1BEHOLD, how good a thing It is to dwell in peace; How pleasing to our King This fruit of righteousness; When brethren all in one agree, Who knows the joys of unity!
2When all are sweetly joined, (True followers of the Lamb) The same in heart and mind, And think and speak the same; And all in love together dwell; The comfort is unspeakable.
3Where unity takes place, The joys of heaven we prove; This is the gospel grace, The unction from above, The Spirit on all believers shed, Descending swift from Christ our Head.
4Where unity is found, The sweet anointing grace Extends to all around, And consecrates the place; To every waiting soul it comes, And fills it with divine perfumes.
5Grace every morning new, And every night, we feel; The soft, refreshing dew That falls on Hermon's hill! On Zion it doth sweetly fall; The grace of one descends on all.
6Even now our Lord doth pour The blessing from above, A kindly, gracious shower Of heart-reviving love, The former and the latter rain, The love of God and love of man.
7In him when brethren join, And follow after peace, The fellowship divine He promises to bless; His choicest graces to bestow, Where two or three are met below.
8The riches of his grace In fellowship are given To Zion's chosen race, The citizens of heaven: He fills them with his choicest store, He gives them life for evermore.
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Charles Wesley (1707 - 1788)
Was an English hymn writer, poet, and preacher who wrote over 5,500 hymns including And Can It Be That I Should Gain?, O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, and Hark! the Herald Angels Sing. A leader of the Methodist movement with his brother John Wesley.Wesley's conversion had a clear impact on his doctrine, especially the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The change in doctrine can be seen in his sermons after 1738, but is most notable in his hymns written after 1738. From Charles published work “Hymns and Prayers to the Trinity” and in Hymn number 62 he writes “The Holy Ghost in part we know, For with us He resides, Our whole of good to Him we owe, Whom by His grace he guides, He doth our virtuous thoughts inspire, The evil he averts, And every seed of good desire, He planted in our hearts.”
Charles Wesley is best known for his prolific hymn writing, his poetry and for being one of the founding fathers of the Methodist denomination of Christianity. He wrote more than six thousand hymns, of which a handful remain in modern day worship.
John and Charles Wesley's Methodist style was to take the word of God to people, wherever they were, rather than try to get them into a church to hear it. The numbers of converts grew and were gathered into 'societies' to nurture their faith.
With their helpers they began their travelling ministry, covering thousands of miles on horseback over the years throughout England and in Scotland, Wales and Ireland, with London, Bristol, and Newcastle being the main centres of their work.
The high-intensity preaching took its toll on Charles; he suffered from nervous exhaustion and severe depression. He was 80 when he died on 29th March 1788. With his famous carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing heard everywhere from cathedrals to supermarkets, the legacy of Charles Wesley is likely to continue for years to come.
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley (the Younger), and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley.
Despite their closeness, Charles and his brother John did not always agree on questions relating to their beliefs. In particular, Charles was strongly opposed to the idea of a breach with the Church of England into which they had been ordained. Charles Wesley is chiefly remembered for the many hymns he wrote. He founded Wesley Chapel in the village of Brayton, which is just south of Selby. His house, located nearby, can still be visited today.