The idea of an elaborate classification according to the Church seasons, so usual in modern Anglican hymnals, had not yet become popular. Bishop Ken’s _Hymns for all the Festivals of the Year_[118] (published in 1721, ten years after his death), the precursor and, to some extent, the inspiration of the _Christian Year_, was not intended for use as a hymn-book. Wither’s _Hymns and Songs of the Church_ (1623) provided for all the chief festivals, saints’ days, and other occasional services. About forty years later (1661) Dr. Eaton, Vicar of Bishop’s Castle, Salop, published _The Holy Calendar_, but his poems were not intended to be sung. The Wesleys issued a number of pamphlets containing hymns for the great festivals, and it would not be difficult to select from their various publications a ‘Christian year,’ in which every hymn was suitable for public worship. But the pieces would need to be gathered, for the brothers did not contemplate the use of their hymn-books in Church services; they were designed for the preaching-house, the open-air service, and the class-meeting. The Nonconformist Churches had adopted the custom early in the century, but in the Church of England hymn-singing was still, and for many years after, an irregularity, if not an offence. First and greatest of Charles Wesley’s festival hymns is the Christmas carol Hark! how all the welkin rings, ‘Glory to the King of kings.’ It was published in 1739, and is not impossibly one of the ‘many sweet hymns’ which were sung in the household of General Oglethorpe. Whitefield made some popular alterations, and included it in his _Collection_, in 1753. In 1782 it found a place in the Prayer-book, after the new version of the Psalms. It was omitted from Wesley’s _Collection_, but was inserted in the supplement of 1830—nearly a century after its composition. In the same metre, and not inferior, are the hymns for Easter— ‘Christ, the Lord, is risen to-day,’ Sons of men and angels say! and for Ascension Day— Hail the day that sees Him rise, Ravished from our wishful eyes. There are some good verses in the Whit Sunday hymn— Granted is the Saviour’s prayer, Sent the gracious Comforter; and in the little-known hymn for the Epiphany— Sons of men, behold from far, Hail the long-expected Star![119] but they are not equal to the others. Of Charles Wesley’s hymns on our Lord’s Passion, the finest are those beginning With glorious clouds encompassed round, Whom angels dimly see, Will the Unsearchable be found, Or God appear to me? . . . . . O Love divine! what hast thou done! The immortal God hath died for me The Father’s co-eternal Son Bore all my sins upon the tree; The immortal God for me hath died! My Lord, my Love is crucified. . . . . .