Hymn by Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1740. Some have called this the finest hymn in the English language.
\"Mrs. Mary Hoover, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, whose grand mother was the heroine of the story, has related to her pastor this family tradition: Charles Wesley was preaching in the fields of the parish of Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland, when he was attacked by men who did not approve of his doctrines. He sought refuge in a house locatedon what was known as the Island Barn Farm. The farmers wife, Jane Lowrie Moore, told him to hide in the milk house, down in the garden. Soon the mob came and demanded the fugitive. She tried to quiet them by offering them re fresh ments. Going down to the milk house, she directed Mr. Wesley to get through the rear window and hide under the hedge, by which ran a little brook. In that hiding place, with the cries of his pursuers all about him, he wrote this immortal hymn. Descendants of Mrs. Moore still live in the house, which is much the same as it was in Wesleys time.\"
(from http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/l/jlmysoul.htm)
