A Thousand Tongues

On May 21, 1738, Charles Wesley suffered a severe attack of pleurisy and took to his bed. He was deeply troubled about his soul and wracked with doubts about his relationship with God. In the throes of depression, he opened his Bible to Isaiah 40:1 and read,

“Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God.”

His soul was immediately flooded with the love of God, and he received assurance that his sins had been forgiven. He wrote in his diary,

“I now found myself at peace with God and rejoiced in hope of loving Christ. I saw that by faith I stood, by the continual support of faith. I went to bed still sensible of my own weakness, yet confident of Christ's protection.”

One year later, he wrote the hymn "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" in commemoration of his salvation. He recommended that Christians sing the hymn on the anniversary of their conversion.

Last month I celebrated the 30th anniversary of my conversion. It seems like a long time ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 19 and lost – in every sense of the word. Around nine o’clock in the evening, I bowed my knee and surrendered my life to Jesus. I have never looked back.

Last month, I sang Charles Wesley’s hymn.

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name.

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.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood availed for me.

On this glad day the glorious Sun
Of Righteousness arose;
On my benighted soul He shone
And filled it with repose.

Then with my heart I first believed,
Believed with faith divine,
Power with the Holy Ghost received
To call the Savior mine.

I felt my Lord’s atoning blood
Close to my soul applied;
Me, me He loved, the Son of God,
For me, for me He died!