Watts; seven from John Austen; six are based on Herbert's poems. The Watts selection includes—
- Before Jehovah's awful throne.
- I'll praise my Maker while I've breath.
- Praise ye the Lord: tis good to raise.
- Awake, our souls; away, our fears.
- And must this body die?
- Come, ye that love the Lord.
- O Thou that hear'st when sinners cry.
- With joy we meditate the grace.
- How sad our state by nature is!
The three hymns by Samuel Wesley junior to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are included, and his father's 'Behold the Saviour of mankind'. There are five translations from the German—
No. 14. Thou Lamb of God, Thou Prince of Peace.
- 16. O God, Thou bottomless abyss.
- 20. My soul before Thee prostrate lies.
- 26. Jesu, to Thee my heart I bow.
- 40. O Jesu, Source of calm repose.
and two hymns from Addison—
- When all Thy mercies, O my God.
- The spacious firmament on high.
Canon Ellerton says Wesley's voyage to Georgia was memorable as 'a turning-point in the history of English hymnody'. The Oxford Methodists soon became friendly with their Moravian fellow passengers. 'John Wesley's impressible nature was especially touched by the bright faith and humble, cheerful piety of these good people, who sang their beloved Lutheran hymns day by day through the most tempestuous weather. It was the first time that Anglicans and Lutherans, singers of psalms and singers of hymns, had worshipped and travelled together in familiar intercourse; and one of the results of their fellowship undoubtedly was the large extent to which hymn-singing entered into the devotions of the future Methodist Societies'.
'Hereby my passage is opened to the writings of holy men in the German, Spanish, and Italian tongues. I hope, too, some good may come to others thereby'. That is Wesley's description of one of the benefits conferred on him by the mission to Georgia.
