Experience This Live #4. Love Divine All Love's Excelling
This hymn by Charles Wesley is perhaps one of his finest. He is also the author of "Jesu, Lover of My Soul" and "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing."
Charles Wesley was a leader of the Methodist movement. His family members were all accomplished in their own right. He is the son of Samuel Wesley and the younger brother of John Wesley credited also as a founder of the Methodist movement. His sister, Mehetabel Wesley Wright was a well known poet. (Her story is sad and difficult but well worth reading as it provides some insight to this amazing family.) Charles had two sons. Both of them were musicians and both considered child prodigies. Charles Jr. was eldest. He became the personal organist for the English Royal Family. Samuel was the youngest child of the family. He was known throughout the world for his compositions and musicianship. He was often called "the English Mozart." Music runs deep in this family. Charles Wesley's grandson, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, was one of the foremost composers of the 19th century. Charles Wesley died 1778. During his lifetime he composed over 6,000 hymns, many of which are found in hymnals of different denominations around the world.
The melody used for this hymn is called Hyfrydol. It is Welsh tune composed by Rowland Pritchard. It is a beautifully simple tune. It has been used with other hymn texts and is included in various hymnbooks. The word Hyfrydol means "cheerful." In the LDS hymnbook it is used for the hymn, "In Humility Our Savior." There are other melodies used for "Love Divine, All Love's Excelling" as well but this is the version the choir uses.
There are four verses. Each one testifying of Christ, the Holy Spirit, God and the power of redemption if we but "cast our crowns" before them. The lyrics are rich in scriptural references from the Old and New Testament. It is absolutely worth time exploring each line and comparing it to scripture. I won't elaborate too much here but I should say that it is a journey into the scriptures in a different way.
The version the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings is arranged by Mack Wilberg. This particular version has also been performed by various choirs throughout the world. Do you want to see a few? You can find a lot of different choirs singing it on Youtube. I'll make you work for it. I was surprised to see how many videos there were of this particular arrangement.
Why should you see this live? The song takes the listener on a journey and it inspires hope for our eventual redemption. The music, lyrics and musical interpretation by Mack Wilberg is an amazing marriage of what music can and should do.
We sang this piece for the ACDA concerts a few weeks ago. One simple line in the third verse moved me to tears one night. As I was singing the lyric, "Nevermore thy Temple leave" in the Tabernacle in the shadow of the Salt Lake Temple I felt as though the sacrifice and toil of early saints were brought to my attention. Their voices seemed to echo. It was their desire to build a temple that would stand until the Savior returns again to the earth.
Charles Wesley was not LDS yet he shares what we all desire. The return of the Savior and to be reunited with our God.
Every line in this song has the power to translate and have meaning to the modern day listener.
I have included the lyrics below.
If you ever have the chance to see the choir and can hear this live, I would highly recommend it.
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
