Hymns of Charles Wesley (selection)

Source

Source: The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, ed. G. Osborn, vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), reprinting Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739) and (1740), via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Source URL: https://ccel.org/ccel/wesley/works Public domain basis: Charles Wesley died in 1788; the hymns were first published in 1739 and 1740 and the Osborn reprint in 1868. Five hymns selected from the CCEL transcription; CCEL navigation and page apparatus removed.

HYMNS OF CHARLES WESLEY A selection of five hymns, as first published in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739 and 1740)

Hymn for Christmas Day (1739)

HYMN FOR CHRISTMAS DAY [Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)]

Hark how all the welkin rings, “Glory to the King of kings, Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; Universal Nature, say, “Christ the Lord is born to-day!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veil’d in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail the Incarnate Deity! Pleased as man with men to appear Jesus, our Immanuel here!

Hail the heavenly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.

Mild He lays His glory by, Born—that man no more may die, Born—to raise the sons of earth, Born—to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of Nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home; Rise, the woman’s conquering Seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Now display Thy saving power, Ruin’d nature now restore; Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface, Stamp Thy image in its place; Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.

Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the Inner Man: O to all Thyself impart, Form’d in each believing heart.

Hymn for Easter Day (1739)

HYMN FOR EASTER DAY [Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)]

“Christ the Lord is risen to-day,” Sons of men and angels say! Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, ye heavens; and, earth, reply.

Love’s redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the battle won: Lo! our Sun’s eclipse is o’er; Lo! He sets in blood no more.

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Christ has burst the gates of hell! Death in vain forbids His rise: Christ has open’d paradise!

Lives again our glorious King: Where, O Death, is now thy sting? Dying once, He all doth save: Where thy victory, O Grave?

Soar we now, where Christ has led? Following our exalted Head, Made like Him, like Him we rise, Ours the cross, the grave, the skies!

What though once we perish’d all, Partners in our parent’s fall? Second life we all receive, In our Heavenly Adam live.

Risen with Him, we upward move; Still we seek the things above; Still pursue, and kiss the Son Seated on His Father’s throne:

Scarce on earth a thought bestow, Dead to all we leave below; Heaven our aim, and loved abode, Hid our life with Christ in God!

Hid; till Christ, our Life, appear, Glorious in His members here: Join’d to Him, we then shall shine All immortal, all Divine!

Hail, the Lord of earth and heaven! Praise to Thee by both be given: Thee we greet triumphant now; Hail, the Resurrection Thou!

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Everlasting life is this, Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Thus to sing, and thus to love!

Free Grace (1739)

FREE GRACE [Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)]

And can it be, that I should gain An interest in the Saviour’s blood? Died He for me?—who caused His pain! For me?—who Him to death pursued. Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all! the Immortal dies! Who can explore His strange design? In vain the first-born seraph tries To sound the depths of Love Divine. ’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above, (So free, so infinite His grace!) Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race: ’Tis mercy all, immense and free! For, O my God! it found out me!

Long my imprison’d 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 follow’d Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear, That whispers all my sins forgiven; Still the atoning blood is near, That quench’d the wrath of hostile Heaven: I feel the life His wounds impart; I feel my Saviour in my heart.

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.

In Temptation (1740)

IN TEMPTATION [Hymns and Sacred Poems (1740)]

Jesu, Lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high: Hide me, O my Saviour, hide, Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide O, receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee: Leave, ah leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me. All my trust on Thee is stay’d; All my help from Thee I bring; Cover my defenceless head With the shadow of Thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call? Wilt Thou not accept my prayer? Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall— Lo! on Thee I cast my care: Reach me out Thy gracious hand! While I of Thy strength receive, Hoping against hope I stand, Dying, and, behold, I live!

Thou, O Christ, art all I want, More than all in Thee I find: Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick, and lead the blind. Just and holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness; False and full of sin I am, Thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin: Let the healing streams abound, Make and keep me pure within. Thou of life the Fountain art: Freely let me take of Thee, Spring Thou up within my heart, Rise to all eternity!

For the Anniversary of One’s Conversion (1740)

FOR THE ANNIVERSARY OF ONE’S CONVERSION [Hymns and Sacred Poems (1740)]

Glory to God, and praise, and love Be ever, ever given, By saints below, and saints above, The church in earth and heaven.

On this glad day the glorious Sun Of Righteousness arose: On my benighted soul He shone, And fill’d it with repose.

Sudden expired the legal strife; ’Twas then I ceased to grieve; My second, real, living life I then began to live.

Then with my heart I first believed, Believed with faith Divine; Power with the Holy Ghost received To call the Saviour mine.

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!

I found, and own’d His promise true, Ascertain’d of my part; My pardon pass’d in heaven I knew, When written on my heart.

O for a thousand tongues to sing My dear Redeemer’s praise! The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace.

My gracious Master, and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread through all the earth abroad The honours of Thy name.

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!

He breaks the power of cancell’d sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood avail’d for me.

He speaks; and, listening to His voice, New life the dead receive, The mournful, broken hearts rejoice, The humble poor believe.

Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, Your loosen’d tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Saviour come; And leap, ye lame, for joy.

Look unto Him, ye nations; own Your God, ye fallen race! Look, and be saved through faith alone; Be justified by grace!

See all your sins on Jesus laid; The Lamb of God was slain, His soul was once an offering made For every soul of man.

Harlots, and publicans, and thieves In holy triumph join; Saved is the sinner that believes From crimes as great as mine.

Murderers, and all ye hellish crew, Ye sons of lust and pride, Believe the Saviour died for you; For me the Saviour died.

Awake from guilty nature’s sleep, And Christ shall give you light, Cast all your sins into the deep, And wash the Ethiop white.

With me, your chief, you then shall know, Shall feel your sins forgiven; Anticipate your heaven below, And own that love is heaven.