1O GOD, my God, my all thou art! Ere shines the dawn of rising day, Thy sovereign light within my heart, Thy all-enlivening power display.
2For thee my thirsty soul doth pant, While in this desert land I live; And hungry as I am, and faint, Thy love alone can comfort give.
3In a dry land, behold, I place My whole desire on thee, O Lord; And more I joy to gain thy grace, Than all earth's treasures can afford.
4More dear than life itself, thy love My heart and tongue shall still employ; And to declare thy praise will prove My peace, my glory, and my joy.
5In blessing thee with grateful songs My happy life shall glide away; The praise that to thy name belongs Hourly with lifted hands I'll pay.
6Abundant sweetness, while I sing Thy love, my ravished heart o'erflows; Secure in thee, my God and King, Of glory that no period knows.
7Thy name, O God, upon my bed Dwells on my lips, and fires my thought; With trembling awe, in midnight shade, I muse on all thy hands have wrought.
8In all I do I feel thine aid; Therefore thy greatness will I sing, O God, who bidd'st my heart be glad Beneath the shadow of thy wing!
9My soul draws nigh and cleaves to thee: Then let or earth or hell assail, Thy mighty hand shall set me free; For whom thou sav'st, he ne'er shall fail.
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Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788)
Was an English hymn writer, poet, and preacher who wrote over 5,500 hymns including And Can It Be That I Should Gain?, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, and Hark! the Herald Angels Sing. A leader of the Methodist movement with his brother John Wesley.Wesley's conversion had a clear impact on his doctrine, especially the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The change in doctrine can be seen in his sermons after 1738, but is most notable in his hymns written after 1738. From Charles published work “Hymns and Prayers to the Trinity” and in Hymn number 62 he writes “The Holy Ghost in part we know, For with us He resides, Our whole of good to Him we owe, Whom by His grace he guides, He doth our virtuous thoughts inspire, The evil he averts, And every seed of good desire, He planted in our hearts.”
Charles Wesley is best known for his prolific hymn writing, his poetry and for being one of the founding fathers of the Methodist denomination of Christianity. He wrote more than six thousand hymns, of which a handful remain in modern day worship.
John and Charles Wesley's Methodist style was to take the word of God to people, wherever they were, rather than try to get them into a church to hear it. The numbers of converts grew and were gathered into 'societies' to nurture their faith.
With their helpers they began their travelling ministry, covering thousands of miles on horseback over the years throughout England and in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with London, Bristol, and Newcastle being the main centres of their work.
The high-intensity preaching took its toll on Charles; he suffered from nervous exhaustion and severe depression. He was 80 when he died on 29th March 1788. With his famous carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing heard everywhere from cathedrals to supermarkets, the legacy of Charles Wesley is likely to continue for years to come.
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley (the Younger), and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley.
Despite their closeness, Charles and his brother John did not always agree on questions relating to their beliefs. In particular, Charles was strongly opposed to the idea of a breach with the Church of England into which they had been ordained. Charles Wesley is chiefly remembered for the many hymns he wrote. He founded Wesley Chapel in the village of Brayton, which is just south of Selby. His house, located nearby, can still be visited today.