April 8, 2018 (Sunday)
“O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing,” written in 1739 by Charles Wesley, is one of the great old hymns of the church. The videos below feature two different tunes, both of which are popular in their churches. The first one listed on this page may be the one you have heard at Baptist churches in this area of the country. The tune is known as AZMON and is the dominant choice among the mainline denominations in America. The other tune (LYNGHAM) is a fuguing tune by Thomas Jarman; it is very impressive and evidently more popular in Great Britain. “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” may be sung to any of these seven tunes: Lyngham, Oxford New, Arden, Lydia, Richmond, Azmon, or University. Contemporary versions may be found on You Tube.
Charles Wesley wrote at least 6500 hymns.
Charles Wesley, 1739
Carl G. Gläser, 1828
arr. by Lowell Mason, pub.1839
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and king,
The triumphs of His grace!
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease–
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘Tis life, and health, and peace
See all your sins on Jesus laid
The Lamb of God was slain
His soul was once an offering made
For every soul of man.
He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin,
He sets the pris’ner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.
He speaks, and, list’ning to His voice,
New life the dead receive,
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.
Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, you lame, for joy.
Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above,
The church in earth and heav’n.
In Christ, your head, you then shall know,
Shall feel your sins forgiv’n;
Anticipate your heav’n below,
And own that love is heav’n.
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad,
The honors of Thy name.