned translations from the German were from the pen of John, and how many were by Charles, will never now probably be ascertained, since they appear chiefly in books published in their joint names. Some have, indeed, attributed the whole of the translations from the German to John, as supposing that Charles did not well understand the German. But of this we have no decisive evidence ; and even were it so, he might turn the ruder translations in the Moravian Hymn-book, which are generally very literal, into his own superior verse : or the sense of any hymn might be given by his brother. Certainly there is internal evidence in many of the METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 21 translations from the German, published by the Wes- leys, of Charles's manner. John's versions are gene- rally more polished and elegant ; Charles had more fire, and was more careless. Miss Wesley, indeed, in a note on page 597, vol. vii, American edition of Wes- ley's Works, is said by the editor to have been of opinion, that the translated hymns, when from the German, were all from the pen of her uncle : but they had long been published before she was born ; and she always spoke on the subject as a matter of opinion, and not as grounded on any explicit information which she had ever sought, or had ever received, from her father." This extract contains the gist of the argument in favor of C. Wesley's claims to the authorship of the translations from the German ; but it will be observed that Mr. Watson admits some of them to be the work of his brother, though he thinks the exact number will never be ascertained. In the first edition of his bio- graphy of John Wesley, which was republished in this country by the Book Concern at New- York, Mr. Wat- son claims all the translations for Charles ; and the extract quoted above was introduced in a subsequent edition of the work. This fact proves that the author's mind had undergone some change, although he still thought he saw in some of the translations certain "internal evidence of Charles's manner." Mr. Jackson seems to have rested his belief, in favor of John Wesley, upon the circumstances stated by Mr. Watson, namely, the information he received from the daughter of Charles, that the translations were made by her uncle, and not by her father ; and the well- known fact that John Wesley was conversant with the German language, while Charles was not. These ob- 22 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. jections Mr. Watson has attempted to answer, but certainly not in a manner to preclude all doubt upon the subject. ^ Mr. Burgess — whose natural and literary endowments are of the highest order, and who has, perhaps, examined the question as thoroughly, and written as extensively upon the subject of Wesley an hymnology, as any other person — takes the same view as Mr. Jackson. After noticing the facts above stated, he says, "■ Probably Mr. Watson is quite correct in stating, that John's versions are generally more polished and elegant ; Charles had more fire and was more careless. And yet that even John, with all his characteristic calmness and sobriety, could sometimes feel and manifest something of poetic fire, is evident from the last two verses of the hymn [548, our Hymn-book] which is universally allowed to have been written by him. These two verses, espe- cially, are in a very lively, spirited, and impassioned strain ; and conclude with the wish often expressed in the compositions of his brother Charles, that he might at once escape from the toils and sufferings of this fife, and be admitted into the paradise of God. Mr. Wat- son thinks that we have no decisive evidence that the translations were all made by John. On that point the present writer takes leave to differ from the great and good man." Mr. Burgess then notices the "decisive evidence" which John Wesley's journals furnish, that he was ac- quainted with the German, and that while in Georgia, he read, sung, and preached, in that language — his visit to Herrnhut, in 1*738, where he not only heard some of the most eminent ministers preach, but also con- versed freely with them in German — and remarks, " We METHODIST IIYMN0L0GY. 23 have no evidence at all that Charles Wesley ever studied the German language, or that he ever read or under- stood any work written therein." After mentioning the fact intimated above, that all the hymns from the Ger- man appeared in the earlier works of the two brothers, when John was undoubtedly familiar with the language, that is, during the years 1*739, 1*740, and 1742, he proceeds thus : — " In his sermon, On knowing Christ after the Flesh, Mr. Wesley, speaking of the Moravians, twenty-six in number, whom he met with in his voyage to America, says, 'We not only contracted much esteem, but a strong affection, for them on all occasions. / translated many of their hymns for the use of our own congrega- tions. Indeed, as I durst