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.
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That is awesome. The next time a doctrinal controversy comes up in conversation, I'll have to start thinking up some lyrics for a polemical hymn that matches my point of view - with lots of hell-related references.
ReplyDelete(I think it's Augustus Toplady, though?)
Yeah, it was Augustus Toplady..
ReplyDeleteIf you'll pardon the pun, I think I'd better refrain from writing a modern polemical... it'd be too easy to get carried away..