Ping!
Say what you will about the methodists, they have some beautiful hymns.
These are Anglican hymns! These hymns are only Methodist in the same sense the William Byrd’s music can be considered Anglican! As the article points out, Wesley never left the Anglican church. The fact that the Methodists recognized a good thing after the fact is beside the point!
Always delighted when they post a hymn by Charles Wesley.
It’s not as strange as it may seem. We are all Christians, after all. The hymnal we use in our parish has all of Martin Luther’s greatest hits...
And can it be?
Amazing Love!
Oh I wish I had been there. All those hymns, one after another? How glorious it would be.
Interesting post.
My Charles Wesley Faves are:
Arise, My Soul, Arise
1. Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off your guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice,
in my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.
Chorus: Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise
Arise, my soul, arise.
Arise (arise), arise (arise), arise
Arise, my soul, arise.
Shake off your guilty fears and rise
2. He ever lives above,
for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love,
His precious blood, to plead;
His blood atoned for every race,
His blood atoned for every race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.
3. Five bleeding wounds He bears;
received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers;
they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
4. The Father hears Him pray,
His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away
the presence of His Son;
The Spirit answers to the blood,
The Spirit answers to the blood
And tells me I am born of God.
5. My God is reconciled;
His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child;
I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.
Followed by
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
1. O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!
2. My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy Name.
Chorus: O for a thousand tongues
(O for a thousand tongues)
O for a thousand tongues
(O for a thousand tongues)
O for a thousand tongues to sing
3. Jesus! The Name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
’Tis life, and health, and peace.
4. He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.
(Repeat chorus)
5. He speaks, and, listening to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.
6. Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy
(Repeat chorus)
I think the above comment is incorrect when it says that some Christians turn to "easy, undemanding worship songs."
These Christians, in my view, had felt the result of cold application and repetition of theology in equally repetitive and cold worship services. They longed simply to enter into that which their worship services lacked....real, warm-hearted, whole-hearted praise of the Almighty God who inhabits the praise of His people.
They longed to be "in the Spirit," and it is in simple praise they were able to reclaim that.
When that loving worship of God is THEN combined with the old hymns, they are then poured forth from the heart, the theology sticks, the soul is blessed, and God is worshipped.
That is what this Methodist ordained Elder has learned from history as the way those songs were originally sung by Methodists........those overly ENTHUSIASTIC, Warm-Hearted Methodists.
Charles Wesley wrote some wonderful hymns. Better than Marty Haugen, to be sure!