John and Charles Wesley made a great impact on the church in the eighteenth century. Coming out of the Anglican church they became itinerate preachers eventually founding the Methodist Church. They also left a legacy in writing and publishing hymns for the church. Charles Wesley is credited with writing over 6000 hymn texts. Some of these hymns we still sing today: And Can It Be, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Rejoice the Lord is King and many others. John Wesley was more known for his preaching and editing new hymnals. In a hymnal edited by John Wesley (Selected Hymns, 1761) we find this admonition in the front portion of the hymnal. The language may be a little outdated but the intent of these instructions is still quite helpful to us today as we participate in corporate worship.
Directions for Singing – John Wesley
Learn these tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.
Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
Sing all. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up, and you will find it a blessing.
Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice in strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sang the songs of Satan.
Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.
Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to do this attend strict to the sense of what you sing, and see that your heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve here, and reward you when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
Directions for Singing – John Wesley
From Dr. Greg Brewton at SBTS
Worship Thought
John and Charles Wesley made a great impact on the church in the eighteenth century. Coming out of the Anglican church they became itinerate preachers eventually founding the Methodist Church. They also left a legacy in writing and publishing hymns for the church. Charles Wesley is credited with writing over 6000 hymn texts. Some of these hymns we still sing today: And Can It Be, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Rejoice the Lord is King and many others. John Wesley was more known for his preaching and editing new hymnals. In a hymnal edited by John Wesley (Selected Hymns, 1761) we find this admonition in the front portion of the hymnal. The language may be a little outdated but the intent of these instructions is still quite helpful to us today as we participate in corporate worship.
Directions for Singing – John Wesley