When did Charles Wesley write 'Lord divine, all loves excelling'?
English leader of the Methodist movement Charles Wesley wrote the hymn 'Lord divine, all loves excelling' in 1747. It would prove to be one of his most popular hymns and by the middle of the 19th century it had appeared in 15 of the 17 hymn books. Today it is sung to a variety of tunes, including 'Beecher' by John Zundel, 'Hyfrydol' by Rowland Hugh Prichard and 'Blaenwern 'by William Penfro Rowlands.
Who was Charles Wesley?
Charles Wesley was the son of Anglican cleric and poet Samuel Wesley, while his younger brother was Methodist founder John Wesley. As well as leader of the Methodist movement Charles was a prolific hymn writer and by the time he died in 1788 he had published more than 6,500 hymns, including the carol 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing'.
What are the lyrics to 'Lord divine, all loves excelling'?
Love divine, all loves excelling, joy of heav’n, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art. Visit us with thy salvation; enter ev'ry trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into ev’ry troubled breast. Let us all in thee inherit, let us find the promised rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be. End of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver, let us all thy life receive. Suddenly return, and never, nevermore they temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing, glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation; true and spotless let us be. Let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee. Changed from glory into glory, till in heav’n we take our place, till we cast our crowns before thee, lost in wonder, love and praise.
Find more lyrics to more famous hymns here