3. “Select Hymns: with Tunes Annexed: designed chiefly for the Use of the People called Methodists.” 12mo, 139 pages. Would that the Methodists of the present day would sing the tunes furnished by their founder, instead of leaving choirs to repeat, parrot like, the inane noises now too generally attached to Charles Wesley’s glorious and glowing hymns, and which, by a monstrous perversion of truth, taste, and language, are considered sacred music of pure and classic type. We are weary of such singing in Methodist chapels, and most deeply deplore the day when, by some mistaken theoriser, it was introduced. It is devouring the very vitals of Methodistic worship, and no more harmonizes with the Wesley hymns than an automatic scarecrow with a breathing, living man.
Musicians, in Wesley’s day, were as self conceited and as obstinate as musicians now. In the preface to his Tunes Annexed, he tells us:
“I have been endeavouring, for more than twenty years, to procure such a book as this; but in vain. Masters of music were above following any direction but their own; and I was determined, whoever compiled this should follow my direction: not mending our tunes, but setting them down, neither better nor worse than they were. At length, I have prevailed. The following collection contains all the tunes which are in common use among us. They are pricked true, exactly as I desire all our congregations may sing them; and here is prefixed to them a collection of those hymns which are, I think, some of the best we have published. The volume likewise is small, as well as the price. This, therefore, I recommend, preferable to all others.”
Appended to the tunes are Wesley’s well known directions concerning singing, which it would be well if all his societies would follow. Wesley himself was full of music, and to this, in great part, may be attributed the glorious singing of the early Methodists. With such a leader, and with their hearts full of the love of God, it is not surprising that their service of praise has become proverbial. They sang with the spirit, and with the understanding also.
It may be added here, once for all, that Wesley’s book of music, with some variations and improvements, was republished in several succeeding years, with the altered titles of “Sacred Melody; or, a Choice Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes”; and “Sacred Harmony: or, a Choice Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes, in two or three Parts—for the Voice, Harpsichord, and Organ.” These editions are now before us; but further description is unnecessary.
1762
1762
Age 59
WHITEFIELD and Charles Wesley were still invalids, and, though they preached with more or less frequency, their evangelistic labours, in 1762, were limited when compared with the labours of former years.
Wesley began the year with a grand service, in the chapel at Spitalfields, at which nearly two thousand members of the London society were present. Besides Berridge and Maxfield, he was assisted by Benjamin Colley, a young man, born at Tollerton, near Easingwold, who had recently received episcopal ordination, and was now officiating, as a clergyman, in Methodist chapels. His ministerial gifts were small;[467] but his piety was sincere and earnest. Strangely enough, this young Yorkshire Levite was carried away by the fanatical enthusiasm of Bell and Maxfield (to be noticed shortly), and though he did not live more than half-a-dozen years afterwards, his life was clouded, and not what it might have been.[468]
The remarkable work of sanctification was rapidly spreading throughout the whole of the United Kingdom. Wesley wrote: