THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 335
the mighty faith, the burning love to Christ, the yearning pity for the souls of men, the heavenly-mindedness, the animating hope of future glory, which characterized his public ministry, and which not only enabled him to deliver his Lord s message before scoffing multitudes, but also carried him through his wasting labours, and the riots of Bristol, of Cornwall, of Staffordshire, of Devizes, and of Ireland, without a murmur. As a witness for Christ, he freely sacrificed his reputation as a man of letters and of genius ; and of life itself, comparatively speaking, he made no account.
Hymn 596. Jesus, the word of mercy give.
CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Short Hymns on Select l\issagts of Scripture, 1762. Verses I nnd 2, 2 Chron. vi. 41 (Works, ix. 209) ; verses 3 to 6, Judges v. 31 (Works, ix. 134).
Hymn 597. What shall we offer our good Lord.
AUGUST GOTTLIEB SPANGENBF.RG (1704-92) ; translated by JOHN WESLEY (36).
Dcr Konig ruht, und schauet doch, in the Herrnhut Hymn-book, 1737. In the Brethren s Hymn-book, 1778, it is described, On Zin- zendorf, May 26, 1734. It was written for the count s birthday.
Wesley s translation was given in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742 ; Works, ii. 64. It is headed God s Husbandry. From the German." It begins, High on His everlasting throne. Ver. 2 reads, .Av?;- object of our growing love. Cf. S. Wesley, jun., Battle of the Sexes, And thoti, dear object of my growing love.
Spangenberg was the son of a Lutheran pastor at Kletten- berg, studied theology at the University of Jena, and in 1732 went to Halle as adjunct of the theological faculty and super intendent of the Orphanage Schools. He associated himself with the Separatists, was expelled from Halle in 1733, and joined the Moravians at Herrnhut. In 1735 ne went with the Moravian colony to Georgia. He married one of the Sisters in 1740, and founded the first Moravian settlement in England at Smith House, Yorkshire. In 1744 he was consecrated Moravian bishop for North America, and gave about eighteen years to the work in Pennsylvania and among the Indians.
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