THE STORY OF THE HYMNS AND THEIR WRITERS 159
Mr. Bakewell began to preach in his own neighbourhood in 1744, the year in which the first Methodist Conference was held. He had then no formal connexion with Mr. Wesley, but his work was much blessed. Two or three men threatened to stop his preaching and inflict personal injury upon him, but God made him the means of the conversion of these very enemies. After he gave up his school at Greenwich, Mr. Bakewell used to take up his temporary residence in any place where there was an interruption of Methodist ministerial labour, by death, sickness, or any other cause ; and he often rendered also considerable pecuniary aid. Wesley seems to have dined with him on his wedding-day, and when shown over the house after dinner said, Fine enough, in all conscience, for a Methodist ! His name appears on the London Plan for 1803. Toplady made some changes in his famous hymn. The original read, ver. I, Hail, Thou universal Saviour, and ver. 2, Every sin may be forgiven. When his hymn was omitted from the Methodist hymn-book in 1808 his family were grieved at the slight. Bakewell quietly said, Well, well ! perhaps they thought it not worth inserting ! He gave strict orders that nothing should be said or written about him ; but the Rev. James Rosser, who married one of his granddaughters, says, I knew Mr. Bakewell intimately, and had frequent intercourse with him toward the close of his life; and I consider him to have been one of the most eminent, pious, and humble men I ever knew.
Hymn 190. O Thou eternal Victim, slain.
CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Hymns on the Lord s Supper, 1745, No. 5 ; Works, iii. 219.
Hymn 191. Jesus, to Thee we fly.
CHARLES WESLEY (i). Hymns for Ascension Day, 1746, No. 7 ; Works, iv. 161.
Hymn 192. Entered the holy place above.
CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Short Hymns on Select Passages of Scripture, 1762; Works, xiii. 140. Heb. i.\. 24.
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