Wesley Corpus

The hints of apocalypticism that began to surface in "Hymns for 1745" carry over into this collection, providing a map of the growth of this theme toward its zenith in "Hymn on the Lisbon Earthquake" (1756) and "Additional Hymns for 1756." After its initial use in 1756, Wesley republished the collection at least once for another fast day. The 4th edition (1780), published with the revised title Hymns for the Fast Day, was released for the public fast called by King George III on February 4, 1780 to seek God's merciful protection of the military forces engaged in the conflict with the colonies in North America. Editions: Charles Wesley. Hymns for the Year 1756; Particularly for the Fast-Day, February 6. Bristol: Farley, 1756. Dublin: Powell, 1756 2nd Bristol: Farley, nd. (dropping last half of title) 4th London: Hawes, 1780 (title: Hymns for the Fast Day) Table of Contents Hymn I Hymn II Hymn III Hymn IV. Ezekiel 9. Part 1 Hymn V. Ezekiel 9. Part 2 Hymn VI. Ezekiel 9. Part 3 Hymn VII. The Fourth Chapter of Jeremiah. Part 1 Hymn VIII. The Fourth Chapter of Jeremiah. Part 2 Hymn IX. The Fourth Chapter of Jeremiah. Part 3 Hymn X. The Fourth Chapter of Jeremiah. Part 4 Hymn XI. The Fourth Chapter of Jeremiah. Part 5 Hymn XII. The Fourth Chapter of Jeremiah. Part 6 Hymn XIII Hymn XIV Hymn XV Hymn XVI Hymn XVII Page 3 Hymn I. Merciful God, Almighty King, To thee with trembling hearts we turn, To thee our last distress we bring, And prostrate at thy footstool mourn: Our own, our nation's sins confess, Which justly all thy plagues demand, The weight of publick wickedness, That sinks to hell our guilty land. Page 4 Yet hath thy kind compassion spar'd The objects of thy righteous ire, While all thy threatned woes we dar'd, And mock'd that everlasting fire; While more obdurate still, thy word Of proffer'd mercy we withstood, Denied our all-redeeming Lord, And trampled on our bleeding God. Ev'n then thou didst our guardian stand, Our help in danger's blackest hour, Nor let the sword go thro' our land, Nor let the yawning earth devour.