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Discussion Forum : Devotional Thoughts : a 'Wesley' a day keeps the trivia away

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philologos
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 a 'Wesley' a day keeps the trivia away

For many years I have been richly blessed with the [i]incomparable poems of the Wesley brothers, the poetry of which is as sublime as it is heavenly, and breathes from the eternal Spirit who inspired their hearts. In this realm they have no betters, and few, if any, equals.

Throughout the land hearts cry out for the realities herein set forth, and these hymns give expression to the unspeakable yearnings within in a manner which beautiful poetry and utmost piety unaided cannot accomplish, for many have produced such hymns but have failed of that ‘something’ that so permeates the writings of the Wesley’s as to place them in a class above all others.

The difference surely lies in the fact that these hymns were born in revival, and come from the Spirit of Life then breathing through the land.

Our Lord gave them to His Church, and wherever souls long for language of the Spirit these hymns will be sung by all so blessed as to know them.

Could heart-cries be formed and framed in better words than these, or man declare his faith for gloriously?[/i] (from the preface of a selection of 120 Wesley hymns reproduced in 1971)

I thought I might share some of them here from day to day…

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?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’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!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

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.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

[i]Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel my Saviour in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel my Saviour in my heart.[/i]

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 th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

This familiar hymn has the missing verse restored here. See how the much better the ideas flow with the verse restored. Wesley’s confidence of the last verse does not arise from ‘logical deductions drawn from proof texts’ or ‘decision’ and ‘the sinner’s prayer’ but from the inward witness of the Spirit.

If you would like to sing it here is a tune


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Ron Bailey

 2004/12/2 8:31Profile
philologos
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re: a 'Wesley' a day keeps the trivia away

It has been said that the poetry of the Wesley's is 'bibline' that is to say wherever you cut it you will find it bleeds 'bible'. In this hymn Charles Wesley gathers together Bible pictures of Christ and the Salvation He has provided. See how many of these illustrations you can trace to their source...

Jesus, my strength and righteousness,
My Saviour, and my King,
Triumphantly Thy name I bless,
Thy conquering name I sing.
Thou, Lord, has magnified Thy name,
Thou has maintained Thy cause,
And I enjoy the glorious shame,
The scandal of Thy cross.

This is the saving power of God:
Who’er this word receive,
Feel all the effects of Jesu’s blood,
And sensibly believe:
Saved from the guilt and power of sin
By instantaneous grace,
They trust to have Thy life brought in,
And always see Thy face.

The pure in heart Thy face shall see
Before they hence remove,
Redeemed from all iniquity,
And perfected in love.
This is the great salvation” This
The prize at which we aim,
The end of faith, the hidden bliss,
The new, mysterious name.

The name inscribed in the white stone,
The unbeginning Word,
The mystery so long unknown,
The secret of the Lord.
The living bread sent down from heaven,
The saints’ and angels’ food,
The immortal seed, the little leaven,
The effluence of God!

The tree of life, that blooms and grows
In the midst of paradis,
The pure and living stream, that flows
Back to its native skies:
The Spirit’s law, the covenant seal,
The eternal righteousness,
The glorious joy unspeakable,
The unutterable peace!

The treasure in the gospel-field,
The wisdom from above,
Hid from the wise, to babes revealed,
The precious pearl of love;
The mystic power of godliness,
The end of death and sin,
The antepast of heavenly bliss,
The kingdom fixed within.

The Morning Star, that glittering bright,
Shines to the perfect day,
The Sun of Righteousness – the Light,
The Life, the Truth, the Way:
The image of the living God,
His nature, and His mind,
Himself He hath on us bestowed,
And all in Christ we find.

you can sing it to this tune.


_________________
Ron Bailey

 2004/12/3 3:10Profile
philologos
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

With glorious clouds encompassed round,
Whom angels dimly see,
Will the Unsearchable be found,
Or God appear to me?

Will He forsake His throne above,
Himself to worms impart?
Answer, Thou Man of grief and love,
And speak it to my heart.

In manifested love explain
Thy wonderful design;
What meant the suffering Son of man,
The streaming blood divine?

Didst Thou not in our flesh appear,
And live and die below,
That I may now perceive Thee near,
And my Redeemer know?

Come then, and to my soul reveal
The heights and depths of grace,
The wounds which all Thy sorrows heal,
That dear disfigured face.

Before my eyes of faith confessed
Stand forth a slaughtered Lamb;
And wrap me in Thy crimson vest,
And tell me all Thy name.

Jehovah in Thy person show,
Jehovah crucified!
And then the pardoning God I know,
And feel the blood applied;

I view the Lamb in His own light,
Whom angels dimly see,
And gaze, transported at the sight,
Through all eternity.

here's a suggested tune


_________________
Ron Bailey

 2004/12/4 2:28Profile
riki
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Joined: 2003/11/30
Posts: 78
Sweden

 Re:

Quote:


With glorious clouds encompassed round,
Whom angels dimly see,
Will the Unsearchable be found,
Or God appear to me?

