Today I continue to feature the hymns of Charles Wesley, our featured Anglican writer and theologian this week. Read more about Wesley in Monday’s post.
Today’s hymns feature a wonderful Advent hymn (click here to listen to the REAL melody–Anglicans don’t sing it correctly and it drives me crazy 🙂 ) and a Christmas carol loved by many (I know, I know. It’s too early for Christmas but humor me here, will ya?). Did you know Wesley was its author? What theology do you see shining through in the lyrics?
Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (196)
Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing (240)
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th’ incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King!”
Not sure why you can’t play it. It’s a simple MIDI file. Maybe you need to install QuickTime on your puter (it’s a free download from Apple).
Now to your question to wit: The REAL tune is HYFRYDOL and the meter is 87.87 D (see p. 196 of the UMC hymnal). Episcopal hymnal melody is Stuttgart (87.87).
Yes, Charles wrote the tune (did you not read the post)? :-p And dudette. The Methodists never get their hymns wrong (except when the PC crowd tries to revise them to cleanse them from all perceived unrighteousness). 🙁
Okaaaay, I couldn’t play it. I’ll bite: How is it Anglicans don’t sing it correctly? A different tune? It can’t possibly drive you crazy; you already are. 🙂 Why is it Anglicans don’t sing it correctly–maybe it’s Methodists who don’t! Did you ever think of that?! The words are all the same…. Did Charles write the tune?
The music for Hark is by Mendelssohn (a good German).