Wretched, helpless, and distressed. C. Wesley. [
Lent.] First published in
Hymns & Sacred Poems, 1742, p. 43, in 8 stanzas of 8 lines, as a second hymn on Rev. iii. 17. In 1780, stanza ii. was omitted when the hymn was given in the
Wesleyan Hymn Book, No. 105, and in the same form it is still retained. Original text
Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. ii. pp. 92-94. The somewhat peculiar lines:—
"My whole heart is sick of sin,
And my whole head is faint"
is furnished with this note by Dr. Osborn (
Poetical Works as above).
"This singular transposition of the Prophet's words (Isaiah i. 5) though found in all the editions, must still be regarded as an oversight."
No evidence, however, of its being such is forthcoming, and the revised edition of the
Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1875, retains the old reading.
--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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