Author of life divine

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, the son of Samuel Wesley, was born at Epworth, Dec. 18, 1707. He was educated at Westminster School and afterwards at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated M.A. In 1735, he took Orders and immediately proceeded with his brother John to Georgia, both being employed as missionaries of the S.P.G. He returned to England in 1736. For many years he engaged with his brother in preaching the Gospel. He died March 29, 1788. To Charles Wesley has been justly assigned the appellation of the "Bard of Methodism." His prominence in hymn writing may be judged from the fact that in the "Wesleyan Hymn Book," 623 of the 770 hymns were written by him; and he published more than thirty poetical works, written either by himself alone,… Go to person page >

Author of life divine. [Holy Communion.] This hymn for the Holy Communion is from J. & C. Wesley's Hymns on the Lord's Supper, first published in 1745, No. 40, in 2 stanzas of 6 lines. In 1875 it was included without alteration in the revised edition of Hymns Ancient & Modern, and attributed to John Wesley. There is, however, no evidence that it was the composition of John as distinct from Charles Wesley. In the absence of positive evidence either way the probabilities are in favour of Charles, rather than his elder brother. It is also in common use in America. Original text in Hymns Ancient & Modern and Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. iii. p. 244.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)