Leader of faithful souls, and Guide. C. Wesley. [The Christian Race.] Appeared in Hymns for those that Seek, and, those that Have Redemption, 1747, No. 41, in 8 st.anzas of 6 lines, and entitled "The Traveller" (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. iv. p. 262). In 1776, Toplady included 7 stanzas in his Psalms & Hymns as No. 269, and from thence it passed into various collections of the Church of England, including Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody, 1833, and others. As found in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, No. 69, and later editions, and in the collections of other Methodist bodies, stanzas v. and vii. are omitted. Its American use is great.
--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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