The Enchiridion

J.& C.Wesley: Poetical Works (ed. G.Osborn: Vol.IV, 1869)

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Poetical Works of J.& C.Wesley, ed. G.Osborn: Vol.IV, 1869: transcriptions from a copy in St Deiniol's Library, Hawarden.

Editorial Preface (various Collections, 1744-49)
Title-pages:
Hymns for Ascension-Day, 1746
Hymns for Those that Seek &c., 1747
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[Editorial Preface]

ADVERTISEMENT

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The first of those eight publications which are wholly, or in part, reprinted in this Volume, appeared in 1744, the last in 1749.

{ Hymns for times of trouble and persecution, 1744
{ Hymns in time of persecution
{ Hymns to be sung in a Tumult
{ Hymns for Times of Trouble, for the Year 1745
{ Hymns for times of trouble (6 hymns)

Hymns for the Public Thanksgiving-Day, October 9, 1746

Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord

Hymns for Our Lord's Resurrection, 1746 (3rd edn 1748)

Hymns for Ascension-Day. 1746

Hymns of Petition and Thanksgiving for the Promise of the Father, 1746

Hymns for those that seek and those that have Redemption in the Blood of Jesus Christ. 1747

Hymns and Sacred Poems Vol.I Part I. 1749

Readers of the Journals of the two authors, who have marked the course and extent of their labours in travelling and preaching through those years, may well wonder that they found time to attend upon the Muses, and will see in these productions new evidence of that conscientious devotion, and diligent employment of all their time, and all their talents, which marked these wonderful brothers.

The three first tracts relate chiefly to the Rebellion of 1745, and exhibit the patriotism and loyalty of the Wesleys, unshaken by persecution, and sustained as it was by a sense of duty to God, and by an unfaltering hatred of Rome. The "Hymns on the Nativity," form the first of that admirable series of "Festival Hymns" which the preachers were instructed to "take care to have in readiness," that the annual solemnities might be duly improved, not only by the sermons on the subject, which they were advised to preach, but by appropriate hymns. The small volume in which they were contained was superseded by the publication of the "Supplement" in 1831. But though no longer needed for public worship, these hymns have a permanent value. They exemplify most plainly that clear apprehension and tenacious grasp of catholic truth which both brothers had from the beginning of their Christian course, together with the yearning desire that it should be experimentally as well as theoretically known, which belonged to them after they had "tasted that the Lord is gracious."

In a letter to his brother Charles, dated December 26th, 1761, Wesley expressed a very candid opinion as to the "Nativity Hymns." "Omit one or two of them, and I will thank you. They are namby-pambical." Judging by the marks in his own copy, he would have omitted verses 3, 4, 5 of Hymn VI., and verses 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14 of Hymn XVI. For some unknown reason his wishes were not carried out; but "the very best hymn in the whole Collection," namely, that beginning "All glory to God in the sky," was restored to the place from which it had been unaccountably omitted in several editions. Posterity has almost ratified Wesley's opinion; though, doubtless, some portion of the interest felt in this hymn may be ascribed to his singing (or attempting to sing) it on his death-bed.

The value of the "hymns for those that Seek and those that Have Redemption," &c., is best attested by the fact that, in proportion to its size, it has supplied a larger number of hymns to the "Large Hymn-Book" than any other of the publications of the two brothers.

The "Hymns and Sacred Poems, by Charles Wesley," will, it is hoped, be completed in the next volume.

Richmond, Surrey,
June 21st, 1869.
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[Title Page, 1746] 

HYMNS

FOR

ASCENSION-DAY

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BRISTOL:

Printed by FELIX FARLEY, 1746

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 [Title Page, 1747] 

HYMNS

FOR

THOSE THAT SEEK AND THOSE THAT HAVE

REDEMPTION

IN THE

BLOOD

OF

JESUS CHRIST. 

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LONDON:

Printed by W.STRAHAN: and sold by THOMAS TRYE,

near Gray's-Inn Gate in Holbourn; and at the

Foundery near Upper-Moor-Fields.

MDCCXLVII

[ Price Six-Pence. ]

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