not implicitly follow any man, I did not take all that lay before me, but selected those which I judged to be most Scriptural, and most suitable to sound experience. Yet I am not sure that I have taken sufficient care to pare off every improper word or expression.' Now, Mr. Wesley frequently speaks of his brother's hymns, and his brother's poetry ; and in referring to the various poetical publications which had appeared among the Methodists, he is al- ways careful to associate his brother with himself. And if Charles Wesley had had any part in translating the German hymns, John Wesley's candor, accuracy, and regard for truth, would have prompted him to say so, and his language would have been, 'My brother and I translated many of their hymns. As ive durst not im- plicitly follow any man, we did not take all that lay before us,' &c. But here he uses the singular number exclu- sively, and speaks of himself alone as being concerned in translating, judging, selecting, and paring off impro- 24 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. per expressions. Taken in connection with all the facts and circumstances of the case, the above-quoted passage of the sermon appears to furnish sufficient and con- clusive evidence, that the hymns from the German were all translated by John Wesley, not by Charles." The above extracts are made because of their import- ance, and as containing the most comprehensive and correct survey yet taken of the subject ; and also, be- cause the work quoted, not having been republished in this country, cannot be consulted by the interested reader. The writer has recently received a letter from Mr. Burgess, in which he refers to the point now under consideration, in the following manner : " I think I have proved (Hymnology, page 38, &c.) that Mr. Wat- son is wrong in ascribing some of the translations from the German to Charles Wesley. It is the opinion of some competent judges, that what I have there written has set that question at rest, and that henceforward it will be regarded as a settled point, that all translations from the German were made by John Wesley." As it will be pertinent to the subject in hand, it may not be improper here to insert an extract from a letter written in reply to that from which the above quota- tion was taken. " In the year 1844, 1 published in the Christian Advocate and Journal, of New- York, three articles on the Methodist Hymn-book. In my third article occur the following remarks: As to the ques- tion, who was the translator of the German hymns ? I have to say, in addition to what I have already affirmed, that Mr. Watson admits that John Wesley made some of the translations, and Dr. Jackson, that he made all of them. And Mr. Wesley himself says, " I translated many of their [Moravian] hymns for the use METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 25 of our own congregations. Indeed, as I durst not im- plicitly follow any man, I did not take all that lay be- fore me, but selected those which I judged to be most Scriptural, and most suitable to soimd experience." This declaration, I think, should end the controversy, especially as the advocates of Charles Wesley, with Mr. Watson at their head, have no stronger evidence to urge in his favor, than the " internal evidence" by which his translations distinguished themselves.' I had pre- viously referred to Mr. Wesley's Plain Account of Christian Perfection, where he says he wrote the hymn, — 1 Thou hidden love of God, whose height,' &c., while he was at Savannah, in 1*736 ; and this hymn is a translation from the Gennan of Gerhard Tersteegen. So, you perceive, there is a remarkable coincidence be- tween our views ; but yours are far the more ably and elegantly expressed, and while I award you the meed of having settled the question in England, I humbly claim precedence of having done the same thing in America, which, I believe, is generally acknowledged by those who take an interest in the matter, in this country." It may be furthermore remarked, that the views here educed receive some confirmation from an observation of Mr. John Wesley, in the preface to his " Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People called Methodists." He says, " As but a small part of these hymns is of my own composing, I do not think it inconsistent with modesty to declare, that I am persuaded no such Hymn- book as this has yet been published in the English lan- guage." Here is a plain declaration, that but a "small part" of the hymns in the Wesleyan Hymn-book were 2 26 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. composed by John Wesley ; for he tells us so himself. Now, if it can be ascertained, to a tolerable certainty, what hymns were written by Charles Wesley, and others, the inference then is fair, that the balance com- prise the " small part" which were composed by John Wesley. There are in the Wesleyan Hymn-book, in- cluding the Supplement, 770 