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The Pilgrim Path (5-29-2020)

The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 40:3

"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD."

This passage is tied to the conversion of Charles Wesley. He was sick, staying in London---as he related it later, "in the home of a poor ignorant mechanic called Bray." Wesley said he heard a voice cry, "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, arise, and believe, and thou shalt be healed of all thy infirmities." Turns out, the voice was that of Bray's sister, who felt commanded to speak those very words in a dream. Wesley upon hearing those words, got out of bed, opened his Bible and found Psalm 40: 3, ""He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God..." In a few moments, in the providence of God, he turned to Isaiah 40, and began to read, "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity is pardoned..."---Wesley wrote in his journal: "I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in the hope of loving Christ."

Two days after his conversion Charles began writing a new hymn:

Where shall my wondering soul begin?

How shall I all to heaven aspire?

A slave redeemed from death and sin,

A brand plucked from eternal fire,

How shall I equal triumphs raise,

And sing my great Deliverer's praise!

Charles Wesley would write 8,989 hymns. Drink that number in as best you can. Dr. Frank Barker calculated that Wesley wrote an average of ten lines of verse every day for 50 years! Please keep in mind that many early hymns often had more than ten stanzas. Charles Wesley's "Soldiers of Christ, Arise," originally had 18 stanzas (you have it pretty easy singing). Typically Anglicans did not sing Charles Wesley's hymns in church during his life---they would have sung those hymns during informal Methodist gatherings (their loss).

Some of Charles Wesley's hymns: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "And Can It Be," "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing," "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," "Jesus, Lover of My Soul," "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today," "Soldiers of Christ Arise," "Rejoice! the Lord Is King!" "Come, Holy Ghost, Thine Influence Shed."

Wesley ministered at Newgate Prison, one of London's most barbaric. Here are some notes from his journal 1738:

"Wed., July 12th. I preached at Newgate to the condemned felons, and visited one of them in his cell, sick of a fever, a poor black that had robbed his master. I told him of one who came down from heaven to save lost sinners, and him in particular; described the suffering of the Son of God, his sorrows, agony, and death. He listened with all the signs of eager astonishment...while he cried. 'What! was it for me? Did God suffer all this for so poor a creature as me?' I left him waiting for the salvation of God."

Wesley went with many to the gallows. Many had trusted the Lord Jesus. He wrote this: "We left them going to meet their Lord, ready for the Bridegroom. When the cart drew off, not one stirred, or struggled for life, but meekly gave up their spirits..."

John Wesley was asked why his brother's hymns were so powerful and popular? He replied: they were Scriptural. The index of Scriptural Allusions in one critical edition of John Wesley's 1780 "Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists" (over 90% the work of Charles) contains 2,500 entries, including every book of the Bible, save Nahum and Philemon.

John and Charles Wesley published 56 collections of hymns in 53 years (Psalm 150: 6).

Today in Bristol, England, you can view a bronze statue of Charles Wesley with arms outstretched. At the base of the lovely figure are these words, "O let me commend my Savior to you."

Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom fly,

While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high;

Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;

Safe into the haven guide, O receive my soul at last!

Charles Wesley (1740)

Grace & Peace in Jesus Our LORD, Pastor Jason