Will He forsake His throne above,
Himself to worms impart?
Answer, Thou Man of grief and love,
And speak it to my heart.

In manifested love explain
Thy wonderful design;
What meant the suffering Son of man,
The streaming blood divine?

Didst Thou not in our flesh appear,
And live and die below,
That I may now perceive Thee near,
And my Redeemer know?

Come then, and to my soul reveal
The heights and depths of grace,
The wounds which all Thy sorrows heal,
That dear disfigured face.

Before my eyes of faith confessed
Stand forth a slaughtered Lamb;
And wrap me in Thy crimson vest,
And tell me all Thy name.

Jehovah in Thy person show,
Jehovah crucified!
And then the pardoning God I know,
And feel the blood applied;

I view the Lamb in His own light,
Whom angels dimly see,
And gaze, transported at the sight,
Through all eternity.



Thank you so much, Ron, for this one! What a prayer this hymn is! It echoes so much of what my heart longs for, I just didn't know that it could be expressed in such a beautiful way... Once again I thank you.

/Rikard


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Rikard Eriksson

 2004/12/4 6:29Profile
philologos
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

This is Charles Wesley's gift to himself on his birthday. The Birthday Hymn. It may not be your birthday but today is, as they say, the beginning of the rest of our lives. Wesley is not daunted by 'our remnant of days'.

Away with our fears!
The glad morning appears,
When an heir of salvation was born!
From Jehovah I came,
For His glory I am,
And to Him I with singing return.

Thy Jesus, alone,
The fountain I own
Of my life and felicity here,
And cheerfully sing
My Redeemer and King,
Till His sign in the heavens appear.

With thanks I rejoice
In Thy fatherly choice
Of my state and condition below;
If of parents I came
Who honoured Thy name,
'Twas Thy wisdom appointed it so.

I sing of Thy grace,
From my earliest days
Ever near to allure and defend;
Hitherto Thou hast been
My preserver from sin,
And I know Thou wilt save to the end.

O the infinite cares,
And temptations, and snares,
Thy hand hath conducted me through!
O! the blessings bestowed
By a bountiful God,
And the mercies eternally new!

What a mercy is this,
What a heaven of bliss,
How unspeakably happy am I!
Gathered into the fold,
With Thy people enrolled,
With Thy people to live and to die!

O the goodness of God,
Employing a clod
His tribute of glory to raise!
His standard to bear,
And with triumph declare
His unsearchable riches of grace.

O the fathomless love,
That has deigned to approve
And prosper the work of my hands!
With my pastoral crook
I went over the brook,
And, behold, I am spread into bands!

Who, I ask in amaze,
Hath begotten me these?
And inquire from what quarter they came?
My full heart it replies,
They are born from the skies,
And gives glory to God and the Lamb.

All honour and praise
To the Father of grace,
To the Spirit, and Son, I return!
The business pursue
He hath made me to do,
And rejoice that I ever was born.

In a rapture of joy
My life I employ,
The God of my life to proclaim;
'Tis worth living for this,
To administer bliss
And salvation in Jesus's name.

My remnant of days
I spend in His praise,
Who died the whole world to redeem:
Be they many or few,
My days are His due,
And they all are devoted to Him.


oh, the goodness of God in employing a clod!

I can't find the tune we use, but the meter is 5.6.9.6.6.9


_________________
Ron Bailey

 2004/12/5 2:17Profile
philologos
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

Here's valuable reminder for a Monday. It's easy to get sucked back into the busy-ness of our lives only to forget our glorious calling and stewardship.


A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky;

To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil:
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will!

Arm me with jealous care,
As in Thy sight to live;
And O Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
And on Thyself rely,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall for ever die.


This is the tune that we use here in Reading.


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Ron Bailey

 2004/12/6 2:51Profile
philologos
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

What are your targets for today? Of all my works be Thou the aim.

O GOD, what offering shall I give
To Thee, the Lord of earth and skies?
My spirit, soul, and flesh receive,
A holy, living sacrifice;
Small as it is, 'tis all my store;
More should’st Thou have, if I had more.

Now then, my God, Thou hast my soul,
No longer mine, but Thine I am;
Guard Thou Thine own; possess it whole,
Cheer it with hope, with love inflame.
Thou hast my spirit; there display
Thy glory to the perfect day.

Thou hast my flesh; Thy hallowed shrine,
Devoted solely to Thy will:
Here let Thy light for ever shine,
This house still let Thy presence fill:
O Source of Life, live, dwell, and move
In me, till all my life be love!

O, never in these veils of shame,
Sad fruits of sin, my glorying be!
Clothe with salvation, through Thy name,
My soul, and let me put on Thee!
Be living faith my costly dress,
And my best robe Thy righteousness.

