A Thousand Tongues: The Wesley Hymns

The hymns of Charles Wesley (1707-1788) have given voice to the worship of generations of believers in all Christian traditions. Wesley is without a doubt one of the best known Christian songwriters of all time. As an Evangelical believer, his songs are absolutely saturated with biblical theology, references and allusions. Sadly many modern worshippers miss the depths of Wesley's hymns because they fail to catch the many echoes of Scripture contained in them. In this classic study, John Lawson provides an entry and introduction to Christian doctrine through Wesley's hymns. The book is organized around fifty-three short chapters on theological doctrines such as God the Sovereign Creator, Revelation, the Divine Son, Christ our High Priest, the Holy Spirit, grace and holiness. Each brief chapter provides a succinct introduction to Wesley's thinking on the topic followed by a few hymns that focus on that same topic. The hymns are annotated with many biblical references to help readers uncover the Scriptural thinking behind the songs. Wesley was committed to seeing his hymns as a means of teaching Christian truths and in this book John Lawson helps a new generation appreciate the rich connections between worship and theology.