Let earth and heaven agree, Angels and men, &c. C. Wesley. [Praise of Jesus as the Redeemer.] Appeared in tho Hymns On God's Everlasting Love, London, 1741, No. 11, in 10 stanzas of 6 lines. (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. iii. p. 71). In whole or in part, it soon came into general use not only by the followers of the Wesleys, but also by many who, on Calvinistic grounds, opposed them, and against whom the Hymns on God's Everlasting Love were written. M. Madan included stanzas i.-iv. in his Psalms & Hymns 1760, No. 90, and this form of the hymn was repeated by A. M. Toplady in his Psalms & Hymns, 1776; and again by others to modern hymnbooks in the Church of England. Nonconformists also copied this form of the hymn. In the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, stanzas i.-v., vii. and ix. were given as No. 33. This is the form of the hymn most popular in Great Britain and America. The following centos are also in common use:—
1. Jesus, harmonious Name. Composed of stanzas iii. iv., vii. and ix., is in the American Andover Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858, and others.
2. Jesus, transporting sound. In the Hymnary, 1872, this is composed of stanzas ii.-iv., vi.-ix., x., considerably altered.
In G. J. Stevenson's Methodist Hymn Book Notes, 1883, p. 42, several interesting reminiscences of this hymn are recorded, mainly from Wesleyan sources.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
[Note: A different hymn, Let earth and heaven combine, Angels and men agree (66.88., 6 sts.) is found in Hymns for the Nativity of our Lord, 1745, Hymn V. Yet another similar title, Let heaven and earth agree The Father's praise to sing (S.M., 4 sts.) was published by Charles Wesley in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1740, Hymn 58. Yet another hymn, Let heaven and earth agree [rejoice], And sacred anthems raise (S.M., 10 sts.) is by an anonymous author, before 1800.]
Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >
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