Wesley Corpus

The following Supplement is designed to furnish a greater number of hymns suitable for public worship, for festivals, and for occasional services, than are found in that invaluable collection, in common use, which the piety and genius of the Wesleys bequeathed to the societies raised up by their ministry. It is compiled chiefly from the festival and other hymns which Mr. Charles Wesley published in separate pamphlets ; and from his unpublished poetry, which, by purchase from his heir, along with other papers, has lately become the property of the Connexion. To these, some hymns have been added from other authors, chiefly from Dr. Watts ; and a few which, though they sink below the rank of the Wesley poetry, are inserted because of some excellence which will be found in the sentiment, and the greater choice of subjects which they afford. Most of the hymns of this class, however, were inserted in the Morning Hymn Book, prepared by Mr. Wesley for the London congregations, or in a smaller collection published by him; and so had his sanction. A few others have been introduced because of their popular character, and their being favourites with many of our people. Limited as this Supplement is, it will render our congregations more familiar than they have ever been with some noble hymns of Mr. Charles Wesley, only to be found in collections which are in the hands of compara- tively few persons ; whilst it brings into use, for the first time, a number of his compositions not inferior to those which he himself published. The Preachers will here find hymns adapted to various suojects on which they address the people ; and our fine occasional hymns, which were seldom used, because not in the hands of the congregations generally, will be ready for festival occasions ; and will be found in many instances adapted also, at least in some of their stanzas, to general use. As several of the hymns in this collection are selected from the papers of Mr. Charles Wesley above referred to, and have not before been published, a copy-right is established in this Supplement ; and all pirated editions are rendered liable to legal process. To guard against such attempts to turn to private profit, what is sacredly applied to the support of the work of God, this collection has been regularly entered at Stationers' Hall.