THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 315
Dr. Osborn says, After the ever-memorable 24th of May, 1738, Wesley knew "the way of God more perfectly," and wrote as in the text.
In the Large Hymn-book, 1 780, Wesley changed Be fixed in ver. 2 to Seem fixed, and made the last line, To taste Thy love is all my choice, a prayer by changing it into be all my choice.
Two verses are omitted
O Love, Thy sovereign aid impart. Ah no ! ne er will I backward turn.
The opening paragraph of Augustine s Confessions has supplied the note for this hymn : Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee ; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.
Earl Selborne says, Of all the more copious German hymn- writers after Luther, Tersteegen was perhaps the most remark able man. Pietist, mystic, and missionary, he was also a great religious poet. 1 Miss Cox speaks of him as a gentle, heaven- inspired soul, whose hymns are the reflection of a heavenly, happy life, his mind being full of a child-like simplicity.
Hymn 532. For over here my rest shall be. CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1740; IVorks, \. 283. Christ our Righteousness. I Cor. i. 30. The first two verses are
Jesu, Thou art my Righteousness,
For all my sins were Thine : Thy death hath bought of God my peace,
Thy life hath made Him mine.
Spotless and just in Thee I am ;
I feel my sins forgiven ; I taste salvation in Thy name,
And antedate my heaven.
The third verse is For ever here my rest shall be.
From his death-bed at Cannes, in March, 1901, William Arthur sent a parting word to his old friend Dr. Rigg. Give him this message from me : The Lord crowneth the year with His goodness. He maketh the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice. What is called the " dark valley ; has not
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