238 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED
Manchester, on their way to the chapel at Birchin Lane, " Joseph, I will read you a hymn which those of us sing who know our sins forgiven? He then opened his hymn-book, and read that beautiful hymn on adoption, beginning " My God, I am Thine." He was much struck with it, not having heard or read it before ; and expressed an ardent desire to be enabled to adopt its language as descriptive of his own experience. He was much encouraged by the assurance given him by his pious friend, who lived in the personal enjoyment of this blessing, that he might soon attain it, and be enabled from happy experience to sing the hymn with him.
Sampson Staniforth, the brave soldier-preacher, said to a friend a few days before his death at Deptford, 1783, I think my experience may be all summed up in these few words
In the heavenly Lamb, Thrice happy I am, And my heart it doth dance at the sound of His name. ;
The night before he died he repeated many passages from our hymns, and among the rest, " O for a heart to praise my God " ; and soon after |
My God, I am Thine, What a comfort divine, What a blessing to know that my Jesus is mine !
Sammy Hick got his two Pontefract friends to sing this hymn at his bedside on the night before he died. When it was finished the old man said, Blessed Jesus ! this cheers my spirits.
Hymn 369. My God, the spring of all my joys.
ISAAC WATTS, D.D. (3).
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1707. God s presence is light in darkness.
Ver. 2 reads
In darkest shades, if He appear
My dawning is begun ; He is my soul s sweet morning star,
And He my rising sun.
Ver. 4, line 4, To embrace my dearest Lord.
In Wesley s Psalms and Hy?nns, 1741, it is given as No. 118, with
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