Holy Bible with Wesley’s Methodist Hymns 1863

6B Complete with Old and New Testaments with Wesley’s Methodist Hymns. Oxford: University Press, 1863

Notes

The Holy Bible has been one of the most widely printed books in history, with the advent of the printing press in the fifteenth century—most notably the Gutenberg Bible—marking a turning point in its dissemination. Over the centuries, English translations such as the King James Version of 1611 became central to religious life in the English-speaking world. By the nineteenth century, advances in industrial printing and publishing greatly increased the availability of Bibles, allowing them to be produced in a wide range of formats. This period saw a shift from purely ecclesiastical texts to volumes intended for personal and household use, reflecting both the growing literacy of the population and the importance of the Bible as a fixture in everyday family life.

Wesley’s Hymns represents one of the most influential traditions in Protestant hymnody, closely associated with the eighteenth-century Methodist revival led by brothers John and Charles Wesley. Charles Wesley (1707–1788), one of Christianity’s most prolific hymn writers, composed thousands of hymns expressing themes of salvation, divine grace, spiritual renewal, and personal devotion, including enduring favorites such as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and Love Divine, All Loves Excelling. His brother John Wesley (1703–1791), the founder of Methodism, played an instrumental role in compiling, editing, and publishing collections of hymns for congregational worship, notably A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists (1780). These collections helped establish hymn singing as a central expression of Methodist faith, making complex theological ideas accessible through poetry and music. Frequently reprinted throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Wesleyan hymnals remain important artifacts of religious and musical history, reflecting the profound influence of the Methodist movement on Christian worship across Britain, America, and beyond.

Description

Tan morocco decorated with black onlays and gilt and with gilded metal edges. Metal clasp. All edges gilt. Spine decorated in black and gilt. Ink inscription to second flyleaf. Methodist hymns included. Fine condition.