Transcript The Hymns of Charles Wesley - St. John's Richmond Church

Charles Wesley
His Life and Hymns
England
King Henry the VIII
Samuel and Susanna Wesley
Parish in Epworth
Wesley’s Family Home
Painting of the Rectory Fire
Tis' not learning these things by rote,…that
will bring you to heaven; you must
understand what you say, and you must
practice what you know.
- Susanna Wesley
(Best, 19; emphasis added)
Christ Church, Oxford (2004)
…where learning keeps its loftiest seat, and
hell its firmest throne.
- Charles Wesley
(Best, p.35)
…imitate Christ by feeding the hungry,
clothing the naked, teaching young children,
visiting the sick and imprisoned, and 'making
all these actions subservient to a higher
purpose, even the saving of souls from
death.'
(Best, 39)
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Have I seized the opportunity today to do good to my
neighbour?
Have I witnessed to the work of Christ's salvation today?
Am I conveying, by the way I am living today, that
religion is a positive thing and not a negative thing?
George Whitefield
For about 12 months my soul longed to be
acquainted with some of them, and I was
strongly pressed to follow their good
example, when I saw them go through a
ridiculing crowd to receive the Holy Eucharist
at St. Mary's.
- George Whitefield
(Best, 49)
[He] was a man made for friendship; who, by
his cheerfulness and vivacity, would refresh
his friend's heart; with attentive
consideration, would enter into and settle all
his concerns; so far as he was able, would do
anything for him, great or small; and, by a
habit of openness and freedom, leave no
room for misunderstanding.
- College friend of Charles
(Best, 29)
John Wesley
Jack knew his strength and used it…I freely
own 'twas the will of Jack, but am not yet
convinced it 'twas the will of God.
- Charles Wesley
(Best, 58)
Colony of Georgia
A godly formal saint,
I long appeared in sight;
By self and Satan taught to paint
My tomb, my nature, white.
The Pharisee within
Still undisturbed remained;
The strong man,
armed with guilt of sin,
Safe in his palace reigned.
- Charles Wesley
Sudden expired the legal strife;
'Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live…
I felt my Lord's atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved – the Son of God
For me, for me, He died!...
- Charles Wesley
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace.
- Charles Wesley
Sudden expired the legal strife;
'Twas then I ceased to grieve;
My second, real, living life
I then began to live…
I felt my Lord's atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved – the Son of God
For me, for me, He died!...
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace.
- Charles Wesley
And Can it Be
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
No condemnation now I dread,
Jesus, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Where Shall My Wandering Heart Begin
Outcasts of men, to you I call,
Harlots, and publicans and thieves!
He spreads his arms to embrace you all;
Sinners alone his grace receives;
No need of him the righteous have;
He came the lost to seek and save.
Come, O my guilty brethren, come,
Groaning beneath your load of sin,
His bleeding heart shall make you room,
His open side shall take you in;
He calls you now, invites you home;
Come, O my guilty brethren, come!
For you the purple current flowed
In pardons from his wounded side,
Languished for you the eternal God,
For you the Prince of glory died:
Believe, and all your sin's forgiven;
Only believe, and yours is heaven!
Features of early Methodist
Worship
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frequently taking communion
fervent preaching for salvation
vigorous hymn singing (then a novelty)
small groups
mixture of fixed and extemporaneous
prayers
I design plain truth for plain people. Therefore…I
abstain from all nice and philosophical
speculations, from all perplexed and intricate
reasoning, and as far as possible, from even the
show of learning, unless in sometimes citing the
original Scriptures. I labour to avoid all words
which are not easily understood...and in
particular those kinds of technical terms that so
frequently occur in bodies of divinity…but which
to common people are an unknown tongue.
- Charles Wesley
(Best, 123)
What is this but an outrage upon common decency
and common sense? The height of presumption,
confidence and self-sufficiency…
[This] outward show of piety…is one undoubted sign of
spiritual pride…
To pray, preach, and sing psalms in the streets and
fields is worse, if possible, than intruding into pulpits
by downright violence and breach of the peace…
[Religion is made] ridiculous and contemptible…Go not
after these imposters and seducers; but shun them as
you would the plague.
- Joseph Trapp
(Best, 114)
I found near ten thousand helpless sinners
waiting for the word at Moorfields. I invited
them in my Master's words, as well as name,
'Come unto me, all ye that travail, and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest'. The
Lord was with me, even me, his meanest
messenger, according to his promise…My load
was gone, and all my doubts and scruples.
God shone upon my path, and I knew THIS
was his will concerning me.
- Charles Wesley
(Best, 117)
The Captain ran at me with great fury…[and]
drew his sword, and presented it to my
breast. My breast was immediately steeled.
I threw it open, and, fixing mine eye on his,
smiled in his face, and calmly said,
"I fear God and honour the King."
- Charles Wesley
(Best, 172)
From Hymns for Times of Trouble
and Persecution
Smitten, we turn the other
cheek,
Our ease, and name, and
goods forego,
Help, or redress, no longer
seek
In any child of man below…
Come on, my partners in
distress,
My comrades through the
wilderness,
Who still your bodies feel;
Awhile forget your griefs
and fears,
And look beyond this vale of
tears,
To that celestial hill.
