The Timeless Hymns of Charles Wesley
Scriptural Basis + Musical Beauty = Congregational Longevity
Oct 4, 2009
Poet and theologian Charles Wesley continues to influence today's Methodist worship with his hymns of the 18th century. Some of his hymns have been adapted and redone countless times, and others have been used in their original form since they were written. Besides being melodically beautiful, they offer the Methodist theology in a medium everyone can enjoy. The well-rounded subject matter and unwavering scriptural base of Charles Wesley’s hymns make them timeless in the eyes and ears of many Methodist congregations.
Roots of Wesleyan Worship
Charles undoubtedly was knowledgeable in scripture. The first words he learned to read were “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Wiseman 19). By his early teenage years, he was taught to read the Bible in its original languages of Greek and Hebrew (Mitchell 9). He was known to quote scripture consistently in everyday conversation from his mental bank of King James texts (Mitchell 9). This characteristic is demonstrated in his poems and hymns. With his hymns, Charles quoted every book of the Bible, except four (Hymnnuts 1). It is clear that his lyrics were scripturally rooted.
Both Wesley brothers took their spiritual gifts seriously and made sure that they were bearing fruit. Charles believed that worship music was meant strictly for God. Music was not played in churches for interludes or atmosphere. Historian John Richard Green writes; “His hymns expressed the fiery conviction of its converts in lines so chaste and beautiful…The wild throes of hysteria and enthusiasm passed into the passion for hymn-singing, and a new musical impulse was aroused in the people which gradually changed the face of public devotion in England.”
The Hymns of Wesley
As Wesley moved into the same arenas as his brother, he began turning some of the scriptural lessons he had heard his entire life into poems and eventually putting them to music. So was born the hymns that so many Christian traditions love today. Among these many compositions, there stands classic favorites such as; “Christ the Lord Has Risen Today,” “Come Sinners to the Gospel Feast,” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” Each of these has a significant place in many congregations, and therefore is worthy of analysis to derivation and importance.
“Come Sinners to the Gospel Feast” is a song about the sacrament of communion and how it is anticipated. The opening line invites the world, sinners, to the table that the Lord prepares in his sacrifice. Wesley says that God calls all mankind to this feast, because it is the saving grace of the Lord. In Luke 14:18-19 the Bible talks of people asking to be excused from the sinners’ table. In response, Wesley’s second verse asks the audacious sinner why they would leave this table. He writes;
Do not begin to make excuse;
ah! Do not you his grace refuse;
your worldly cares and pleasures
leave, and take what Jesus hath to give.
The hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, is another that is adored by congregations during the Christmas season. What is striking about this hymn are the different titles given to Christ. In telling the Christmas story, Wesley recalls nine different Messianic names! Almost every detail of the hymn is found somewhere in the Bible, including quotes such as; “risen with healing in his wings” (Malachi 4:2), “offspring of a virgin’s womb” (Matthew 1:23), and “God and sinners reconciled” (Romans 5:10). In one hymn, Wesley captures the Christmas story, the power of Christ, and the purpose of salvation.
Lastly, the hymn “Christ the Lord Has Risen Today” is a popular Easter and resurrection tune. Wesley paints a picture in the hymn of all of creation rejoicing with the heavens that Christ has risen from the grave. He instills the image Christ opening paradise for believers in the end. In the third verse, Wesley uses a quote from 1st Corinthians 15:55, “Where O death, where is now thy sting?”. He goes on in verse four, to reference Ephesians 4:15, in saying that we follow Christ, our Head. And again in verse four, “made like him, with him we rise”, is an idea from Philippians 3:10-11, where Paul explains how we will rise again with Christ. This song of the Easter Christ is full of heavenly imagery and scriptural references.
Because of Charles Wesley’s upbringing and schooling, he had the right basis to cite scripture ingeniously. He wove together differing passages in the Bible to create a tapestry of Christ and the church in his hymns. Because of this scriptural basis and variant subject matter, Charles Wesley’s hymns have a rare "congregational longevity."
Sources:
Wiseman, Fredrick Luke. Charles Wesley: Evangelist and Poet. New York: The Abingdon Press. 1932.
Crichton, Mitchell T. Charles Wesley: A Man with a Dancing Heart. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press. 1994.
Flew, Newton R. The Hymns of Charles Wesley: A Study of Their Structure. London: The Epworth Press. 1953.
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