hymns, 623 of which are the productions of "the sanctified talent of Charles Wesley;" 117 are attributed to other authors, leaving about 30 hymns unaccounted for, 24 of which are trans- lations from the German. These 30 we ascribe to John Wesley. Now, we think the most squeamish stickler for grammatical or philological accuracy, will admit that 30 in comparison with 770, or even 561 — this being the number of hymns exclusive of the Sup- plement — niay with perfect fairness be considered only "a small part:" hence we infer that all the translations from the German were made by John Wesley. Satmtd tDfsUp, Sen., Rector of Epworth, and father of the founder of Methodism, though the author of but one hymn in our collection, deserves a prominent place among our list of hymnologists. His character as an author and poet, and his relationship to John and Charles Wesley, alike justify the position we have here given him. His prin- cipal works are, "The Life of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; a Heroic Poem, in ten Books ;" " The History of the Old and New Testament, attempted in Verse, and adorned with three hundred and thirty Sculptures;" "The Pious Communicant rightly pre- pared ; or a Discourse concerning the Blessed Sacra- METIIODIST HYMNOLOGY. 2*1 ment;" and a Commentary on the Book of Job, in Latin. Mr. Wesley was also a great controversialist, and wrote several tracts against the Dissenters, which afterward proved the cause of much annoyance and trouble to him. Of his poems, that which has given him the greatest reputation, is entitled, "Eupolis his Hymn to the Creator." Dr. Clarke, in his Wesley Family, speaks in high terms of praise of this compo- sition, and has republished it in that work with very copious and learned notes. Samuel Wesley, Jun., wrote a poem upon his father, in which he alludes to his parent's poetical works ; the History of the New Testament in verse having been severely censured by a writer named Brown : — " Nor yet unmention'd shall in silence lie His slighted and derided poetry ; Should Brown revile, or Swift my song despise, Should other Garths, and other legions rise : Whate'er his strains, still glorious was his end, Faith to assert, and virtue to defend. He sung how God the Saviour deign'd t' expire, With Vida's piety, though not his fire. Deduced his Maker's praise from age to age, Through the long annals of the sacred page; Not cursed like syren Dryden to excel, Who strew'd with flow'rets fair the road to hell ; With atheist doctrines loosest morals join'd, To rot the body, and to damn the mind. TV TV TT TV *?V TV Though not inglorious was the poet's fate, Liked and rewarded by the good and great ; For gracious smiles not pious Anne denied, And beauteous Mary blcss'd him when she died." 28 METHODIST IITMNOLOGY. Samuel iDjeslqj, 3nn. This excellent poet was the elder brother of John and Charles Wesley ; both of whom, to some extent, were indebted to him for their support while pursuing their studies at Oxford. Dr. Clarke, who calls him an " emi- nent man," writes of him thus : — " It is said of Mr. Samuel Wesley, by those who knew him well, that ' he possessed an open, benevolent temper, which he had from nature, which he had so cultivated on principle, and was so intent upon it as a duty to help everybody as he could, that the number and continual success of his good offices were astonishing even to his friends, who saw with what pleasure and zeal he did them ; and he was an instance how exceedingly serviceable in life a person of a very inferior station may be, who sets his heart upon it. As his diligence on such occasions was never tired out, so he had a singular address and dex- terity in soliciting them. His own little income was liberally made use of; and as his acquaintance whom he applied to were always confident of his care and integrity, he never wanted means to carry on his good purposes ; so that his life was a series of useful charity.' " Mr. Wesley's wit was keen, and his sense strong. As a poet, he stands entitled to a very distinguished niche in the temple of Fame ; and it has long appeared to me strange that his poetical works have not found a place either in Johnson's, Anderson's, or Chalmers' col- lection of the British poets. To say that those collect- ors did not think them entitled to a place there, would METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 29 be a gross reflection on their judgment; as in the last and best collection, consisting of one hundred and twenty-seven poets, it would be easy to prove that Samuel Wesley is equal to most, and certainly superior to one-half, of that number. But the name ! the name would have scared many superficial and fantastic read- ers, as they would have been sadly afraid of meeting in some corner or other with Methodism, which is so inti- mately connected with the name of Wesley. With multitudes, a name is the omen of good or bad luck, according