Charles Wesleys Hymn against Limited Atonement (Christ only died for those he would save), Effectual Call (God only savingly calls those he has chosen even though he may generally call others through the Gospel with no real intentions to save them) and Double Predestination (God consigned all but the chosen/elect to Hell or eternal judgment). I think it was titled The Horrible Decree. [1] Ah! Gentle, gracious Dove, And art thou griev’d in me, That sinners should restrain thy love, And say, “It is not free: It is not free for all: The most, thou passest by, And mockest with a fruitless call Whom thou hast doom’d to die.” [2] They think thee not sincere In giving each his day, “ Thou only draw’st the sinner near To cast him quite away, To aggravate his sin, His sure damnation seal: Thou shew’st him heaven, and say’st, go in And thrusts him into hell.”38 [3] O Horrible Decree Worthy of whence it came! Forgive their hellish blasphemy Who charge it on the Lamb: Whose pity him inclin’d To leave his throne above, The friend, and Saviour of mankind, The God of grace, and love. [4] O gracious, loving Lord, I feel thy bowels yearn; For those who slight the gospel word I share in thy concern: How art thou grieved to be By ransom’d worms withstood! How dost thou bleed afresh to see Them trample on thy blood! [5] To limit thee they dare, Blaspheme thee to thy face, Deny their fellow-worms a share In thy redeeming grace: All for their own they take, Thy righteousness engross, Of none effect to most they make The merits of thy cross. [6] Sinners, abhor the fiend: His other gospel hear— “The God of truth did not intend The thing his words declare, He offers grace to all, Which most cannot embrace, Mock’d with an ineffectual call And insufficient grace. [7] “The righteous God consign’d Them over to their doom, And sent the Saviour of mankind To damn them from the womb; To damn for falling short, “Of what they could not do, For not believing the report Of that which was not true. [8] “The God of love pass’d by The most of those that fell, Ordain’d poor reprobates to die, And forced them into hell.” “He did not do the deed” (Some have more mildly rav’d) “He did not damn them—but decreed They never should be saved. [9] “He did not them bereave Of life, or stop their breath, His grace he only would not give, And starv’ed their souls to death.” Satanic sophistry! But still, all-gracious God, They charge the sinner’s death on thee, Who bought’st him with thy blood. [10] They think with shrieks and cries To please the Lord of hosts, And offer thee, in sacrifice Millions of slaughter’d ghosts: With new-born babes they fill The dire infernal shade, “For such,” they say, “was thy great will, Before the world was made.” [11] How long, O God, how long Shall Satan’s rage proceed! Wilt thou not soon avenge the wrong, And crush the serpent’s head? Surely thou shalt at last Bruise him beneath our feet: The devil and his doctrine cast Into the burning pit. [12] Arise, O God, arise, Thy glorious truth maintain, Hold forth the bloody sacrifice, For every sinner slain! Defend thy mercy’s cause, Thy grace divinely free, Lift up the standard of thy cross, Draw all men unto thee. [13] O vindicate thy grace, Which every soul may prove, Us in thy arms of love embrace, Of everlasting love. Give the pure gospel word, Thy preachers multiply, Let all confess their common Lord, And dare for him to die. [14] My life I here present, My heart’s last drop of blood, O let it all be freely spent In proof that thou art good, Art good to all that breathe, Who all may pardon have: Thou willest not the sinner’s death, But all the world wouldst save. [15] O take me at my word, But arm me with thy power, Then call me forth to suffer, Lord, To meet the fiery hour: In death will I proclaim That all may hear thy call, And clap my hands amidst the flame, And shout,—HE DIED FOR ALL.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 09:05:36 +0000
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