450 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED
Hymn 879. Gentle Jesus, meek and mild. CHARLES WESLEY (i).
This hymn and five others for children appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742, and was reprinted in Hymns for Children, 1763 ; Works, vi. 441. Hymns for the youngest.
Verses I and 2 are taken from Hymn 72 in this set ; ver. 3 from a hymn in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1 742, In Temptation ( Works, ii. 97) ; 4, 5 from the second part of Hymn 73.
The original of ver. 3 is
O, supply my earthly want ;
Feed a tender, sickly plant ;
Day and night my Keeper be,
Every moment water me. Ver. 2 reads
Fain I would to Thee be brought ;
Dearest God, forbid it not ;
Give me, dearest God, a place
In the kingdom of Thy grace.
It is associated with the happy infancy of tens of thousands. Watts wrote some simple lyrics which seem to have suited our prim little ancestors ; and Charles Wesley wrote, " Gentle Jesus, meek and mild " ; but even the manners and beliefs of the devout souls of that time cannot altogether excuse some of his hymns, which must have frightened many a poor little Methodist out of his wits. Dr. A. E. Gregory.
Hymn 880. Lamb of God, I look to Thee.
CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1742 ; Hymns for Children, 1763 ; Works, vi. 442. See 879.
The hymn is in seven verses. Two are transferred to 879 ; one omitted ; four used for 880.
Hymn 881. I lay my sins on Jesus.
DR. H. BONAR (70).
In Songs for the Wilderness, 1843, headed The Fullness of Jesus. In Bible Hymn-book it is headed The Substitute. This is Dr. Bonar s first hymn ; written for his Sunday school in Leith.
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