Jesus, lover of my soul

Of all the hymns Charles Wesley has written, this is usually considered to be his finest. He wrote anywhere from 6, 500 up to 8, 000 hymns. This hymn is still found in nearly every published hymnal and has been translated to almost every language. However, when Charles presented it to his brother John for approval, he did not like it because it was too sentimental. It was not until after Charles died that the hymn began to gain popularity and use. It was first published in 1740 in a collection of 139 hymns known as “ Hymns and Sacred Poems. ” The late Dr. Bodine said, “Is is the finest heart-hymn in the English language. ” Henry Ward Beecher, noted American preacher wrote:

I would rather have written that hymn of Wesley’s than to have the fame of all the kings that ever sat on the earth; it is more glorious, it has more power in it. I would rather be the author to that hymn than to hold the wealth of the richest man in New York. He will die after a little while, pass out of men’s thoughts, what will there be to speak of him? But people will go on singing that song until the last trump brings forth the angel band; and then I think it will mount upon some lips to the very presence of God.

There are many stories of the how Wesley was inspired to write this hymn but none has been completely proven. Some of these are as follows. On his return to England in the fall of 1763, after a disappointing time in the United States, Charles Wesley’s ship was caught in a storm and it seemed that all would be lost but on December 3 they reached land. Wesley wrote in his journal for that day, “I knelt down and blessed the Hand that had conducted me through inextricable mazes. ” Some writers say that during the storm a bird flew into Wesley’s cabin and hid in his bosom for comfort and safety. Another says Wesley wrote this text while lying under a hedge, having been beaten up by an angry mob opposing his ministry. Still others see the text as a picture of Wesley’s own life as a young man as he struggled to find his peace with God before his dramatic conversion on May 21, 1738.

Calling out to the only One who is in control

There is no better time when this song fits perfectly, than in this uncertain times that we are in.

Hide us till the storm is past. Amen

Of all the hymns Charles Wesley has written, this is usually considered to be his finest. He wrote anywhere from 6, 500 up to 8, 000 hymns. This hymn is still found in nearly every published hymnal and has been translated to almost every language. However, when Charles presented it to his brother John for approval, he did not like it because it was too sentimental. It was not until after Charles died that the hymn began to gain popularity and use. It was first published in 1740 in a collection of 139 hymns known as “ Hymns and Sacred Poems. ” The late Dr. Bodine said, “Is is the finest heart-hymn in the English language. ” Henry Ward Beecher, noted American preacher wrote:

I would rather have written that hymn of Wesley’s than to have the fame of all the kings that ever sat on the earth; it is more glorious, it has more power in it. I would rather be the author to that hymn than to hold the wealth of the richest man in New York. He will die after a little while, pass out of men’s thoughts, what will there be to speak of him? But people will go on singing that song until the last trump brings forth the angel band; and then I think it will mount upon some lips to the very presence of God.

There are many stories of the how Wesley was inspired to write this hymn but none has been completely proven. Some of these are as follows. On his return to England in the fall of 1763, after a disappointing time in the United States, Charles Wesley’s ship was caught in a storm and it seemed that all would be lost but on December 3 they reached land. Wesley wrote in his journal for that day, “I knelt down and blessed the Hand that had conducted me through inextricable mazes. ” Some writers say that during the storm a bird flew into Wesley’s cabin and hid in his bosom for comfort and safety. Another says Wesley wrote this text while lying under a hedge, having been beaten up by an angry mob opposing his ministry. Still others see the text as a picture of Wesley’s own life as a young man as he struggled to find his peace with God before his dramatic conversion on May 21, 1738.

The style of this hymn is childlike in its simplicity. There are 156 simple one-syllable words that appear among the 188 words of the text. Christ is presented as: lover, healer, refuge, fountain, wing and pilot; the All-Inclusive One. All believers can say “Thou, O Christ is all I want, more than all in Thee I find... ”

Many different tunes have been used with this text. The best known of these tunes in America is “Martyn, ” composed by Simeon B. Marsh, who was born in Sherborne, New York, in 1798. He was an organist, choir director and itinerant singing school-teacher. He was a Presbyterian Christian layman. One day in the fall of 1834 he wrote out this tune and called it “Martyn. ” There is no reason why he titled it this way. It was originally meant for one of John Newton’s hymns, “Mary at Her Savior’s Tomb. ” Because of this, it is sometimes called the “Resurrection Tune. ” Thirty years later Thomas Hastings, a leading American musician of sacred music, discovered that the “Martyn” tune matched well with Wesley’s text and began using it which had a great response in his new publications.

As a child, my parents would drive us to church and each of my siblings and I would pick a song to sing. Jesus, Lover of my soul was my song. The song writer has penned a beautiful hymn—one that speaks to the heart of the believer. I’m thankful for the courage, humility, and obedience of Charles Wesley to write about Jesus. He is my first love.

All my trust on thee I stayed,
All my help from thee I bring
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadows of thy wing

The second part of this keep repeating in my memory each time I wake up tonight. He is my coverage.

It is a beautiful hymn after all.

Jesus, lover of my soul!

Let the healing streams abound; Make and keep me pure within!

Let me to Thy bosom fly.... safe at last.

During an episode of The Crown, which I was recently watching, this hymn was sung a cappella in the story. I had not heard it in a while. Not sure if it is in the United Methodist Hymnal or not but will look it up. When I practice my cello today I’ll either play it by ear or have the music.