In 1738, after his return to England, John Wesley published a Collection of Psalms and Hymns (12mo, 84 pp., 8d. stitched). In this appeared his version from the Spanish—
- O God, my God, my all Thou art;
and from the German—
- Thou, Jesu, art our King.
- Shall I, for fear of feeble man.
- All glory to the eternal Three.
- Thou hidden love of God, whose height.
- O Thou, to whose all-searching sight.
Dr. Watts and the New Version are drawn upon freely, and Bishop Ken's three hymns are included.
Up to this moment Charles Wesley had been silent. His poetic genius really awoke on Whit Sunday, 1738, when he found the rest of faith. In the previous March he had a serious illness at Oxford, and on his recovery wrote two tender hymns. One of these, now omitted from the Methodist hymn-book, may be described as the first-fruits of his work—
- God of my life, what just return
- Can sinful dust and ashes give?
- I only live my sin to mourn;
- To love my God I only live!
- God of my life, what just return
After his conversion, all the springs of Charles Wesley's nature burst into song. The Hymns and Sacred Poems published by John and Charles Wesley in 1739 is a 12mo volume, pp. xvi, 223. It consists largely of selections from Gambold and Herbert. Charles Wesley's two hymns above mentioned are included, and—
- Father of Lights, from whom proceeds.
- Lord, I despair myself to heal.
- Jesu, the sinner's Friend, to Thee.
- Jesu! my great High-priest above.
The second part marks the beginning of Charles Wesley's strength. It opens with the Conversion hymn, 'Where shall my wondering soul begin?' and soon passes into a realm of pure gold.
- Here are found—
- Thee, O my God and King.
- O Filial Deity.
- And can it be, that I should gain.
