1 JESUS, thou soul of all our joys, For whom we now lift up our voice, And all our strength exert; Vouchsafe the grace we humbly claim, Compose into a thankful frame, And tune thy people's heart.
2While in the heavenly work we join, Thy glory be our whole design, Thy glory, not our own: Still let us keep our end in view, And still the pleasing task pursue, To please our God alone.
3The secret pride, the subtle sin, O let it never more steal in, To offend thy glorious eyes, To desecrate our hallowed strain, And make our solemn service vain, And mar our sacrifice!
4To magnify thy awful name, To spread the honours of the Lamb, Let us our voices raise; Our souls' and bodies' powers unite, Regardless of our own delight, And dead to human praise.
5Still let us on our guard be found, And watch against the power of sound With sacred jealousy; Lest haply sense should damp our zeal, And music's charms bewitch and steal Our hearts away from thee.
6That hurrying strife far oft remove, That noisy burst of selfish love, Which swells the formal song; The joy from out our hearts arise, And speak and sparkle in our eyes, And vibrate on our tongue.
7Thee let us praise, our common Lord, And sweetly join with one accord Thy goodness to proclaim: Jesus, thyself in us reveal, And all our faculties shall feel Thy harmonizing name.
8With calmly-reverential joy, O let us all our lives employ In setting forth thy love; And raise in death our triumph higher, And sing with all the heavenly choir, That endless song above!
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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.