Open the Book

On Easter Sunday much of the Christian world will stand and sing the hymn “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”, a song written by Charles Wesley in the 18^th century.

Charles Wesley was a Methodist minister who wrote in his journal of his own conversion: “May 13, 1737. I waked without Christ, yet still desirous of finding him.” He continued by telling of a visit of some friends to his apartment, as he had been ill. He and his friends practiced the custom of “opening the book”, which amounted to literally opening the Bible at random, and reading the first passage on which their eye rested. On Charles Wesley’s second attempt his eye rested on, “He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:3) “I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in hope of loving Christ,” he wrote in his journal. “My temper for the rest of the day was mistrust of my own great, but before unknown, weakness.”

The fruit of this conversion was six thousand , five hundred hymns, including “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, and “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”, composing an average of three hymns a week for the rest of Charles Wesley’s life.

Both Charles and his brother John Wesley were preaching from Christian pulpits before their conversions, without experiencing the peace and joy they observed in others, and even discerned in the Scriptures, Their conversions were remarkable by human standards, but the fruits of them testify to the presence of a supernatural God who shared His very Spirit with both brothers. Charles’ songs joyfully testify that Christ shares his life with us all. The morning after Charles “opened the Book” he wrote:

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!

( “And can I Be”, vs. 3)

The history of salvation is rich with the richness of creation itself, for each soul is uniquely known to God. Charles Wesley demonstrates the truth of Jesus ‘ words, “Seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

(Matthew 7:7)

Love in Him,

Prue