ds for the
voyage, friends in all parts of England came to his aid. The journey was
undertaken, but on October 26, 1751, he died at Lisbon.

A Hymn of the Ages

Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high!
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide:
O receive my soul at last!

Other refuge have I none;
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, ah, leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust in Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring:
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want;
More than all in Thee I find.
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am,
Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the Fountain art,
Freely let me take of Thee:
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.

Charles Wesley, 1740.

WESLEY, THE SWEET BARD OF METHODISM

Every great religious movement has witnessed an outburst of song. This
was particularly true of the Lutheran Reformation in Germany and other
lands and of the Methodist revival in England. John and Charles Wesley,
like Martin Luther, understood something of the value of sacred song in
impressing religious truths upon the hearts and minds of men. While John
Wesley was undoubtedly a preacher of marvelous spiritual power, the real
secret of the success of the Wesleyan movement more likely must be sought
in the sublime hymns written by his brother Charles.

With Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley holds the foremost place in the realm of
English hymnody. No less than 6,500 hymns are said to have been written
by this "sweet bard of Methodism." Naturally they are not all of the
highest order, but it is surprising how many of them rise to real poetic
excellence. Of the 770 hymns in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 623 are from the
pen of Charles Wesley!

Wesley did not write hymns merely as a duty, nor yet as a pastime. His