Send down Thy likeness from above,
And let this my adorning be:
Clothe me with wisdom, patience, love,
With lowliness and purity,
Than gold and pearls more precious far,
And brighter than the morning star.

Lord, arm me with Thy Spirit's might,
Since I am called by Thy great name:
In Thee my wandering thoughts unite,
[b]Of all my works be Thou the aim[/b];
Thy love attend me all my days,
And my sole business be Thy praise!


Any 8,8,8,8,8,8, tune but here's suggestion; Eisenach

If you're using Mozilla, right click Eisenach above and choose 'open link in new tab' then you can see the words and hear the tune.


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Ron Bailey

 2004/12/7 3:19Profile
philologos
Member



Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

Do you sometimes find it difficult to settle off to sleep? May I suggest a daily dose of this lovely hymn, to be taken just prior to switching the light out?

How do Thy mercies close me round!
For ever be Thy name adored!
I blush in all things to abound;
The servant is above his Lord.

Inured to poverty and pain.
A suffering life my Master led;
The Son of God, the Son of Man,
He had not where to lay His head.

But, lo! A place He hath prepared
For me, whom watchful angels keep;
Nay, He Himself becomes my Guard,
He smoothes my bed, and gives me sleep.

Jesus protects; my fears, be gone!
What can the Rock of Ages move?
Safe in Thy arms I lay me down,
Thy everlasting arms of love!

While Thou are intimately nigh,
Who, who shall violate my rest?
Sin, earth and hell I now defy;
I lean upon my Saviour’s breast.

I rest beneath the Almighty’s shade;
My griefs expire, my troubles cease;
Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,
Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.

Me for Thine own Thou lov’st to take
In time and in eternity;
Thou never, never wilt forsake
A helpless worm that trusts in Thee.

we use this tune


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Ron Bailey

 2004/12/8 3:35Profile
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Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

John Wesley did not write nearly so many hymns as his brother Charles, but he had learned German on his trip to the Colonies (USA!) in the company of the Moravians. He used this to good effect in translating some the hymns of Nikolaus L. von Zin­zen­dorf (Count Zinzendorf). You will note that did not view the doctrine of limited atonement with much favour.

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
’Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

Bold shall I stand in Thy great day;
For who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am
From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.

The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb,
Who from the Father’s bosom came,
Who died for me, e’en me to atone,
Now for my Lord and God I own.

Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,
Which, at the mercy seat of God,
Forever doth for sinners plead,
For me, e’en for my soul, was shed.

Lord, I believe were sinners more
Than sands upon the ocean shore,
Thou hast for all a ransom paid,
For all a full atonement made.

When from the dust of death I rise
To claim my mansion in the skies,
Ev’n then this shall be all my plea,
Jesus hath lived, hath died, for me.

Jesus, the endless praise to Thee,
Whose boundless mercy hath for me—
For me a full atonement made,
An everlasting ransom paid.

O let the dead now hear Thy voice;
Now bid Thy banished ones rejoice;
Their beauty this, their glorious dress,
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness.

This is probably the most favoured tune

If you're using Mozilla, right click 'tune' above and choose 'open link in new tab' then you can see the words and hear the tune.


_________________
Ron Bailey

 2004/12/9 3:10Profile
philologos
Member



Joined: 2003/7/18
Posts: 6566
Reading, UK

 Re:

Here's a lovely hymn that comes in two installments. Part One today, the remainder tomorrow. Its theme is the One Body of the Church.

Christ, from whom all blessings flow,
Perfecting the saints below,
Hear us, who Thy nature share,
Who Thy mystic body are.
Join us, in one spirit join,
Let us still receive of Thine;
Still for more on Thee we call;
Thou who fillest all in all.

Closer knit to Thee, our Head;
Nourish us, O Christ, and feed;
Let us daily growth receive,
More and more in Jesus live:
Jesus, we Thy members are,
Cherish us with kindest care;
Of Thy flesh and of Thy bone,
Love, for ever love Thine own.

Move, and actuate, and guide,
Divers gifts to each divide:
Placed according to Thy will,
Let us all our work fulfil;
Never from our office move,
Needful to the others prove;
Use the grace on each bestowed,
Tempered by the art of God.

Sweetly now we all agree,
Touched with softest sympathy;
Kindly for each other care;
Every member feels its share.
Wounded by the grief of one,
All the suffering members groan;
Honoured if one member is,
All partake the common bliss.

Many are we now and one,
We who Jesus have put on:
There is neither bond nor free,
Male nor female, Lord, in thee.
Love, like death, hath all destroyed,
Rendered all distinctions void:
Names, and sects, and parties fall;
Thou, O Christ, art all in all!


with a lovely Welsh tune to go with it; Aberystwyth (Parry)

If you're using Mozilla, right click 'Aberystwyth' above and choose 'open link in new tab' then you can see the words and hear the tune.


_________________
Ron Bailey

 2004/12/10 3:04Profile





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