THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 93
reasonable man, who sees the impressions of divine power and wisdom in every object on which he casts his eye. The Supreme Being has made the best arguments for His own existence, in the formation of the heavens and the earth, and these are arguments which a man of sense cannot forbear attending to, who is out of the noise and hurry of human affairs. The Psalmist has very beautiful strokes of poetry to this purpose in that exalted strain (Psalm xix.). As such a bold and sublime manner of thinking furnishes very noble matter for an ode, the reader may see it wrought into the following one.
Dr. Johnson used to repeat the hymn with great delight. Hartley Coleridge could not bear the spangles and the shining frame. They remind me of tambour work. Perhaps if I had never read the psalm, I might think the verses fine.
Not long before his death, John Wesley was talking with Adam Clarke about the origin of Methodism. He pointed out how God raised up Mr. Addison and his associates to lash the prevailing vices and ridiculous and profane customs of the country, and to show the excellence of Christianity and Christian institutions. The Spectators, written with all the simplicity, elegance, and force of the English language, were everywhere read, and were the first instruments in the hands of God to check the mighty and growing profanity, and call men back to religion and decency and common sense. Methodism, in the order of God, succeeded, and revived and spread Scriptural and experimental Christianity over the nation. And now what hath God wrought ! That is perhaps the noblest tribute ever paid to Addison and Steele, who were, like Wesley, old Carthusians.
��Hymn 70. The earth with all her fulness owns. CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Psalms and Hymns, 1743 ; Works, viii. 47. Tsalm xxiv. In ver. 4, 1 Whoe er is a happy revision of the original, Who here.
Hymn 77. Happy man whom God doth aid !
CHARLES WESLEY (i). Hymns for Children, 1763, No. 18 ; Works, vi. 387.
�� �
