Here's the background to this lovely hymn: Mrs. Mary Hoover, of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, whose grandmother 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 located on what was known as the Island Barn Farm. The farmer’s wife, Jane Lowrie Moore, told him to hide in the milkhouse, down in the garden. Soon the mob came and demanded the fugitive. She tried to quiet them by offering them refreshments. Going down to the milkhouse, 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 Wesley’s time.

Sankey, pp. 172-3 (copied from http://www.hymntime.com)

Leave, oh, leave me not alone, still support and comfort me. Thou O Christ art all I want, more than all in Thee I find. Thank You Lord. We love You so, our dear Beloved. Keep us with You all our days. We belong to You.

Thou of life the fountain art,

Freely let me take of Thee;

Spring Thou up within my heart,

Rise to all eternity.

Can anyone say what the background is to this lovely hymn, please. Of all of the hymns Wesley wrote, this must be in the top ten!

Many thanks for your encouraging website.

O Lord Jesus, the lover of my soul. Singing this hymn to the Lord, I experience the Lord's dear presence and am comforted just to trust in Him who cares for me all-inclusively.

This song is so perfect. It says everything that is in my heart. While reading the lyrics it brought tears to my eyes. It will stay forever true.

Thank to the Lord for the music of the Kingdom. My life is fixed on JESUS.

For me to get into this hymn, I needed to sing it over and over in a quiet place. The Spirit showed me Christ in a double way. First, Christ is the one who loves my soul in the hardships of life (verses 1-2). He is my refuge who supports and comforts when all becomes so difficult. Second, when the corruption of my nature seems so present, Christ is the only One I want, and He is more than all I need to be healed and set free (verses 3-4)! I can cry to Him when the situations of life are hard from without; I can abide in Him when I realize how terrible I am within! He is sufficient in every way!

This hymn expresses in powerful words our helplessness and our God's sufficient grace in Christ to meet these needs

The tune expresses the writer's helplessness in himself and his trust in the Lord. The moment I hears it, it "sends" me "directly" to the Lord Himself.