I love congregational singing. Those who know me well will tell you that I seldom meet a hymn I haven't sung or at least heard. The idea of learning a new hymn always appeals to me and I have irritated folks along the way by suggesting that they should enjoy singing a new song as much as I do.
Of all the hymns I love to sing, those written by Charles Wesley are my favorites. In the course of his career, Charles Wesley published the words to more than 6,000 hymns. He also wrote the words to another 2,000 that were not published. I am grateful that the 1982 Hymnal of the Episcopal Church includes 24 of his hymns.
At Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, Kentucky, where I am serving as Interim Rector, the Organist-Choirmaster normally selects the hymns for our services. Yesterday, the opening hymn he selected was a Charles Wesley hymn that I don't recall ever singing. O Thou Who Camest From Above is traditionally sung to the tune Hereford, which was coomposed by Samuel Sebastian Wesley, Charles Wesley's grandson. Both the words and the music were a very pleasant surprise for me and I would like to share them with you.
O Thou Who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire to impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
Upon the mean altar of my heart.
There let it for Thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze,
And trembling to its source return,
In humble prayer and fervent praise.
Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
To work and speak and think for Thee;
Still let me guard the holy fire,
And still stir up Thy gift in me.
Ready for all Thy perfect will,
My acts of faith and love repeat,
Till death Thy endless mercies seal,
And make my sacrifice complete.
Here is a recording of the Choir of Rochester Cathedral singing the hymn.
I hope this hymn makes your heart glad today.
P.S. This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of Samuel S. Wesley's birth.