Monday, November 23, 2009

Polemical Hymns!

Doing some background reading for my sermon this week on Jonathan Edwards and I came across a new idea (well new for me anyway) - polemical hymns. Here's a classic from Charles Wesley about the Calvinist doctrine of the decrees of God.

Still shall the Hellish doctrine stand?
And Thee for its dire Author claim?
No - let it sink at thy Command
Down to the Pit from whence it came.

I can't understand why no one's done a modern tune for this one. It'd have to be a hit right up there with 'Before the Throne of God Above'....

I should be fair and note that Wesley was not alone. Angus Toplady, of 'Rock of Ages' fame was a strong Calvinist and wrote some equally combative hymns about Arminianism.