My Favorite Hymn

[12strings]

I have just read T Cassidy's last response on the other thread about Charles turning toward calvinism after he wrote the horrible decree song... So I suppose that is what he was talking about. I have never heard that before.

Does anyone know of any historical sites that can give clarification to the claim that Charles was a calvinist? (or wasn't)?

TCassidy, I apologize for dismissing your responses as obviously incorrect...It does seem that others also think Charles may have differed with his brother...I thought you were simply assuming he was a calvinist based only on this one hymn...which WOULD be premature. But I jumped to that conclusion too fast

 

[12strings]

And something that might Prove TCassidy correct:

HYMN 158 (from the Wesley Hymnal...I assume by Charles Wesley...but not sure):

"O my God, what must I do?
Thou alone the way canst show;
Thou canst save me in this hour;
I have neither will nor power:
God, if over all thou art,
Greater than my sinful heart,
All thy power on me be shown,
Take away the heart of stone.

Take away my darling sin,
Make me willing to be clean;
Make me willing to receive
All thy goodness waits to give.
Force me, Lord, with all to part;
Tear these idols from my heart;
Now thy love almighty show,
Make even me a creature new.

Jesus, mighty to renew,
Work in me to will and do;
Turn my nature's rapid tide,
Stem the torrent of my pride;
Stop the whirlwind of my will;
Speak, and bid the sun stand still;
Now thy love almighty show,
Make even me a creature new.

Arm of God, thy strength put on;
Bow the heavens, and come down;
All my unbelief o'erthrow;
Lay th' aspiring mountain low:
Conquer thy worst foe in me,
Get thyself the victory;
Save the vilest of the race;
Force me to be saved by grace."

 

[jonathan.borland]

Love the hymn you just posted, BTW, I think it's natural to pray like a Calvinist in some respects, ie, "Lord, overpower this person with your presence," etc. but even this is non-Calvinistic in a sense, unless it is allowed that God through his foreknowledge took our prayers (and his answers to them) into account in the counsel of his will befor decreeing anything.