In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine! 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.
Wesley had known his Bible well before this time but had not yet experienced affirmation of new birth or the wholeness of grace in his life. Wesley starts the first stanza by expressing admiration over the love shown by Jesus dying for him and wonders how we who "pursued" his death are now graced by it. In the second stanza, Wesley calls for appreciation of God's love and mercy in this sacrifice.
In the fourth stanza, Wesley harkens to the "imprisonment" of his own sin and the freedom he found in Christ. All rights reserved. Numerous hymn texts by Wesley are standard entries in most modern hymnals; fourteen are included in the Psalter Hymnal. Charles's elder brother John also studied at Christ Church College, Oxford, and was ordained a priest in the Church of England in After his contact with the Moravian missionaries, Wesley began translating Moravian hymns from German and published his first hymnal, Collection of Psalms and Hymns , in Charleston, South Carolina ; this hymnal was the first English hymnal ever published for use in worship.
Upon his return to England in Wesley "felt his heart strangely warmed" at a meeting on Aldersgate Street, London, when Peter Bohler, a Moravian, read from Martin Luther's preface to his commentary on the epistle to the Romans. It was at that meeting that John received the assurance that Christ had truly taken away his sins. That conversion experience followed a few days later by a similar experience by his brother Charles led to his becoming the great itinerant evangelist and administrator of the Methodist "societies," which would eventually become the Methodist Church.
An Anglican all his life, John Wesley wished to reform the Church of England and regretted the need to found a new denomination. Most of the hymnals he prepared with his brother Charles were intended for Christians in all denominations; their Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People called Methodists is one of the few specifically so designated.
John was not only a great preacher and organizer, he was also a prolific author, editor, and translator. He translated many classic texts, wrote grammars and dictionaries, and edited the works of John Bunyan and Richard Baxter.
Most significant, however, is his well-known strong hand in editing and often strengthening his brother Charles's hymn texts before they copublished them in their numerous hymnals. And can it be that I should gain.
Wesley at that time underwent. His diary of that date gives minute details of the mental and spiritual struggles through which he passed, evidences of which, and the ultimate triumph, are clearly traceable in both hymns.
It was first published in J. When included in the Wesleyan Hymn Book , , stanza v. It has passed from that hymnal into numerous collections in Great Britain and most English-speaking countries. Stevenson's note on this hymn, dealing with the spiritual benefits it has conferred on many, is full and interesting Methodist Hymn Book Notes , p.
Original text in Poetical Works , , vol. It was published in John Wesley's Psalms and Hymns in that same year with six stanzas. The refrain is a repetition of the last two lines of the first stanza. Sometimes there is an expanded refrain, in which these two lines are sung twice after every stanza, replacing the last two lines of the second through fifth stanzas, but this omits some important lines of the hymn. However, in the twentieth century this text was paired with SAGINA, and with few exceptions, this is the only tune used today.
The tune is fairly well-known, but it can present difficulties for congregational singing because of its wide range and frequent melismas. It is a good idea to sing in parts, especially on the refrain. This hymn is used as a song of response, and is especially suited to a service of confession and forgiveness, or an adult baptism.
The soft, haunting mood of this arrangement is best suited for Lent or Holy Week, and allows the listener to contemplate the sober reality of Christ's sacrifice. A separate copy of this score must be purchased for each choir member. If this score will be projected or included in a bulletin, usage must be reported to a licensing agent e. Skip to main content. Home Page. Hymnary FlexScore. Choral Palms, Passion and Alleluias.
Refrain: Amazing love! Sing Joyfully, Psalm Isaiah Mark John Acts Romans Romans 8. Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians Hebrews Notes Scripture References: st. For Leaders Bulletin Blurb Worship Notes Scores The first three stanzas of this hymn explore both the contrast between the glory of heaven that Christ came from and the suffering He endured on earth, and the mystery of the love that motivated Him to make that journey.
In stanza four we are reminded how God brings us to salvation in language that reminds us of Peter's experience in Acts , where God sent an angel to open the prison doors and loose Peter's chains.
The final stanza is a jubilant celebration of our new state in Christ and the privilege of communion with God that we enjoy. Tiffany Shomsky, Hymnary. FlexScores are available in the Media section below. How Can It Be? Hymn Instance Ancient and Modern: hymns You have access to this FlexScore.
In this hymn Wesley goes on to say, "'Tis mystery all! Charles Wesley saw the vision concerning this and declared in his hymn that God died for us. The God who died for us is not the God before incarnation. Prior to incarnation, God certainly did not have blood, and He could not have died for us. It was after the incarnation, in which God was mingled with humanity, that He died for us.
Through incarnation, our God, the Creator, the eternal One, Jehovah, became mingled with man. As a result, He was no longer only God—He became a God-man. As the God-man, He surely had blood and was able to die for us.
Paul said in Acts that the blood that Christ shed on the cross was God's own blood. God bought, purchased, the church with His own blood, so the church is so dear, so beloved, in the feeling of God and in the eyes of God. This was the word spoken by Paul to the elders of Ephesus.
He was impressing the elders from Ephesus that they should love the church, considering the church very dear and beloved as God does. The church is so dear and beloved to God in His feeling, so He purchased the church with His own blood.
The Bible in Acts says that the divine God has human blood. As we have pointed out, Charles Wesley wrote a very good hymn with a good melody, in which he spoke of the crucifixion of Christ. This is hymn in our hymnal. A number of years ago, I translated this hymn into Chinese. Charles Wesley had the boldness to say in this hymn that the immortal God died for us.
I am so glad that he declared this truth and that it is printed in the hymnal. Follow us:. Toggle Navigation. The music cannot be played on your browser.
Text Piano Guitar. Comment Your Name. Your Comment. Cancel Comment. Nov 11 Emmanuel Nde Douala, Littoral, Cameroon. It out me. Nov 7 Praise God for these websites! Oct 31 Kimberlee Beale Jamaica. Oct 10 Ahimbisibwe Alfred Kabale, Uganda. Oct 3 Sep 30 Thank You Jesus I love this song so much Glory Sep 19 Austins Mark Kaduna, Nigeria. I am lifted and fulfilled in Jesus name. Aug 22 Johnson Oluwabusayo Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria. Jul 12 Jun 25 Aggrey Kampala, Uganda.
I want that song played twice on my wedding day. Pray for me u people my dream comes to true. In this hymn Wesley says: Amazing love! How can it be That thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Loop: Song Forever. Category: Assurance and Joy of Salvation. Subcategory: Justified in Christ.
Lyrics: Charles Wesley bio. Music: Thomas Campbell Key: G Major. Meter: 8. Hymn Code:
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