82 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED
Hymn 59. I ll praise iny Maker while I ve breath.
ISAAC WATTS, D.D. (3).
Psalm cxlvi., from The Psalms of Davia , 1719 ; six verses, headed Praise to God for His goodness and truth.
Wesley included it in his Charlestown Collection, 1737, with verses 2 and 5 omitted. He made two felicitous alterations, which show his taste and skill. I ll praise my Maker with my breath was changed to while I ve breath ; and The Lord hath eyes to give the blind to pours eyesight on.
Wesley never ceased to love this hymn. Miss Ritchie calls it his favourite psalm. He gave it out before his sermon in his last service at City Road on Tuesday evening, February 22, 1791. Next day he preached his last sermon at Leatherhead. He returned home to City Road on Friday morning, and on the Monday afternoon, while his clothes were being brought that he might get up, he broke out singing the first and second verses (of I ll praise my Maker while I ve breath ( these blessed words, as Miss Ritchie calls them in her account of his de.ath) with a vigour that astonished all his friends. The tune was the Old usth, which was a special favourite of his. It is set in the new Tune-Book to 595. During the Tuesday night he was often heard (Tyerman says scores of times ) trying to repeat the psalm before mentioned, but could only get out, I ll praise I ll praise
On the evening of John Fletcher s wedding-day (November 12, 1781), John Valton preached at Cross Hall, from those most suitable words, " What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits ? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord." His words did not fall to the ground : many were greatly refreshed. After preaching there was a sweet contest among us ; every one thought, " I in particular owe the greatest debt of praise " ; till we jointly agreed to sing, " I ll praise my Maker while I ve breath."
On the afternoon of the day when Sammy Hick, the Village Blacksmith, died (November 9, 1829), some of his friends came from Sherburn to visit him. He was too weak to pray, but asked them to pray with him, and with great feebleness gave out the first verse of one of his favourite hymns, I ll praise my Maker while I ve breath.
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