1ETERNAL Wisdom! Thee we praise, Thee the creation sings, With thy loved name, rocks, hills, and seas, And heaven's high palace rings.
2Thy hand, how wide it spreads the sky! How glorious to behold! Tinged with a blue of heavenly dye, And starred with sparkling gold.
3There thou hast bid the globes of light Their endless circles run; There the pale planet rules the night, The day obeys the sun.
4If down I turn my wondering eyes On clouds and storms below, Those under-regions of the skies Thy numerous glories show.
5The noisy winds stand ready there Thy orders to obey; With sounding wings they sweep the air, To make thy chariot way.
6There, like a trumpet loud and strong, Thy thunder shakes our coast, While the red lightnings wave along, The banners of thy host.
7On the thin air, without a prop, Hang fruitful showers around; At thy command they sink, and drop Their fatness on the ground.
8Lo! here thy wondrous skill arrays The earth in cheerful green; A thousand herbs thy art displays, A thousand flowers between.
9There, the rough mountains of the deep Obey thy strong command, Thy breath can raise the billows steep, Or sink them to the sand.
10 Thy glories blaze all nature round, And strike the wondering sight Through skies, and seas, and solid ground, With terror and delight.
11 Infinite strength and equal skill Shine through thy works abroad. Our souls with vast amazement fill. And speak the builder God.
12 But the mild glories of thy grace Our softer passions move; Pity divine in Jesu's face We see, adore, and love.
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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.