to their fancies or prepossessions. " But though he has not been brought before the public in any of the above collections, it must not be forgotten that Dr. Johnson has given a quotation from him in the grammar prefixed to his dictionary as the best specimen of that kind of poetry to which he refers. The lines are generally known ; but many are ignorant of their author. EPITAPH ON AN INFANT. Beneath, a sleeping infant lies, To earth whose ashes lent, More glorious shall hereafter rise, Though not more innocent. When the archangel's trump shall Mow, And souls to bodies join, What crowds will wish their lives below Had been as short as thine ! " The truth and beauty of these lines will be felt as well as seen; therefore every one is a judge of their merit. Mr. Southey, too, in his ' Specimens of the later English Poets,' published in 180*7, has noticed him, and given us specimens of his poetical productions." 30 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. Besides those in the Hymn-book, Mr. Wesley is the author of the following fine hymns : " From whence these dire portents around ?" &c. " The Sun of righteousness appears," &c. t: Hail, God the Son, in glory crown'd !" &c. " Hail, Holy Ghost ! Jehovah ! third," &c. " Hail, holy, holy, holy Lord ! Be endless praise to thee," &c. Dr. Isaac tUatts. Next to Charles Wesley, the Methodists are indebted to Dr. Watts for the number of excellent hymns he has contributed to their standard collection ; there being in that work no less than sixty-eight hymns of his com- posing, besides several others which are his in part. As it would be impossible for the writer adequately to portray his character as a sacred poet, or to describe properly the peculiar merits of his hymns, so it would be impertinent to attempt the task, especially as it has been done so well by abler heads and hands. There- fore let Montgomery, the friend of Watts and of Wesley, though in communion with neither, speak his praise ; and if he should seem to give the palm to Watts, let us not be offended, while, as the admirers and followers of Wesley, we hold to a different opinion. " Passing by " (says Montgomery, in his Christian Psalmist) " Mrs. Rowe, and the mystical rhymes of her age, we come to the greatest name among hymn-writers : for we hesitate not to give that praise to Dr. Isaac Watts. * * * In his ' Psalms and Hymns,' (for they must be classed together,) he has embraced a compass and variety of subjects, which include and METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 31 illustrate every truth of revelation ; throw light upon every secret movement of the human heart, whether of sin, nature, or grace ; and describe every kind of trial, temptation, conflict, doubt, fear, and grief ; as well as the faith, hope, charity, the love, joy, peace, labor, and patience, of the Christian, in all stages of his course on earth ; together with the terrors of the Lord, the glories of the Redeemer, and the comforts of the Holy Spirit, to urge, allure, and strengthen him, by the way. There is in the pages of this evangelist a word in season for every one who needs it, in whatever circumstances he may require counsel, consolation, reproof, or instruc- tion. We say this, without reserve, of the materials of his hymns : had their execution always been correspond- ent with the preciousness of these, we should have had a * Christian Psahnist ' in England, next (and that only in date, not in dignity) to the ' sweet singer of Israel.' Nor is this so bold a word as it may seem. Dr. Watts 's hymns are full of ' the glorious gospel of the blessed God ;' his themes, therefore, are as much more illus- trious than those of the son of Jesse, who only knew the 'power and glory' of Jehovah as he had 'seen them in the sanctuary,' which was but the shadow of the New Testament church — as the face of Moses, holding communion with God, was brighter than the veil which he cast over it when conversing with his countrymen. " Dr. Watts may almost be called the inventor of hymns in our language ; for he so far departed from all precedent, that few of his compositions resemble those of his forerunners : while he so far established a precedent to all his successors, that none have departed from it, otherwise than as according to the peculiar 32 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. turn of mind in the writer, and the style of expressing Christian truths employed by the denomination to which he belonged." While his learned biographer, Milner, contends with Montgomery for the first place among hymn writers for Watts, and quotes the above extracts in support of his position, he is by no means blind to at least some of his favorite's defects. " With all my partiality for Watts," says he, " as a writer of religious song, I am not insensible to the defective tone and expression of some of his hymns, which betray, more indeed in phraseology than in spirit, the