Revelation 19:12, 16
by Written by Edward Perronet, 1726-1792
|
This hymn is often called the "National Anthem of
Christendom." The hymn first appeared in the November,
1779, issue of the Gospel Magazine, edited by Augustus
Toplady, author of "Rock of Ages". This text has
been translated into almost every language where
Christianity is known; and wherever it is sung, it
communicates to the spiritual needs of human hearts. One
writer has said, "So long as there are Christians on
earth, it will continue to be sung; and after that, in
heaven."
Edward Perronet was born at Sundridge, Kent, England, in
1726. He was a descendant of a distinguished French
Huguenot family who had fled to Switzerland and later to
England because of the religious persecution in France.
Edward's father, a pastor in the State Church of
England,was strongly sympathetic with the evangelical
movement spearheaded by the Wesleys and George Whitefield.
Edward, too, became a minister in the Anglican Church but
was always critical of its ways. Once he wrote, "I was
born and I am likely to die in the tottering communion of
the Church of England, but I despise her nonsense." Soon,
however, he broke from the Church and threw himself
strenuously into the evangelistic endeavors of the Wesleys
during the 1740's and 1750's. It was during this time that
the Wesleys and their followers suffered much persecution
and even violence from those who disagreed with their
ministry. Concerning these experiences, Wesley made the
following notation in his diary:
From Rockdale we went to Bolton, and soon found that the
Rockdale lions were lambs in comparison with those of
Bolton. Edward Perronet was thrown down and rolled in mud
and mire. Stones were hurled and windows broken.
Another interesting account regarding the relationship
between the Wesleys and Perronet concerns the incident
when John Wesley announced to a congregation that Edward
Perronet would preach at the next service. Being eighteen
years younger than Wesley, Perronet had always refused to
preach in the elder statesman's presence. Desiring to
avoid a public conflict with Wesley, Perronet mounted the
pulpit but quickly explained that he had never consented
to preach. "However," he added, "I shall deliver the
greatest sermon that has ever been preached on earth." He
then read the Sermon on the Mount and sat down without
comment.
Eventually, Perronet's strong-mindedness and free spirit
caused a break with the Wesleys, especially on the issue
of whether the evangelists as well as the regular
ministers could administer the sacraments. Perronet
continued to the end of his days as pastor of an
independent church at Canterbury, England. His last words
have also become classic:
Glory to God in the height of His divinity! Glory to God
in the depth of His humanity! Glory to God in His
all-sufficiency! Into His hands I commend my spirit.
Though Perronet wrote many other hymns and forms of
poetry, most of which he published anonymously, this is
his only work to survive. The success of this text has, no
doubt, been furthered by three fine tunes. "Coronation,"
composed by Oliver Holden, a Massachusetts carpenter,
self-taught musician and respected singing-school teacher,
is most widely used in America. "Miles Lane" by William
Shrubsole, Perronet's personal friend, is the most popular
in Great Britain, while the festive "Diadem" tune,
composed in 1838 for this text by James Ellor, an English
layman, is frequently used as a choir number.
Many interesting accounts have been associated with the
use of this hymn. One of the most remarkable is a story
told by E.P. Scott, a pioneer missionary to India. One day
he was waylaid by a murderous band of tribesmen who were
closing in on him with spears. On impulse the missionary
took his violin out of his luggage and began to play and
sing this hymn. When he reached the stanza "let every
kindred, every tribe," he saw to his surprise every spear
lowered and many of these tribesmen moved to tears. Scott
spent the remaining years of his life preaching and
ministering God's love and redemption to these people. God
in His providence used a simple hymn as a means of
introducing the gospel to a group of needy pagans.
Quoted from "101 Hymn Stories" by Kenneth Osbeck. Kregel Publishers, P.O. Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, 1982.
Look up this book by clicking on the "Go to Amazon" button.
|
- - 
- 
- - 