The reconciliation of God in C. Wesley's hymns

[John Brickley]

In the recent post on Penal Substitution much was made about Charles Wesley's supposed endorsement of PS in the hymn And Can it Be? (something I do not see by the way).

But it called to mind an explicit statement of Wesley's in another classic hymn Arise my Soul Arise

In the four verse we read the follow:

My God is reconcilled
His pardoning voice I hear
He owns me for His child
I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh (2x)
And, Father Abba Father, Cry

We traditionally think of atonement (or at least we emphasize it more) in terms of the reconciliation of humanity to God with God in Christ being the active agent of reconciliation. The perfect example of this is 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 especially v. 19: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Now I am certainly not suggesting that C. Wesley's statement negates the above in any way, but it introduces this idea of God having been reconciled so what do you make of that?

[Hans Deventer]

In the recent post on Penal Substitution much was made about Charles Wesley's supposed endorsement of PS in the hymn And Can it Be? (something I do not see by the way).

John, apparently it usually isn't in the hymn as we sing it, but it can be found in the poem as Wesley wrote it, though only this verse hints in the direction.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

[John Kennedy]

John, apparently it usually isn't in the hymn as we sing it, but it can be found in the poem as Wesley wrote it, though only this verse hints in the direction.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

This stanza came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I've seen the hymn in hymnals representing both Wesleyan/Arminian traditions and in Baptist (and 'stealth Baptist') representing positions more oriented toward Calvin (although I still have trouble ever considering Baptists to be true Calvinists-maybe I'm too influenced by my Dutch Reformed friends). I have never run across this version. May I inquire as to the hymnal source?

[Shea Zellweger]

This stanza came as somewhat of a surprise to me. I've seen the hymn in hymnals representing both Wesleyan/Arminian traditions and in Baptist (and 'stealth Baptist') representing positions more oriented toward Calvin (although I still have trouble ever considering Baptists to be true Calvinists-maybe I'm too influenced by my Dutch Reformed friends). I have never run across this version. May I inquire as to the hymnal source?

If you google the hymn, the full text is available in multiple instances. I've never seen it in a hymnal.