A thousand oracles divine. C. Wesley. [Holy Trinity .] In his Hymns on the Trinity, 1767, this hymn is given as No. xvii. in the division of "Hymns and Prayers to the Trinity” in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, p. 100. It was repeated in the Wesleyan Hymn Book 1780, and later editions with the simple alteration of "His hosts" to “the hosts" in stanza i. line 6. From that collection it has passed into all the principal hymnals of the Methodist bodies in most English-speaking countries, but is seldom found elsewhere. Few hymns are more dogmatic on the doctrine of the Trinity. The lines, "The Friend of earth-born man," and "For heaven's superior praise," are borrowed from Young's Night Thoughts . Night iv. 11. 603. 440. Original text as above, and Poetical Works of J. & C. Wesley, 1868-1872, vol. vii. pp. 312-13.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >
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