The Welkin Rings
There are several hymn writers who were prolific in their writing. You might think of Isaac Watts, or Fanny Crosby. And although many know the name of John Wesley, the diligent preacher of the 18th century whose ministry resulted in the Methodist Church, not as many know his brother Charles Wesley, known more for his hymns. And maybe his hymn “How All the Welkin Rings” doesn’t sound familiar, but you know it well.
Both John and Charles Wesley began their ministries by making a trip to the colony of Georgia in the southern part of the “new world” of America, ruled by Britain. The odd thing was, impacted by their strongly Christian mother Susanna, they started in ministry without ever really becoming Christians. While studying at Oxford, the brothers were part of Bible study groups so methodical in their practice they were dubbed “methodist.” Yes, they studied the Bible diligently, but they had never really made a clear decision to accept Jesus as Lord and follow him as a sincere disciple. Their walk into ministry was more of an automatic response from their past.
In the colony of Georgia, their efforts failed. Charles was demanding and autocratic. He insisted on baptizing babies, by immersing them three times (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). One angry mother got so upset she fired a gun at him. (Source: Then Sings My Soul, by Robert Morgan) Charles left America first, depressed. His brother John would leave later, also very low in spirit. Back in England they both began attending a Moravian Church, and on Sunday, May 21, 1738, Charles who was then 31, wrote, “I now found myself at peace with God, rejoicing in the hope of loving Christ. I finally saw that by faith I stood.”
Both brothers had spiritual experiences that felt like conversions to them. Their mother, Susanna, wasn’t sure what to make of this. She stated, “I think you have fallen into an odd way of thinking. You say that till a few months ago you had no spiritual life and no justifying faith…so I heartily rejoice that you have attained a strong and lively hope in God’s mercy through Christ. Not that I think that you were totally without saving faith before, but it is one thing to have faith, and another thing to be sensible we have it.” Like many people (me included), it took a wakeup call for their faith to become what it should be. Not just routine, not automatic, but a sincere walk of faith as a disciple who earnestly wants to obey the Lord (true faith always includes obedience).
Charles now gained victory over his temper and his drinking habit. Charles also started writing hymns. It is said he wrote over 6,000! Those of us who remember using hymn books, probably know several of them. Do you remember, “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia. Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia. Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia. Sing ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia.” But there’s another one you’ll recognize.
Hark, how all the welkin rings,
Glory to the newborn king.
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Maybe that first line doesn’t ring a bell. Welkin was an old English word for “the vault of heaven.” The friend of Charles Wesley, evangelist George Whitefield, published this carol in 1753 with a collection of hymns, and he changed the first line to what we know today, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Question: How have hymns impacted your spiritual life for good? Can you relate to the story of John and Charles Wesley’s journey to true faith? Is it active biblical faith that drives purposeful discipleship?
(find also at: rickwilliswrites.wordpress.com)
Both John and Charles Wesley began their ministries by making a trip to the colony of Georgia in the southern part of the “new world” of America, ruled by Britain. The odd thing was, impacted by their strongly Christian mother Susanna, they started in ministry without ever really becoming Christians. While studying at Oxford, the brothers were part of Bible study groups so methodical in their practice they were dubbed “methodist.” Yes, they studied the Bible diligently, but they had never really made a clear decision to accept Jesus as Lord and follow him as a sincere disciple. Their walk into ministry was more of an automatic response from their past.
In the colony of Georgia, their efforts failed. Charles was demanding and autocratic. He insisted on baptizing babies, by immersing them three times (in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). One angry mother got so upset she fired a gun at him. (Source: Then Sings My Soul, by Robert Morgan) Charles left America first, depressed. His brother John would leave later, also very low in spirit. Back in England they both began attending a Moravian Church, and on Sunday, May 21, 1738, Charles who was then 31, wrote, “I now found myself at peace with God, rejoicing in the hope of loving Christ. I finally saw that by faith I stood.”
Both brothers had spiritual experiences that felt like conversions to them. Their mother, Susanna, wasn’t sure what to make of this. She stated, “I think you have fallen into an odd way of thinking. You say that till a few months ago you had no spiritual life and no justifying faith…so I heartily rejoice that you have attained a strong and lively hope in God’s mercy through Christ. Not that I think that you were totally without saving faith before, but it is one thing to have faith, and another thing to be sensible we have it.” Like many people (me included), it took a wakeup call for their faith to become what it should be. Not just routine, not automatic, but a sincere walk of faith as a disciple who earnestly wants to obey the Lord (true faith always includes obedience).
Charles now gained victory over his temper and his drinking habit. Charles also started writing hymns. It is said he wrote over 6,000! Those of us who remember using hymn books, probably know several of them. Do you remember, “Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia. Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia. Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia. Sing ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia.” But there’s another one you’ll recognize.
Hark, how all the welkin rings,
Glory to the newborn king.
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Maybe that first line doesn’t ring a bell. Welkin was an old English word for “the vault of heaven.” The friend of Charles Wesley, evangelist George Whitefield, published this carol in 1753 with a collection of hymns, and he changed the first line to what we know today, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Question: How have hymns impacted your spiritual life for good? Can you relate to the story of John and Charles Wesley’s journey to true faith? Is it active biblical faith that drives purposeful discipleship?
(find also at: rickwilliswrites.wordpress.com)
Posted in Waking Up Eutychus