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Is There Anything Wrong With This Hymn?


ICTHUS

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And Can It Be That I Should Gain?
By Charles Wesley

[SIZE=1][CENTRE]And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.[/CENTRE]

Edited by ICTHUS
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Crusader_4

I cannot give you a repsonse on that particular hymn...But I know at my school we need obvsiously to get the approval for the songs we sing in mass and there was a song that one of our protestant teachers really liked and it was a beauftiul song. Since it had not been approved we couldnt sing it though. A few years later though it got approved and we have been singing it since.

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Katholikos

I read it through, slowly, one time, but I didn't analyze it word-for-word. My impression is that it's typical Protestant "all I have to do is believe" rhetoric. Is that what you're getting at? Instantaneous, assured salvation. Sola Fides. Salvation "happens" on contact with Christ. But I don't conclude that all the teachings of John Wesley may be summarized in six stanzas of one song.

My most unfavorite line: "Let angel minds inquire no more."

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Hi ICTHUS,

It seems to me that the hymnist is writing that he is "saved," and can boldly approach God's throne, since he (the hymnist) possesses Christ. (Note: Christ never seemed bold before His Heavenly Father.)

While I like this form of poetry and verse, I think the hymnist does commit [i]presumption[/i]. Everyone singing these words must think himself worthy of heaven because he "feels Christ in his heart."

He covers the beginning of his conversion experience, having been "imprisoned" in sin, then leaps from that right into grabbing his crown. I just think he left out a lot of living, sinning, repenting, etc., in the middle.

Well, that's my humble opinion.... ;)

Pax Christi.

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the lumberjack

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come [b]boldly[/b] unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

this does not mean proudly...this means assured in Christ.

but hey, its probly just private interpretation...psh.

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[quote name='the lumberjack' date='May 22 2004, 07:45 PM'] Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come [b]boldly[/b] unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

this does not mean proudly...this means assured in Christ.

but hey, its probly just private interpretation...psh. [/quote]
The verse doesn't say that the hymnist is coming boldly to the [i]throne of grace[/i], [b]to obtain mercy, and to find grace in time of need[/b].
It says he's coming boldly to the [i]eternal throne [/i]to [i][b]claim his crown[/b][/i].
Claiming a crown isn't the same as asking mercy and grace in time of need... :rolleyes:

Pax Christi.

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cmotherofpirl

Its a lovely protestant hymn, best heard when sung by the group GLAD.

[url="http://glad-pro.com/albums.html"]http://glad-pro.com/albums.html[/url]

Edited by cmotherofpirl
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[quote]Its a lovely protestant hymn[/quote]

I was amazed at the number of protestant hymns there are in the hymn book we use at my church! It was a joy to be able to sing with confidence at Mass since I knew a number of the hymns already! Of course I have also learnt new ones....

One of the Catholic newspapers in the UK has been bemoaning the lack of new good Catholic hymns (in their opinion!) and has started a competition to find the readers favourite.

Edited by Ellenita
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RandomProddy

Ones I like:

To Be a Pilgrim, Abide with me, etc... I used to know billions but no longer, It's been a while since I went to church.

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[quote name='RandomProddy' date='May 24 2004, 07:07 PM'] Ones I like:

To Be a Pilgrim, Abide with me, etc... I used to know billions but no longer, It's been a while since I went to church. [/quote]
Hey, if you're ever in Tampa, you can go to church with me any day of the week. :cool:

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[quote name='the lumberjack' date='May 22 2004, 06:45 PM']
but hey, its probly just private interpretation...psh. [/quote]
yeah......jerk!


:P

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[quote name='Ellenita' date='May 24 2004, 06:22 PM'] Icthus, is it a rhetorical question? Do you have an answer to your own question? [/quote]
No, I didn't. I just wanted to see what you guys had to say.

I dont necessarily agree that we may not boldly approach the Throne of Grace and claim our crown. Scripture tells us plainly that our crown is PROMISED to we who persevere in faith.

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