neighborhood of a hyper- Calvinistic school. The theology of his day was of a somewhat different mold to that embraced at the pre- sent by the majority of the dissenting churches : it had sterner features, and, at the same time, those which were more timid; it spoke in severer accents to the sinner, and in a more glowing and mystic style to the saint ; it delighted too much in presenting to the one elements of gathering wrath, without a shelter from the storm, and in pampering the other with the gay and ardent fancies of impassioned eastern poetry. The Cal- vinism of Watts was of the moderate kind at the close of his career, so much so as to subject him to the charge of Baxterianism ; yet still I am by no means certain but that his connection with Dr. Chauncey, a divine of the Crispian stamp, might give a coloring to his creed in early life. It would be an unprofitable task to particularize the luscious phrases which savor of the school — phrases which might easily be altered, and which assuredly ought to have been long ago ; which, to a mind like Watts's, will bespeak only the triumph of holy love, but which are apt to convey to METHODIST IIYMNOLOGY. 33 unhallowed imaginations a licentious image, and thus degrade the Christian's fellowship with his Redeemer, by an association with terms indicative of human fond- ness and familiarity. The ardency of pious affection is, indeed, apt to express itself in the language of animal passion. The heart in communion with God will not stay to take the guage of a fastidious delicacy before it gives utterance to its desires ; but it by no means fol- lows, that what is proper for the closet is adapted for the sanctuary. There is another fault which may be charged upon some of Watts's compositions, of an opposite character, but which proceeded from the same cause as the one just noticed. There is too little of that sweet persuasiveness, that melting tenderness, in which the gospel addresses the sinner; while harsh expressions occur, breathing a spirit of vindictiveness, which unquestionably does not harmonize with the cha- racter of that God who delights in mercy, and which borders upon downright impiety to offer up in praise to him. It would be a boon to the dissenting congrega- tions, if some one, of kindred spirit and competent ability, (and such a one doubtless might be found,) would give his hymns the benefit of a careful correction and revision. The productions of Charles Wesley have been revised and expurgated, and re-re vised ; and the memory and claims of Watts imperatively demand a similar service." Nearly every one of Watts's hymns in the Methodist Hymn-book has been subjected to just such a "cor- rection and revision," as Mr. Milner had sagacity enough to see they required, notwithstanding their high degree of excellence ; and that, too, by no less a personage than the same who " revised, and expurgated, and re- revised," the productions of Charles Wesley. It may 9* 34 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. be safely affirmed that there never was a person who possessed a nicer taste and discrimination, in that de- partment of sacred poetry intended for devotional purposes, than Mr. John Wesley ; and it is admitted by all who have expressed an opinion upon the subject, that his brother's hymns have been greatly improved by passing through his hands.. And Mr. Milner him- self has acknowledged that several of Dr. Watts's compositions are also indebted to the same source for their peculiar beauty of diction and strength of ex- pression. It will be quite in place here to point out some of these corrections and improvements*, But it may appear unreasonable that Mr. Wesley, after cau- tioning those who might reprint his and his brother's hymns, against all attempts to alter them, should him- self alter the hymns of others. To a charge of this kind, we would reply, in the words of Mr. Burgess, (to whose interesting work it affords the writer real plea- sure frequently to allude,) that " among all those, who in their collections have made free with Wesley's hymns, perhaps there has not been one, with the exception of Montgomery, whose poetical taste and judgment could be considered anything like on a par with those of John Wesley." If the original hymns be compared with the hymns as altered by Wesley, it will be found that the altera- tions seldom or never affect the sentiment, but merely the language, which is made more chaste, elegant, and poetical ; and the alterations must be pronounced decided improvements. The following are specimens : — Watts's original. " Run up with joy the shining way, To embrace my dearest Lord." METHODIST IIYMXOLOGT. 