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O the Depth of Love Divine

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O the depth of love divine, the unfathomable grace

Author: Charles Wesley (1745)
Published in 6 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
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Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Song available on My.Hymnary

Representative Text

1 O the depth of love divine,
the unfathomable grace!
Who shall say how bread and wine
God into us conveys!
How the bread his flesh imparts,
how the wine transmits his blood,
fills his faithful people’s hearts
with all the life of God!

2 Let the wisest mortals show
how we the grace receive;
feeble elements bestow
a power not theirs to give.
Who explains the wondrous way,
how through these the virtue came?
These the virtue did convey,
yet still remain the same.

3 How can spirits heavenward rise,
by earthly matter fed,
drink herewith divine supplies
and eat immortal bread?
Ask the Father’s wisdom how:
Christ who did the means ordain;
angels round our altars bow
to search it out, in vain.

4 Sure and real is the grace,
the manner be unknown;
only meet us in thy ways
and perfect us in one.
Let us taste the heavenly powers,
Lord, we ask for nothing more.
Thine to bless, ’tis only ours
to wonder and adore.


Source: The United Methodist Hymnal #627

Author: Charles Wesley

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 >

Text Information

First Line: O the depth of love divine, the unfathomable grace
Title: O the Depth of Love Divine
Author: Charles Wesley (1745)
Meter: 7.6.7.6.7.7.7.6
Language: English

Tune

STOOKEY


AMSTERDAM (Foundery Collection)

Variation of Hille's SERVICE. For more tune info, see "Hymn Tune Index" (http://hymntune.library.illinois.edu) 1648a-d. Note how attributions to James Nares don't appear until after 1820.

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BARNABAS


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The Cyber Hymnal #4774
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Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)

Hymnal Supplement II #29

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The Cyber Hymnal #4774

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The United Methodist Hymnal #627

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The United Methodist Hymnal #627b

Include 2 pre-1979 instances
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