O Love divine, how sweet Thou art. C. Wesley. [Desiring to Love.] Appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749, vol. i., in 7 stanzas of 6 lines as No. 5 of six hymns on "Desiring to Love" (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. iv. p. 341). Three leading centos are in common use:—
1. Composed of stanzas i., iii., iv. and vii. This was given in G. Whitefield's Hymns, &c, 1753, No. 86, as the second of two hymns on "Longing for Christ.” This cento was repeated by Madan, Toplady, and others in the older collections, and is that usually found in the Church of England hymn-books.
2. Composed of stanzas i.-iv. This was given in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, No. 141, and is in very extensive use in all English-speaking countries. In the revised edition of the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1875, stanzas v., vi., of the original were added to the hymn.
3. Composed of stanza iv., vi., and iii., in the order named. This cento, beginning "0 that I could for ever sit," is in the American Songs for the Sanctuary, N. Y., 1865.
In addition to these other forms of the text beginning with stanza i. are in limited use. G. J. Stevenson's associations in his Methodist Hymn Book Notes, 1883, are most interesting.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >
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