35 Altered by Wesley. '• Bun up with joy the shining -way, To sec and praiso my Lord." Wattfs original. " Nations, attend hefore his throne, With solemn fear, with sacred joy." Altered by Wesley. " Before Jehovah's awful throne, Ye nations, bow with sacred joy." Wcctts's original. £; The God that rules on high, And thunders when he please, That rides upon the stormy sky, And manages the seas." Altered by Wesley. " The God that rules on high, That all the earth surveys, That rides upon the stormy sky, And calms the roaring seas." Wattes original. " He dies, the heavenly Lover dies ; The tidings strike a doleful sound On my poor heart-strings : deep he lies In the cold caverns of the ground." Altered by Wesley. " He dies, the Friend of sinners dies ! Lo ! Salem's daughters weep around .' A solemn darkness veils the skies ; A sudden trembling shakes the ground," Watts^s original. " Look how we grovel here below, Fond of these trifling toys ; Our souls can neither fly nor go To reach eternal joys." 36 METHODIST HYMNOLOOT. Altered by Wesley. " Look how wo grovel here below, Fond of these earthly toys ; Our souls how heavily they go, To reach eternal joys." N Mr. Milner, in an extended review of Watts's poetry, in which he endeavors to estimate the relative merit of Watts and Wesley, as poets, — the two greatest hymn- ists, says he, " undoubtedly that our country can boast," —endeavors, but evidently not altogether even to his own satisfaction, to make it appear, as above inti- mated, that Watts is the greater of the two. One of whose "principal excellences" is said to be "the va- riety of his powers ;" but which " excellence," of course, would not be so apparent were it not brought into favorable contrast with the " little variety of manner, and less variety of matter" — principal defects/ — of the " far greater mass of religious poetry " of Charles Wes- ley. Mr. Milner has undoubtedly ventured this judg- ment upon his hymns, in utter ignorance of the charac- ter of the " far greater mass " of Mr. Wesley's poetry ; and he has very probably drawn his opinion from — which of themselves should have produced a different judgment — merely such of his hymns as are in general use among the Wesleyans. It is true, he tells us the poetical productions of Charles Wesley " are said to amount to forty -eight distinct publications," but he does not inform us that he has seen or examined any of them ; or his regard for truth, we may charitably con- clude, would never have suffered his partiality for his favorite so to prejudice his mind as to allow him to pen the following remarks, which certainly have not their foundation in fact. METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 87 " Many," says Milner, " of Charles Wesley's pieces wear the exclusive aspect of the sectarian ; he casts his mite into the treasury of a party ; he writes as the 1 poet of Methodism,' not as the servant of the univer- sal church. The paucity of his topics produces frequent repetition — a tiresome amplification of the same thought and theme ; and though this may be regarded as an ex- cellency or a defect, according as the religious opinions of his critic acree or differ from him, there can be no question that the amount of genius requisite for the composition of such hymns was far less than that which Watts brought and employed in his task." We again affirm, and do it without the least hesitation or reservation, that the above sentiments, as far as they refer to the " paucity of topics " exhibited in Charles Wesley's poetry, have their origin in ignorance — per- haps it ought to be said, want of information — or, in unconquerable prejudice. Has Watts paraphrased nearly the whole book of Psalms ? so has Wesley. Are most of Watts's hymns founded upon portions of the sacred Scriptures ? Wesley's, to use the language of Montgomery, " make the whole tour of Bible literature." Hence, as they both have drawn their inspiration, sub- jects, and matter, from the same sacred sources, and Wesley being the more prolific writer, it is fair to con- clude, even without a critical examination of their works, that an equal, if not a greater, " variety of topics" should characterize Wesley's hymns. But while Wesley, on the one hand, has devoted a whole volume to a single subject, as his "Hymns on the Trinity " and the " Lord's Supper," which certainly does not betray either a want of genius, or only a small amount of genius ; so, on the other hand, some of his 38 METHODIST HTMNOLOGY. volumes scarcely contain two compositions upon the same subject, as his " Family Hymns," and "Hymns of Intercession for all Mankind," which unquestionably demonstrates a genius of the veiy highest powers, and of almost universal application. The man, perhaps, is yet unborn who is properly and fully to estimate and portray the abilities of Charles Wesley as an English poet ; but there need be no fears that such a person never will be born. It is really amusing, though hardly edifying, to see with what tenacity our author pursues the " poet of a party" — as he has been pleased, rather illiberally, to designate Watts's Arminian rival — challenging and con- testing his claims to all those virtues with which