This morning I was out for a walk and wanted to listen to a hymn on my smartphone. I chose Charles Wesley‘s classic “O For a Thousand Tongues” and listened to this inspiring rendition. It ministered greatly to my heart, giving words to my sense of praise and gratitude for my/our great God. Older hymns are often chock-full of good, solid, biblical doctrine and provide us thus with a sort of mini-theology lesson.
Here’s the first stanza.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
You can find them all here.
Thank you, Father, for raising up giants (past and present) like Charles Wesley, who put their gifts of music and composing before your throne. You minister to me/us through them, enabling our hearts and minds to focus on your greatness and on your great works in Jesus Christ, your beloved Son.
By the way, Charles Wesley and the movement founded by his brother John, Methodism, are arminian. I am not. This doesn’t bother me a bit. I can learn and be prompted to praise by Christians with whom I disagree. John and Charles were true giants in the period they lived and I thank God for their influence on the United Kingdom and the rest of Christendom, including me.