Wesley Corpus

While Charles Wesley was an ardent Protestant and shared concern about the loyalty of Roman Catholics in Britain to the Hanoverian throne, he was even more committed to the rule of law and respect for public property. His outrage against the mob and its leaders, as well as his gratitude when peace was restored, were captured in a set of thirteen Hymns Written in the Time of the Tumults that were published within months of the riots. See also Protestant Association (1781). Edition: Charles Wesley. Hymns Written in the Time of the Tumults, June 1780. Bristol, 1780. Table of Contents Hymn I Hymn II Hymn III Hymn IV Hymn V Hymn VI Hymn VII. Upon Notice Sent One that His House was Marked Hymn VIII Hymn IX Hymn X Hymn XI Hymn XII. For the Magistrates Hymn XIII. Thanksgiving Page 3 Hymn I. The floods, O Lord, lift up their voice, And ocean's waves with angry noise, With din tremendous roar; Convulsive pangs our nation seize, And discord's horrible abyss Wide opens to devour. Blaspheming multitudes we hear, By wild astonishment and fear Beset on every side: How shall we the destruction shun, Or to what place of safety run, Our trembling souls to hide? Jesus, our sanctuary thou art: And if thou take thy people's part, Elisha's flaming bands, Their high commission to fulfil, Secure from every threaten'd ill, Shall bear us in their hands. Page 4 2Republished in Arminian Magazine 4 (1781): 674-75, under the title "A Prayer written at the time of the Insurrection, June 1780." We now with thy protection blest, Beneath thy wings of mercy rest, Till all this tyranny Is, like a sudden flood, o'repast, And peace, which evermore shall last, And love returns with thee. Hymn II.2 Thou most compassionate high-priest, In answer to our joint request United to thy own, With pity's softest eye behold The sheep which are not of this fold, The church in Babylon. The ignorant who miss their way, Not wilfully, but weakly stray; O let thy bowels move To these by furious hate pursued, And from the frantic multitude Conceal their lives above. As sheep appointed to be slain, By cruel, persecuting men, By fierce fanatic zeal; By Christian wolves, reform'd in name, Whose dire atrocious deeds proclaim The synagogue of hell.