he would invest his favorite. Not only are Watts's excellences magnified when brought into juxtaposition with Wes- ley's defects, but even an excuse — satisfactory, of course — for Watts's faults may be educed from a com- parison of the circumstances under which the poets re- spectively wrote. Hear Milner : " The faulty versification and inelegant construction of some of Watts's hymns, which have been pointed out as their principal defects, would never have occurred had they been written under the same circumstances as those of his Arminian successor. The former wrote principally in his youth, the latter in the full vigor of ripened manhood; to the former hymnic composition was an occasional recreation, to the latter, at one period, it was his chief employment. It is well known that Mr. C. Wesley desisted from his itinerant ministry, and abandoned the fatiguing journeys of his brother, for an ultimate residence in London and Bristol — the conse- quence of indolence, say some ; a just appreciation of METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 39 his own powers, say others. A considerable portion of his time was now devoted to poetical enterprise, to which he sedulously directed his talents ; he measured the object before him, in its height, and length, and depth, and breadth, and carefully trained and disci- plined his spirit for his task : ' His soul was like a star, and dwelt apart.' " But it was otherwise with Watts : none of those who had preceded him in this species of writing had attained any excellence so as to stimulate his genius and call forth his powers ; the hymns in use were so miser- ably defective, and the task of surpassing them so easy, that he did not generally 'gird up the loins of Ins mind.' This is to be lamented as the occasion of all his blemishes in composition. There is, however, far less appearance of effort in his hymns than in Wesley's ; they are less strained and artificial, and bear in a higher degree the stamp of being the spontaneous effusions of devotional feeling." There is another paragraph I must introduce, where- in Watts's biographer has attempted to sketch the rela- tive characteristics of some of the principal hymn writers, in which he has evidently taken his cue from Montgomery ; and it must be admitted, that, next to the Moravian bard, no author, without the pail of Method- ism, has treated Charles Wesley with more fairness than Milner. " Many laborers," says he, " have indeed since appear- ed in the field, some of undoubted talent, and all have trod in his [Watts's] steps ; yet his sacred songs remain, as a whole, unsurpassed and unequaled, and are far more generally used in the services of the church than those of any of his successors. Charles Wesley approaches 40 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. the nearest to him, but must yield the palm for origin- ality, catholicity, and versatility of genius. Doddridge's hymns are distinguished by their unaffected piety and engaging sweetness, but are often faulty in their poetry, and disfigured by a formal rhetoric. Newton's compo- sitions are clear and evangelical in their sentiments ; but prosaic, sometimes wretched in their construction, and, besides, unfit for congregational use. Cowper's mighty, yet sorely crossed and troubled spirit, produced some hymns in the sunshine of his day, which delightfully embody the experience of the Christian heart; some also of high and solemn character, written in ' the twi- light of departing reason,' on the verge of 'blackness of darkness.' Toplady, with all his churlishness, has struck off tones from David's harp, not inferior in vigor and musical intonation to any of his compeers. Bed- dome's humble and unpretending verse, barren in poe- try, will yet remain, for its instructive metrical apho- risms, a lasting blessing to the families of the righteous. Heber's performances have probably been admired more, and deserve it less, than any of the preceding ; for though arrayed in the ' purple and fine linen' of glittering diction, they are poor in thought and defec- tive in spirituality. These, and many others whose names have perished, but whose contributions to the treasury of devotion have been preserved, have follow- ed in the track of the nonconformist — their pattern and their guide." The above extract is not given because of a belief in all its sentiments, but on account of its appositeness to the subject in hand. Perhaps while full justice has not been awarded to Wesley and Heber, an undue amount of praise has been bestowed upon Toplady ; METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. 