THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 42!
to follow that young woman. He turned exceeding serious, and kept something of that disposition ever since. Yesterday was a fortnight, he died of consumption. I saw him three days before he died ; and on the Sunday following, did him the last good office I could here, by preaching his funeral sermon ; which was his desire when living."
On August i, 1766, Wesley visited Ewood. The last time I was here, young Mr. Grimshaw received us in the same hearty manner as his father used to do ; but he too is now gone into eternity ! So in a few years the family is extinct ! I preached at one in a meadow near the house to a numerous congregation ; and we sang with one heart
Let sickness blast and death devour.
Hymn 823. Shrinking from the cold hand of death.
CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Short Jfyinns on Select Passage of Scripture, 1762 ; Works t i.x. 33. Verses I and 2 are Xo. 106, Jacob gathered up his feet into the bed (Gen. xlix. 33); ver. 3 is from 254, Moses stripped Aaron of his garments (Num. xx. 2S).
In ver. 2 Charles Wesley wrote, Thou wilt in death remember me.
It is precious to Methodism, because John Wesley generally used it to close the touching services of his last days, and gave it out often in the family circle at the preachers house ifi City Road. In June, 1783, on his eightieth birthday, he writes, God grant I may never live to be useless ! Rather may I
My body with my charge lay down, And cease at once to work and live.
Hymn 821. Lord, it belongs not to my care. RICHARD BAXTER.
Part of his hymn on Resignation, My whole, though broken heart, O Lord. Eight verses. It appeared in his Poetical Fragments Heart Imployment with God and Itself ; The Concordant Discord of a Broken-hearted Heart. It is dated London, at the door of Eternity : Rich. Baxter, August 7, 1681. A second edition appeared 1689 > 3 r d, 1699. It is entitled The Covenant and Confidence of Faith." Baxter
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