This hymn first appeared in Wesley's
Hymns for those that Seek, and those that Have Redemption, 1747, and may have been intended as a Christianization of the song "Fairest Isle" sung by Venus in Act 5 of
John Drydenand
Henry Purcell's1691 semi-opera
King Arthur.
This hymn is most commonly sung to the tunes "Beecher" by
John Zundel, "Hyfrydol" by
Rowland Hugh Prichard, "Blaenwern" by
William Penfro Rowlands, and "Love Divine" by
George F. Le
Jeune.