The whole country finds the benefit of the
Gospel. Hundreds who follow not with us, have
broke off their sins, and are outwardly
reformed…Neither persuasions nor threatening,
flattery nor violence, dungeons, or sufferings of
various kinds, can conquer them. Many waters
cannot quench this little spark which the Lord
hath kindled, neither shall the floods of
persecution drown it.
- Charles Wesley
(Best, 188)
From Hymns on the Lord's
Supper
Come Holy Ghost,
Thine influence shed,
And realize the sign;
Thy life infuse into the bread,
Thy power into the wine.
Effectual let the tokens prove,
And made, by heavenly art,
Fit channels to convey Thy love,
To every faithful heart.
Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire,
Let us Thine influence prove,
Source of the old prophetic fire,
Fountain of light and love.
Come, Holy Ghost, (for moved by thee
the prophets wrote and spoke)
Unlock the truth, thyself the key,
Unseal the sacred book.
Expand thy wings, celestial Dove,
Brood o'er our nature's night;
On our disordered spirits move,
And let there now be light.
God, through himself, we then shall know,
If thou within us shine,
And sound, with all thy saints below,
The depths of love divine.
O for a heart to praise my God,
A heart from sin set free!
A heart that always feels thy
blood So freely spilt for me!
O Love divine, how sweet thou art! When shall I find my willing heart all
taken up by thee? I thirst, I faint, I die to prove the greatness of redeeming
love, the love of Christ to me!
God only knows the love of God; O that it now were shed abroad In this
poor stony heart! For love I sigh, for love I pine: This only portion, Lord, be
mine, Be mine this better part!
O that I could for ever sit With Mary at the Master's feet!
Be this my happy choice:
My only care, delight, and bliss, My joy, my heaven on earth, be
this, To hear the Bridegroom's voice!
O that with humbled Peter I could weep, believe, and thrice reply my
faithfulness to prove, "Thou know'st (for all to thee is known), "Thou
know'st, O Lord, and thou alone, Thou know'st that thee I love!"
O that I could with favoured John recline my weary head upon the great
Redeemer's breast! From care, and sin, and sorrow free, Give me, O Lord,
to find in thee My everlasting rest."
O love, Thou bottomless abyss,
My sins are swallowed up in Thee!
Covered is my unrighteousness,
Not spot or guilt remains on me,
While Jesus' blood, through earth and skies,
Mercy, free, boundless mercy, cries.
Jesus, Redeemer of mankind,
Display thy saving power;
Thy mercy let the sinner find,
And know his gracious hour.
In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a sinful worn redeem?
Jesus, my only hope thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart;
Oh, could I catch a smile from thee,
And drop into eternity!
Charles Wesley
1707 - 1788
http://wesley.nnu.edu/charles_wesley/index.htm
Charles' Hymns from Anglican
Hymn book (revised 1938 Ed.)
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5: Christ, whose glory fills the skies (HEATHLANDS) - 1740
7: Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go (ANGEL'S SONG/WARRINGTON) - 1749
60: Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending (HELMSLEY) - 1760
77: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (MENDLESSOHN) - 1739
154: Christ the Lord is Ris'n Today (SAVANNAH – JOHN WESLEY) - 1742
174: Hail to the day that Sees Him Rise (ASCENSION) - 1739
373: Ye Servants of God Your Master Proclaim (ST. IGNATIUS) - 1744
377: O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing (RICHMOND) - 1740
392: Rejoice, the Lord is King (DARWALL) - 1746
419: Soldiers of Christ Arise (FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH) - 1749
442: Shepherd Divine, Our Wants Relieve (ST. ETHELDREDA) - 1749
470: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (HYFRODOL) - 1747
510: Jesu, Lover of my soul (ABERYSTWYTH) - 1740
543: O For a Heart to Praise my God (WETHERBY) - 1742
548: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus (STUTTGART) - 1744
611: Let Saints on Earth in Concert Sing (DUNDEE) - 1759
760: Weary of Wandering from my God (ST. FINBAR)
Bibliography
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Best, G. M. "Charles Wesley: a biography". Werrington, England: Epworth, 2006.
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Colquhoun, Frank. "Charles Wesley, 1707 – 1788: the poet of the Evangelical Revival". London:
Church Book Room Press, 1948.
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Stuart Smith, Jane and Carlson, Betty. "Great Christian hymn writers." Wheaton, Ill.:
Crossway Books, c1997.
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Gillman, Frederick John. "The evolution of the English hymn: an historical survey of the origins
and development of the hymns of the Christian Church". New York: Macmillan Co.,
1927.
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Manwaring, Randle. "A study of hymn-writing and hymn-singing in the Christian church".
Lewiston, N.Y.: Edwin Mellen Press, c1990.
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Whaling, Frank. "John and Charles Wesley: selected prayers, hymns, journal notes, sermons,
letters and treatises." New York: Toronto: Paulist Press, c1981.
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Baker. A Brief History of Methodism, from "The Historical Dictionary of Methodism." (2nd Ed.)
Yrigoyan and Warrick, Eds.