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An example of the Scriptural foundations of Wesleyan
hymns.
1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
(John 15:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man
lay down his life for his friends.
Joy of heaven to earth come down,
(1 Ki 6:13) And I will dwell among the children of Israel,
and will not forsake my people Israel.
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
(Isa 57:15) I dwell in the high and holy place, with him
also that is of a contrite and humble spirit....
All thy faithful mercies crown;
(Psa 103:4b) ...Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and
tender mercies....
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
(Mat 9:36) But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with
compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered
abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Pure unbounded love thou art,
(1 John 4:16b) God is love; and he that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God....
Visit us with thy salvation,
(Luke 1:68) Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath
visited and redeemed his people....
Enter every trembling heart.
(Deu 28:65b) ...the LORD shall give thee there a trembling
heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind.
2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
(John 20:22) He breathed on them, and saith unto them,
Receive ye the Holy Ghost....
Into every troubled breast,
(Luke 24:38) Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise
in your hearts?
Let us all in thee inherit,
(Rom 8:17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and
joint-heirs with Christ....
Let us find that second rest:
(Heb 4:8-9) For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he
not afterward have spoken of another day. {9} There remaineth
therefore a rest to the people of God.
Take away our power of sinning,
{The contents of this line caused
John Wesley to omit this verse from the 1780 hymnal. It is no doubt
inspired by the writings of St. Augustine (De civitate Dei xxii,
30): "The first immortality, which Adam lost by sinning, was the
ability not to die. The new immortality will be the inability to die. In
the same way, the first freedom of choice conveyed the ability not to sin.
The new freedom will confer the inability to sin."}
(1 John 3:9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.
Alpha and Omega be,
(Rev 1:8) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
ending.
End of faith as its beginning,
(Heb 12:2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross....
Set our hearts at liberty.
(Psa 119:45) And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy
precepts.
3. Come, almighty to deliver,
(Isa 63:1) Who is this that cometh from Edom ... travelling
in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness,
mighty to save.
Let us all thy life receive,
(John 6:33) For the bread of God is he which cometh down
from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Suddenly return, and never,
(Mal 3:1) Behold, I will send my messenger ... and the Lord,
whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple...
Never more thy temples leave.
(Psa 68:16) ...This is the hill which God desireth to dwell
in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
Thee we would be always blessing,
(Psa 34:1) I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise
shall continually be in my mouth.
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
(Rev 22:3) ...The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in
it; and his servants shall serve him:
Pray and praise thee without ceasing,
(1 Th 5:16-17) Rejoice evermore. {17} Pray without ceasing.
Glory in thy perfect love.
(1 John 2:5) But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is
the love of God perfected....
4. Finish then thy new creation,
(2 Cor 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new.
Pure and spotless let us be
(Song 4:7) Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in
thee.
Let us see thy great salvation,
(2 Pet 3:14) Wherefore, beloved, ... be diligent that ye may
be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Perfectly restored in thee;
(Psa 51:12) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and
uphold me with thy free spirit.
Changed from glory into glory,
(2 Cor 3:18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Till in heaven we take our place,
(John 14:3) If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may
be also.
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
(Rev 4:10) The four and twenty elders fall down before him
that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and
ever, and cast their crowns before the throne....
Lost in wonder, love and praise.
(Rev 8:1) And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was
silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
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