Last updated: Sept. 3, 2007. Hymns for Times of Trouble (1744)1 Baker list, 82 Editorial Introduction: The early Methodist revival encountered resistance and some persecution from the beginning, for various reasons. The resistance grew significantly in early 1744, as France threatened to invade England and the two countries became embroiled in the War of Austrian Succession (cf. the attacks described in Charles's MS Journal, Jan.-Feb. 1744). The reason that this made things worse for the Methodists is that they were broadly assumed to be Jacobites. "Jacobite" was the nickname for supporters of the claim of James Edward Stuart (1688-1766), exiled son of King James II, to be legitimate holder of the English throne. James II had ascended to the throne in 1685 as an overt Roman Catholic, triggering popular support for the staunchly Reformed William of Orange who was married to James's daughter Mary (also Protestant) to invade and drive James into exile. As fellow Roman Catholics, the French received James II in exile and nurtured his group of supporters, who continued to plot ways of returning him (and, after his death in 1701, his son) to the throne. The threatened invasion in 1744 was one such effort. While Samuel Wesley Jr., the older brother of John and Charles, had favored the Jacobite cause, both of the younger brothers had rejected it and affirmed loyalty to the Hanoverian line. But the fact that they challenged the spiritual vitality of the established church made them targets in times of intrigue for accusation of covert support for the Jacobite cause (and thus the French invaders). As such, much of their energy in 1744-45 was expended in stressing their support of George II and the British cause against the French. Charles devoted his efforts in this regard to a series of hymns for "times of trouble and persecution." This first short collection was rushed to press on March 1, 1744, as the French fleet was gathering in Dunkirk. It drew together manuscript hymns about God's help in times of trouble, with little suggestion of the specific current event. While the volume was issued anonymously, it is clear from manuscript copies that Charles was the author of the six hymns included. John seems to have taken a lead in getting the volume to press. After two printings in early March of 1744, this initial collection was not issued again in its independent form.

After two printings in early March of 1744, this initial collection was not issued again in its independent form. However, it was appended to the 3rd edn. (1756) of HTTP (1744), on pp. 77-83. No significant variants occur in this appended reprint. Editions: John Charles Wesley. Hymns for Times of Trouble. London: Strahan, 1744. Table of Contents Hymn I Hymn II Hymn III Hymn IV Hymn V Hymn VI Page 3 Hymn I. My present help in trouble, My soul's eternal lover, Beneath thy shade I hide my head Till all the storm is over. O bring me by thy mercy Through this severe temptation, And all day long My joyful song Shall publish thy salvation. Page 4 Thine arm is still unshorten'd, And ready to deliver, Thy glorious name Remains the same, A rock that stands for ever. This, this is our sure refuge, When earth and hell oppress us, For earth and hell Bow down, and feel Th' almighty name of Jesus. Jesus, by faith I place me Beneath thy name's protection: While thou art nigh I dare defy The hellish insurrection. On the accusing serpent After thy great example Fearless I tread, And bruise his head, And on his kingdom trample. I now admire the worthies, And saints in sacred story; Their steps pursue, Their wonders do, And emulate their glory. By faith they wax'd courageous, And bad their foes defiance, Strong in the Lord, Escap'd the sword, And stopt the mouths of lions. Page 5 By faith they conquer'd kingdoms, And higher rose and higher, March'd thro' the sea Convoy'd by thee, And walk'd unhurt in fire. Them in the burning furnace Thou didst, O Lord, deliver: And in the flame Thy help I claim, And trust in thee for ever. I ask thy promis'd succours, Nor fear I a denial: Thou Son of man, My soul sustain Throughout the fiery trial. With thine almighty presence Let me be still attended, And lo! I dwell Secure in hell Till all my days are ended. Hymn II. Safe in the fiery furnace, Joyful in tribulation, My soul adores With all its powers The God of my salvation. Page 6 Walking thro' fire and water I find his presence chearing, By faith I see The deity, And shout at his appearing.

