The Thousand Tongues: The Wesley Hymns as a Guide to Scriptural Teaching - Softcover

The hymns of Charles Wesley (1707-1788) have given voice to the worship of generations of believers in all Christian traditions. Wesley is without 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 the gateway that is Wesley's hymns. The book is organised 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 some hymns that focus on it. 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 to appreciate the rich connections between worship and theology.

John Lawson (1909-2003) was a Methodist minister in England and later a lecturer in Church History, Historical Theology, Wesleyan History and Wesleyan Theology at Candler School of Theology.