John Wesley s account of the awakening at Epworth in June, 1742, forms a noble illustration of the truth of this hymn. 'O let none think his labour of love is lost because the fruit does not immediately appear! Near forty years did my father labour here; but he saw little fruit of his labour. I took some pains among this people too; and my strength also seemed spent in vain: but now the fruit appeared. There were scarce any in the town on whom either my father or I had taken any pains formerly, but the seed, sown so long since, now sprung up, bringing forth repentance and remission of sins.'
Hymn 226. Blow ye the trumpet, blow!
Charles Wesley (1).
Hymns for New Year s Day, 1750; Works, vi. 12. The last line of the original reads, 'Return to your eternal home!'
This was the favourite hymn of John Brown, of Harper's Ferry, which he used to sing with his family to the tune 'Lennox.' It was his battle-song.
Hymn 227. Come, Thou Conqueror of the nations.
Charles Wesley (1).
Hymns for the Expected Invasion, 1759; Works, vi. 160. The last hymn, in eight verses, founded on Rev. xix. 11-16.
In the same tract are Hymns to be used on the Thanksgiving Day, November 20, 1759, and after it. John Richard Green says, 'England had never played so great a part in the history of mankind as now. The year 1759 was a year of triumphs in every quarter of the world. In September came the news of Minden, and of a victory off Lagos. In October came tidings of the capture of Quebec. November brought word of the French defeat at Ouiberon. "We are forced to ask every morning what victory there is," laughed Horace Walpole, "for fear of missing one."'
Eighteen thousand men lay ready to embark in the French fleet on November 20, the very day appointed for the Thanks giving, when Admiral Hawke, despite the shoals and granite reefs of Quiberon Bay, attacked and destroyed the fleet. The disgrace of Byng's retreat was thus wiped out.
