O disclose Thy lovely face. C. Wesley. [Pardon desired.] There are two centos in common use, each beginning with this line, as follows:—
(1) The first is No. 156 of the Wesleyan Hymn Book, prior to the 1875 revision. It is thus composed: stanza i. is stanza ii. of C. Wesley's hymn, "Lord, how long, how long shall I," which appeared in the Hymns & Sacred Poems, 1740; and stanza ii. and iii. are stanza ii., iii. of "Christ, Whose glory fills the skies". In this form the cento was given in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, and is found in several Methodist collections. (2) The second form of the hymn is No. 156, in the revised Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1875. It is composed of stanzas ii., iii., and v. of "Lord, how long, how long shall I?" as above.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >
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