The fire of persecution, The floods of sin surround me, The flames forget Their power to heat, The waters cannot drown me. Midst undevouring lions The Saviour's arms embrace me, And from their den He up again Shall for his glory raise me. Kept by the strength of Jesus, Almighty to deliver, I find his name Is still the same, A tower that stands for ever. The wrath of men and devils With feeble malice rages, They cannot shock Me on the Rock Of everlasting Ages. I see stretch'd out to save me The arm of my Redeemer: That arm shall quell The powers of hell, And silence the blasphemer. Page 7 The God of my salvation, The mighty serpent-bruiser Shall soon o'erthrow The brethren's foe, And cast down our accuser. He gives me now a token Of his protecting favour, I shall be more Than conqueror Thro' thee my loving Saviour. I render thee the glory, I know thou wilt deliver: But let me rise Above the skies, And praise thy love for ever. Hymn III. Some put their trust in chariots, And horses some rely on, But God alone Our help we own, God is the strength of Sion. His name we will remember In every sore temptation, And feel its powers, For Christ is ours, With all his great salvation. Page 8 We are his ransom'd people, And he that bought will have us, Secure from harm, Whilst Jesus' arm Is still stretch'd out to save us. He out of all our troubles Shall mightily deliver, And then receive Us up, to live And reign with him for ever. Hymn IV. How happy are we Who trust in the Lord! Untroubled we see The imminent sword, Our merciless hater We calmly defy, Secure in a nature That never can die. Destruction may come, The scourge may o'erflow, And blood-thirsty Rome Our country o'erthrow; May torture and burn us, But never can shock, But never o'erturn us Who stand on the Rock. Page 9 The waster of Rome Is now on his way, The lion is come To scatter and slay: Beyond his fierce power We run to the Lamb, And rest in the tower Of Jesus's name.

Our life is secure, And hidden above, Our safety as sure As Jesus's love; Our joy and our heaven Within us shall stay; What Jesus hath given None taketh away. In tumult and war His tokens we hear, The noise of his car Proclaims our Prince near: Plague, earthquake and famine Are awfully join'd, To publish his coming, Who ransoms mankind. We know that his word And promise are past; Thy kingdom, O Lord, Shall triumph at last: The kingdoms before thee And nations shall fall, And all men adore thee, The monarch of all. Page 10 Hymn V. Omnipotent Lord, Whom armies obey, And lose at thy word, Or carry the day; With faithful affection To thee let us cleave, And in thy protection Triumphantly live. Thou great God of war, Thine Israel bless, For conquest prepare, And grant us success: With sorrow before thee And shame let us fall, And meekly adore thee, The Saviour of all. If first thou chastise Our insolent boast, Yet bid us arise As out of the dust; In deep tribulation Thy power let us own, Ascribing salvation To Jesus alone. Page 11 O Jesus, if now Too many we are, Too stubborn to bow And seek thee in prayer; By judgments subdue us, But shew us thy grace, But hasten to shew us The light of thy face. When humbly on thee Alone we depend, We trust thou wilt be Our helper and friend; Go forth with our armies, Our leader and guide; And nothing shall harm us With God on our side. Hymn VI. O Saviour of all Who trust in thy love, And faithfully call For help from above, To our supplication In mercy attend, And send us salvation, And victory send. Page 12 To thee with our heart And spirit we cleave, Who takest the part Of all that believe: Our Lord we confess thee, Whoever oppose, And joyfully bless thee In sight of thy foes. Pluck'd out of the flame, Thy soldiers we stand; Fight under thy name, And love thy command: Our Captain and Saviour Thee, Jesus, we hail, And trust in thy favour, Which never shall fail. Whatever thy will And wisdom ordain, Our safety is still With thee to remain: Our lives are all hidden, Our souls are above, And rest in the Eden Of ransoming love.

In thee we have hope, In thee we have peace, And calmly go up To final success: Thy fear is our treasure, Thy service our gain, And we in thy pleasure Eternally reign.