by Pastor Clinton Macomber
Charles and John Wesley decided to sail to America after graduating from Oxford University to try to minister to the colonists and to be missionaries to the Indians. They soon returned to England. While crossing the Atlantic, they were impressed by a group of devout Moravians, who appeared to have great spiritual depth and real missionary zeal. When they arrived back in London, the brothers got in touch with a group of Moravians in the Aldersgate Hall. Here, on May 21, 1738, they realized that though they had been very zealous in religious activity, neither of them had ever personally known God’s forgiveness or real joy.
This hymn was written by Charles Wesley to celebrate the 11th anniversary of this experience in 1749.
Charles Wesley originally wrote eighteen stanza’s to this text. We now use only stanza’s seven, eight, nine, and ten. This must have met with John Wesley’s approval, for that is the form that he used when he published it in his Collection of Hymns.
The first verse of the hymn we now sing was influenced by a remark made by Peter Bohler, an influential Moravian Missionary. He said: “The Lord has done so much for my life. Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ Jesus with every one of them!”
O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace.
My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread thru all the earth abroad the honors of Thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease, ’tis music in the sinner’s ears; ’tis life and health and peace.
He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin; He sets the pris’ner free. His blood can make the foulest clean … His blood availed for me.
Hear Him, ye deaf, His praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; ye blind, behold your Savior come and leap ye lame, for joy.
Glory to God and praise and love be ever, ever giv’n by saints below and saints above … the Church in earth and heav’n above.
Charles Wesley died on March 29, 1788, after more than 50 years of service.
Sources
K. W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990). page 274.
Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 Hymn Stories (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1982). page 180.
Others sources lost
