Natchitoches populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1898-1899, 1899-01-27
Paper On Jesus, Lover or my
Soul.
Read before The Young Peoples
Society, Natchitoches Baptist
Church, by a young lady,

In 1899, the Lord of Glory be-
slowed upon Chas. Wesley, who
was younger brother of the great
Methodist founder Jno. Wesley,
the high honor of composing the
finest heart Hymn, and without
doubt the most popular hymn in
any language. Chas. Wesley was
not given the power of Grafton to
preach to the world Christ and
him crucifed, as his world renown.
| ed brother, Jno. Wesley, but he
sang to the world through his pen,
the old, old story OF Gods holy
love.
1t may be well said that Chas.
Wesley was one of Gods chosen,
in being so inspired as to give to
the world the thousands and thou
sands Of hymns, the most beauti-
full and grandest of all being "Je-
Isus, Lover Of my Soul" which
was first published nnder the title
of Sin Temptation" There is a
little story told about its origin
which says, that once when Wcs-
ley was undergoing the terrible
experience of being on a ship in
q storm on the tossing pillows of
the broad Atlantic, little brown
sea bird few in the ship and took
refuge in the poets bosom, with a
confding trust that puts Gods err
ring children to shame. From this
trustfnl little sea bird the great
Chas. Wesley wasinspired to teach
some beautiful lessons through his
immortal hymn, Jesus, Lover of
my Soul, let me to thy bosom fly
just as the little bird flew to his
own bosom for shelter and protec-
ton.
w hlIO biO OCdlVI hd IOiIY hullG luC
tempest still is high,
Hide me, 0 my savior hide, till the
storm Of life is past,
Other refuge | have none, hangs my
helpless soul on thee,
Leave, Oh, leave me not alone, still
support and comfort me.
Then comes the beautiful lines !:
All my trust on thee is stayed.
All my help from thee | bring.
AS the shivering little bird trusted
SO implicitly in the saving power
of so weak q being as man, how
much more ought we to trust and
submit ourselves to the will of our
heavenly father, who doeth all
things we'll. Cover my defence
less head with the shadow of thy
wing. How often we have the
protection of Gods shadowing
wing when we need it most too,
but are unconscious OIL our great
need. How thankful we ought to
be for this watchfulness over our
defenceless heads.
How many Of US remember the
story told by private Confederate
soldier at q soldiers reunion a
Of years backg The Cap
tain OF the company called for vol
lnteers to go on picket duty at a
point where he felt sure whoever
walked to and fro would be sent
into eternity by bullet from the |
gun of some federal sharp-shootar. |
For some time all was quiet, for |
life to all is very sweet, bat finally |
soldier in every sense Of the word, |
stepped forward, and in a firm.
manly voice said, II will walk that
BEAT tonight" He was not a sin |
gle man, in the dear Southland he
lada dear wife and two precious
children, but when duty called, he
vas ready to obey its call, and he
lid 50 feeling that ID. Christ was
or him, none could be against him.
Is he walked to and fro on his
onely beat, thinking perhaps of
he dear ones at home on Of the
Tories of the mysterious beyond,
which he expected every minute to
inter- upon, he raised bis voice il
uneful melody to his maker in the | /,
hymn which is in one !