God of all consolation, take. C. Wesley. [Parting of Friends.] This is the last of his Hymns for those that Seek, and those that Have Redemption, &c, 1747, No. lii., in 8 double stanzas of 4 lines (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. iv. p. 280). In 1780, a cento in 12 stanzas beginning with stanza i. was given in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, as No. 523 (new edition 1875, 537), and has been repeated in most of the Methodist collections. Several interesting "associations" of this hymn are given in Stevenson's Methodist Hymn Book Notes, 1883. In Cotterili's Selection, 6th edition, 1815, and subsequent editions, the hymn:—
"Not unto us, but Thee, O Lord!
Be praise and glory given," &c,
appeared in 4 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, "The Saints kept by the power of God." From Cotterill’s Selection, it passed into Bp. Bickersteth's Psalms & Hymns, 1858; the Islington Psalms & Hymns; the Hymnal Companion, and others. In Kennedy, 1863, it begins, "Not unto us, to Thee, O Lord." This cento is usually ascribed to "J. Cennick and T. Cotterill"; as in Miller's Singers and Songs, &c, 1869, p. 362, and the Hymnal Companion Notes. This error has arisen out of the similarity of the first line to J. Cennick's hymn:—
"Not unto us but Thee alone,
Bless'd Lamb, be glory given," &c.
The cento is based upon stanzas i., vi.-viii. of C. Wesley's hymn. The alterations by Cotterill are so numerous as almost to constitute a new hymn. Its correct ascription is, "C. Wesley, 1747; T. Cotterill, 1815." [William T. Brooke]
--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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