Hymn of the Week 9

It's Charles Wesley again. In a rather metaphysical way he coems up with some brilliant juxtapositions as he mediates on salvation through Christ. I especially like

By His pain He gives you ease, Life by His expiring groan: Rise, exalted by His fall,

And

Find on earth the life of Heaven: Live the life of Heaven above,

And

Blest in Christ this moment be, Blest to all eternity!

It's all in Isaiah 53 already I know but Wesley does it well.

Weary souls, who wander wide
From the central point of bliss,
Turn to Jesus crucified,
Fly to those dear wounds of His:
Sink into the purple flood;
Rise into the life of God.

Find in Christ the way of peace,
Peace unspeakable, unknown;
By His pain He gives you ease,
Life by His expiring groan:
Rise, exalted by His fall,
Find in Christ your all in all.

O believe the record true,
God to you His Son hath given;
Ye may now be happy, too,
Find on earth the life of Heaven:
Live the life of Heaven above,
All the life of glorious love.

This the universal bliss,
Bliss for every soul designed;
God’s primeval promise this,
God’s great gift to all mankind:
Blest in Christ this moment be,
Blest to all eternity!

Westminster Conference 06 C

The third session of the first day of this year's Westminster Conference featured Stanley Jebb, a retired minister of Reformed convictions who for a long period some 20 years and more ago was involved in the Charismatic movement. He took us through the events that occurred 100 years ago in Azusa Street, Los Angeles and that are remembered by Pentecostals and Charismatics as the origin of their movements. Dr Jebb took us through the events and introduced us to some of the men involved, men such as William J Seymour (1870-1922) and his mentor Charles Fox Parham (1873-1929), the chief originator of Pentecostal doctrine.

Reflecting on the immigration, pragmatism and genuine revival known in the period and the subsequent sad histories of Parham and Seymour Dr Jebb concluded that much that was spurious, even devilish, took place at Azusa Street but that there was undoubtedly genuine work going on too.

He noted disapprovingly the lack of preaching and teaching, the unwillingness to be discerning and test the spirits, the lack of order and the tendency to shape doctrine on the basis of experience. Prayer is good but extended prayer for things not promised by God are bound to lead to trouble. Holiness is an important thing to aim at. Greater discernment is always needed.

An interesting but slightly rambling discussion followed.