Jesu, my Saviour, Brother, Friend. C. Wesley. [Jesus All in All.] First published in Hymns & Sacred Poems, 1742, p. 214, in 15 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "Watch in all things" (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. ii. p. 271). In 1780 J. Wesley divided stanzas i.-xi. into two hymns, and gave them in the Wesleyan Hymn Book as (1) "Jesu, my Saviour, Brother, Friend" (No. 303); and (2) "Pierce, fill me with an humble fear" (No. 304). This arrangement is repeated in the revised edition, 1875, and other collections. In several American Unitarian hymn-books the first part is altered to "Great God, my Father, and my friend"; and in some Presbyterian collections as "Great God, our Father, and our Friend"; but the use of these forms has not extended to Great Britain; neither has that in the American Methodist Episcopal Hymns, 1849, No. 586, which is composed of stanzas vi. vii., and begins "Jesu, I fain would walk in Thee." In the American Methodist Episcopal Hymns, 1849, Pt. ii. begins, "Lord, fill me with an humble fear."
--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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