The theology of Charles Wesley is expressed primarily in hymns and sacred poems - that is, in a literary and liturgical form of art. Wesley's theological concerns, as seen through his hymns and poems, include inquiries into the meaning of the church's sacred rites, festivals, and seasons (e.g., Holy Communion, Baptism, Advent, Christmas, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost), and a host of other theological concerns, such as conversion, sanctification, perfection, holiness, grace, and love. These theological concerns are spread throughout his repertory of over 9,000 hymns and poems. There are two primary purposes of this volume: first, to prepare the reader to read Wesley's poetry, given the plethora of literary, theological, and societal influences on his thought and writing; and second, to bring together a collection of his hymns and sacred poems that are representative of his theological perspectives. Thereby the reader is given the opportunity to become better equipped to grasp the meaning of Wesley's profound lyrical theology and its implications for contemporary theology and life.
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ISBN-13
978-0-7188-9443-6 (9780718894436)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
S. T. Kimbrough, Jr. is a Research Fellow of the Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition of the Divinity School of Duke University and founder of The Charles Wesley Society. He is editor of its journal Proceedings of The Charles Wesley Society and author/editor of several books on Charles Wesley including: The Unpublished Poetry of Charles Wesley, 3 vols., and The Manuscript Journal of the Reverend Charles Wesley, M.A., 2 vols.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
I: Lyrical Theology
1 Lyrical Theology
2 Lyrical Theology: Theology in Hymns
3 Charles Wesley's Lyrical Theology
4 Literary and Ecclesial Sources Used in Charles Wesley's Poetry
5 The Wesleyan Poetical Sources Used in this Volume
II: Poetical Selections 1
Part 1: The Glory of the Triune God
Praise and Thanksgiving (1-6)
God's Nature (7-11)
god as mystery (7-9)
god as divine energy and divine essence (10-11)
Providence (12)
Creation (13)
Part 2: The Grace of Jesus Christ
In Praise of Christ (14-18)
Christ's Gracious Life (19-25)
promised coming (19)
birth and incarnation / kenosis (20-25)
life and teaching (26-28)
passion and death (29-35)
resurrection and ascension (36-40)
Part 3: The Power of the Holy Spirit
In Praise of the Holy Spirit (41-42)
The Fruit of the Spirit (45)
Prevenient Grace (46-48)
invitation (46-47)
repentance (48)
Justifying Grace (49-53)
pardon (49)
assurance (50-53)
Sanctifying and Perfecting Grace (54-85)
new birth and the new creature (54-61)
holiness of heart (62-70)
(Personal transformation)
(Participation in the divine nature / theosis)
holiness of life (71-74)
gradual holiness (75-80)
prayer, trust, hope (81-82)
strength in trials (83-85)
Part 4: The Community of Faith
The Nature of the Church (86-103)
born of the spirit (92)
united in christ (93-100)
called to god's mission (101-3)
The Book of the Church: Holy Scripture (104-12)
The Sacraments and Rites of the Church (113-31)
baptism (113-14)
eucharist / holy communion / lord's supper (115-25)
marriage (126-28)
ordination (129)
funeral and service of death and resurrection (130-31)
Particular Times of Worship (132-39)
opening of worship (132-33)
closing of worship (134)
morning (135-37)
evening (138-39)
Christian Year and Special Observances (advent [19], christmas [20-25], passion [29-35], easter [36-39], ascension [40], pentecost [28, 41], all saints' day [146-48])
transfiguration (140-141)
the love feast (142)
covenant service (143)
Part 5: A New Heaven and a New Earth (144-50)
Death and Eternal Life (144-45)
Communion of the Saints (146-48)
Return and Reign of the Lord (149)
The Completion of Creation / The City of God (150)
Bibliography
Index of Biblical References
Index of Names
Index of First Lines and Titles of Poems
Introduction to the Scriptural Index
Scriptural Index
Subject Index
