312 THE METHODIST HYMN-BOOK ILLUSTRATED
hair and laid it by them ; then she wrote these verses, which she put with her jewels, and took her flight to Germany, where she entered on a life of devotion and service for Christ.
The translation appears in Dr. Byrom s Poems, which were published ten years after his death. Two of Byrom s letters refer to it. He writes to Charles Wesley from Manchester, March 3, 1738, after John Wesley s return from Georgia, As your brother has brought so many hymns translated from the French, you will have a sufficient number and no occasion to increase them by the small addition of Madam Bourignon stwo little pieces, which I desire you to favour my present weakness, if I judge wrong, and not to publish them. After Hymns and Sacred Poems was printed, Byrom wrote to his son, April 26, J 739> They have together printed a book of hymns, amongst which they have inserted two of Madam Bourignon s, one of which they call a " Farewell to the World," and the other "Renouncing all for Christ," I think, translated from the French. They have introduced them by a preface against what they call mystic writers (not naming any particular author), for whom they say that they had once a great veneration, but think themselves obliged very solemnly to acknowledge their error, and to guard others against the like, which they do by certain reasons that I do not see the reason of. Byrom differed from the brothers as to Mr. Law and the mystics. His words make it probable that the translation was Wesley s, and that Byrom was unwilling to have such deep matters published. His letter to his son does not read like that of a man who is referring to his own translations. In 1737, Charles Wesley read him a letter of John Wesley s about the mystics, and an answer to it from Samuel. Byrom thought that neither of the brothers had any apprehension of mystics, if I had myself, which query ; but if I have I find it necessary to be very cautious how one talks of deep matters to everybody.
Hymn 527. The thing my God doth hate.
CHARLES WESLEY (i).
Short Hymns on Select Passages of Scripture, 1762; Works t x. 44, 41. The first two verses are No. 1,362 (Jer. xliv. 4) ; verses 3 to 6 are i,354(Jer. xxxi. 33).
It sets forth with great simplicity the Wesleyan doctrine of Chris tian perfection.
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