Glory to God, and Praise and Love

Charles Wesley

This is a poem written by Charles Wesley, a great master of hymnody and a father of Methodism in England along with his brother John Wesley. From this poem came the old familiar hymn "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing".

I've been singing the hymn for so many years in church and at home but I have not known that it has come from a very long poem. I'd like to share the entire poem here:

Glory to God, and Praise and Love

Glory to God, and praise and love

be ever, ever given,

by saints below and saints above,

the church in earth and heaven.

On this glad day the glorious Sun

of Righteousness arose;

on my benighted soul he shone

and filled it with repose.

Sudden expired the legal strife,

'twas then I ceased to grieve;

my second, real, living life

I then began to live.

Then with my heart I first believed,

believed with faith divine,

power with the Holy Ghost received

to call the Savior mine.

I felt my Lord's atoning blood

close to my soul applied,

me, me he loved, the Son of God,

for me, for me, he died!

I found and owned his promise true,

ascertained of my part,

my pardon passed in heaven I knew

when written on my heart.

O for a thousand tongues to sing

my dear Redeemer's praise!

The glories of my God and King,

the triumphs of his grace.

My gracious Master and my God,

assist me to proclaim,

to spread through all the earth abroad

the honors of his name.

Jesus the name that charms our fears,

that bids our sorrows cease;

'tis music in the sinners ears,

'tis liofe, and health, and peace!

He breaks the power of canceled sin,

he sets the prisoners free;

his blood can make the foulest clean;

his blood availed for me.

He speaks, and listening to his voice

new life the dead receive;

the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,

the humble poor believe.

Hear him, ye deaf, his praise, ye dumb,

your loosened tongues employ;

ye blind, behold your Savior come,

and leap, ye lame, for joy.

Look unto him, ye nations, own,

your God, ye fallen race!

Look, and be saved through faith alone,

be justified by grace!

See all your sins on Jesus laid;

the Lamb of God was slain,

his soul was once an offering made

for every soul of man.

Harlots, and publicans and thieves,

in holy truimph join!

Saved is the sinner that believes

from crimes as great as mine.

Murderers and all ye hellish crew,

ye sons of lust and pride,

believe the Savior died for you;

for me the Savior died.

With me, your chief, you then shall know,

shall feel your sins forgiven;

anticipate your heaven below

and own that love is heaven.

by Charles Wesley, 1739

from The United Methodist Hymnal

Copyright © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House

Nashville, Tennessee USA