8o THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED
Hymn 55. Great God ! to me the sight afford.
CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Short Hymns on Select Passages of Scripture, 1762 ; Works, ix. 54. Exod. xxxiv. 5, 6.
In his preface Charles Wesley wrote : God, having graciously laid His hand upon my body, and disabled me for the principal work of the ministry, has thereby given me an unexpected occasion of writing the following hymns. Many of the thoughts are borrowed from Mr. Henry s Comment, Dr. Cell on the Pentateuch, and Bengelius on the New Testament. Almost every line of this hymn shows how he used Matthew Henry.
Mercy is Thy distinguished name, Which suits a sinner best,
is based on the note, He is merciful. This is put first, because it is the first wheel in all the instances of God s goodwill to fallen man, whose misery makes him an object of pity.
Hymn 56. Thou, rny God, art good and wise.
CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Hymns for Children, 1763 ; Works, vi. 390. The fourth line reads, Eternally adore."
The hymn is almost a metrical version of Wesley s Instruc tions for Children :
My God, Thou art good, Thou art wise ; Thou art powerful. Be Thou praised for ever. Give me grace to love and obey Thee. My God, I thank Thee for giving me meat and clothes, and for promising to give me Thy love for ever. My God, forgive me all my sins, and give me Thy good Spirit. Let me believe in Thee with all my heart, and love Thee with all my strength. Let me be always looking unto Jesus Christ, who is pleading for me at Thy right hand, c.
Wesley writes in his Journal : Monday, July 4, 1743, and the following days, I had time to finish the Instructions for Children? They were published in 1745, price ^d. Wesley says in his preface to all parents and schoolmasters, that although the great truths herein contained are more imme diately addressed to children, yet are they worthy the deepest consideration both of the oldest and wisest of men. Experience
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