Hymn #415
Text: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Music: Joseph Parry (1841-1903)
Tune name: ABERYSTWYTH
THE TEXT
Originally titled ”On Temptation” — since sin and temptation are the foes from which the believer is seeking refuge — this hymn was first published in 1740, about two years after Charles Wesley’s conversion experience.
The first word of Wesley’s original text, “Jesus,” was originally (and still in some hymnals) rendered “Jesu,” which is a Latinized spelling of the Greek vocative, reflecting the fact that Jesus is being addressed in the opening sentence.
The words of the opening lines were sometimes regarded as too intimate for public worship, so, in the nineteenth century, some hymnal editors altered the text to describe the reality of God’s love less vividly. English statesman W. E. Gladstone notably took offense at Wesley’s presumption that he and all the singers of his hymn should wish to be so familiar with our Lord. “St. John undoubtedly lay on the bosom of his Lord,” he observed. “But he alone; we are all not all St. John’s.” True, but nor are we all possessors of English reserve.
1. Jesus, Lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high;
hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last!
2. Other refuge have I none;
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenceless head
with the shadow of thy wing.
3. Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound;
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art;
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart,
rise to all eternity.
THE TUNE
This hymn is presented in our Hymnal with two different tunes, but it is most commonly sung to the Welsh tune ABERYSTWYTH. The tune was composed by Joseph Parry (1841-1903) for a Welsh hymn, and is named for the Welsh town in which it was composed.
Below is a robust presentation of this hymn set for men’s voices by a the Treorchy Male Choir, demonstrating the legendary richness of Welsh singing.
In September of 2020, our choir recorded this hymn as part of our Choir in Quarantine series.