Jesus Lover of My Soul - How It Was Written

ONE  day  Mr.  Wesley  was  sitting  by  an  open window,  looking  out  over  the  bright  and  beautiful  fields.  Presently  a  little bird,  flitting  about in  the sunshine,  attrac­ted  his  attention.  Just  then  a  hawk  came sweeping  down  towards  the  little  bird.  The poor thing,  very much frightened, was  darting  here and there,  trying  to  find  some  place  of  refuge.  In  the  bright  sunny  air, in  the  leafy  trees of the green  fields,  there was no  hiding  place  from  the  fierce  grasp of the  hawk.  But  seeing  an  open  window and a  man  sitting  by  it,  the  bird  flew,  in its extremuy,  ujwttrus  it,  and  with  a  beat­ing  heart  and quivering wing,  found refuge in  Mr.  Wesley's  bosom.  He  sheltered  it from  the threatening  danger,  and  saved it from  a cruel  death.

Mr.  Wesley was  at  that  time  suffering from severe trials, and  was feeling the need  of  refuge  in  his  own  time  of  trouble,  as much  as  did  the trembling  little  bird  that nestled so safely in  his  bosom.  

'Jesus, Lover of My Soul's' Inspiration

So  he took up  his  pen  and  wrote that  sweet  hymn :

"Jesus, lover of my soul, 

Let me to thy bosom  fly,

While the waves  of trouble  roll,

While the tempest still is  high." 

That  prayer  grew  into  one  of  the  most beautiful  hymns  in  our  language,  and  multitudes of  people,  when  in  sorrow  and danger,  have  found  comfort  while  they have  said  or  sung  the  last  lines  of  that hymn