A note on "Salvation's Captain and the Guide"

This hymn is found in the Little Flock Hymnbook editions from 1881 onwards. I cannot find it in the 1840 or the 1856 versions and for some reason it was omitted from the 1952 and 1961 version. It is attributed to Charles Wesley and is in fact based on his hymn "Captain of Israel's hosts, and Guide"

Here is the text of Wesley's original in Charles Wesley A Collection of Hymns for the use of the people called Methodists #326

Captain of Israel's host, and guide
Of all who seek the rest above,
Beneath Thy shadow we abide,
The cloud of Thy protecting love;
Our strength, Thy grace; our rule, thy word;
Our end, the glory of the Lord.

By thine unerring Spirit led,
We shall not in the desert stray;
We shall not full direction need,
Nor miss our providential way;
As far from danger as from fear,
While love, almighty love, is near

Although Charles Wesley disliked his hymns to be altered, I think even he might admit that the Little Flock version is very superior. The amendment is rather spoiled however by the change from "the Lord", to "our Lord" in the last line of the first verse. I do not know its origins: the altered versions are sometimes from non-Brethren sources.

Here is the annotated entry from Red Beret's (aka John Greenhalgh) Annotated Little Flock Hymnbook (1973)

331, 1840? 1856?, 1881 1903 1932, 1973 2001	Wesley, Charles 18.12.1707--29.3.1788, b. Epworth d. London, 18th child of Rev. Samuel Wesley, Educated at Westminster School, Christ Church Oxford. Anglican priest, 8.8.8.8.8.8.
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Salvation's Captain, and the Guide	Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Of all that seek the rest above,	Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Beneath Thy shadow we abide,	Isa 51:16 And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou [art] my people.
Beneath Thy shadow we abide,	Ps 57.1 my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge,
The cloud of Thy protecting love;	Isa 4:5 And Jehovah will create over every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and over its convocations, a cloud by day and a smoke, and the brightness of a flame of fire by night: for over all the glory shall be a covering.
Our strength Thy grace, our rule Thy word,	2Ti 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Our end the glory of our Lord.	1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
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Lord, by Thy word and Spirit led	Hag 2:5 The word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit, remain among you: fear ye not.
We shall not in the desert stray,	Ps 107:7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Or light for our direction need,	Ps 78:14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
Or lose, if dark and drear, our way;	Isa 50:10 Who [is] among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh [in] darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
Still kept from danger and from fear,	Ps 78:53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Since Thy almighty love is near.	Isa 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.