41 but, on the whole, the criticisms may be deemed judi- cious. In fairness, however, both to Charles Wesley and Watts's biographer, as well as to gratify the reader, another remark of Mr. Milner in reference to the rela- tive excellences of Watts and Wesley must be noticed. " In estimating," says he, " the merits of these two great hymnists — the greatest unquestionably that our country can boast — I should not hesitate to ascribe to the former greater skill in design, to the latter in execution ; to the former more originality, to the latter more polish. Many of Wesley's flights are bold, daring, and magni- ficent. The spirit of the righteous man, resting secure amid the conflagration of nature's elements, and ' clap- ping' its ' wings of fire,' is a vision of surpassing gran- deur, though the honor of the suggestion is, perhaps, due to Dr. Young." This certainly is as much as could be expected for Wesley, in a review written expressly in support of Dr. Watts's claims to " the highest place among the hymn- ists of our land." This high claim, so far as it relates to his " Divine Songs for Children," we have no dispo- sition to question, but rather incline to the opinion of Montgomery, and " give that praise to Dr. Isaac Watts, since it has pleased God to confer upon him, though one of the least of the poets of his country, more glory than upon the greatest either of that or of any other, by making his ' Divine Songs' a more abundant and universal blessing than the verses of any uninspired penman that ever lived." Notwithstanding we thus admit that Dr. Watts's de- lightful " Divine Songs" have had a more general cir- culation, and have been more useful to the rising gene- rations of the last century or more, yet we look anxious- 42 METHODIST HYMNOLOGY. ly forward to the day when Charles Wesley's " Hymns for Children," which are not inferior to those of Watts, and are more than treble their number, will be pub- lished in an attractive form, and placed within the reach of every child and young person in Christendom. See some further remarks on these hymns on page 207. Dr. Watts published a volume entitled " A Guide to Prayer," intended to assist the youthful Christian in the performance of this important part of devotion. This work, and his version of the Psalms, occasioned the following satirical lines, by Samuel Wesley, Jun., which appeared in the second edition of his Poems, 1743:— " Form stints the spirit, Watts has said, And therefore oft is wrong ; At best a crutch the weak to aid, A cumbrance to the strong. " Of human liturgies the load Perfection scorns to bear ; Th' apostles were but weak, when God Prescribed his form of prayer. " Old David, both in prayer and praise, A form for crutches brings ; Bat Watts has dignified his lays, And furnish'd him with wings. " E'en Watts a form for praise can choose, For prayer, who throws it by ; Crutches to walk, he can refuse, But uses them to fly." METHODIST IIYMNOLOGY. 43 Dr. JBobiriig*. We are indebted to Montgomery for the subjoined obser- vations on the hymns of Doddridge and Toplady : — " All that can be imagined deficient in Addison's hymns, will be foimd to constitute the glory of Dod- dridge's. They shine in the beauty of holiness ; these offsprings of his mind are arrayed in ' the fine linen, pure and white, which is the righteousness of saints :' and, like the saints, they are lovely and acceptable, not for their human merit, (for in poetry and eloquence they are frequently deficient,) but for that fervent, un- affected love to God, his service, and his people, which distinguishes them. Blessed is the man who can take the words of this devoted servant of Christ, and say, from similar experience, ' happy day, that fix'd my choice On thee, my Saviour and my God,' &c. Or who, sitting down to commemorate the dying love of his Redeemer, can exclaim, ' The King of heaven his table spreads,' &c. ; or sing in higher mood, ' Lord of the sabbath, hear us pray,' &c. And how dwelleth the love of God in that heart which can hear un- moved, and without praying to be made a partaker of the same spirit, that sweet and humble appeal, ' Do not I love thee, O my Lord ?' The fourth verse presents the touch-stone of Christian profession, experience, and practice : — ' Hast thou a lamb in all thy flock I would disdain to feed ? Hast thou a foe, before Avhose face I fear thy cause to plead V " 44 METHODIST IIYMNOLOGY. ^Utcjustus ffoptcttm. " The hymns of the Rev. Augustus Toplady form a striking contrast with the mild and humane tone of Dod- dridge's. There is a peculiarly ethereal spirit in some of these; in which, whether mourning or rejoicing, praying or praising, the writer seems absorbed in the full triumph of faith, and, ' whether in the body or out of the body, caught up into the third heaven,' and be- holding unutterable things. He evidently kindled his poetic torch at that of his cotemporary, Charles Wes- ley ; and, though inferior in breadth and volume of flame, yet the light which it sheds is not less vivid and sparkling, while it may be said to be more delicate to the eye, and refreshing to the spirits, than that prodi- gality of radiance which the rival luminary cast alike on everything it touched. 'Rock of ages, cleft for me,'