The Eucharistic Hymns of the Wesley's, and Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ: Part 1

 Currently, during Morning and Evening Prayer, I am, once again, singing through The Eucharistic Hymns of John & Charles Wesley (also known as Hymns on the Lord's Supper).  This time, as a personal project (prompted by two different sources), I have been noting verses which speak specifically about our receiving the body and blood of Christ.  

To be clear, there are plenty of places in the hymns that speak of the sacrament as a means of grace, and there are plenty that speak about Christ's real presence.  There are also hymns that speak about the sacrament pointing us to the body and blood of Christ.  However, I am watching for those that talk about our eating Christ's body and drinking His blood.  

After I finish singing through these hymns, I will go back and look at other statements that John Wesley makes concerning what manner the bread and cup convey to us the body and blood of Christ.

I have been singing through these hymns for nearly a month, now.  In fact, I am up to hymn number 76, but it finally dawned on me; I should be making notes about these verses on my blog!  So, here I am!

Now, most of the time, I will just be presenting particular verses from the various hymns.  However, there will be times when the entire hymn is closely connected to this specific focus.  The latter is the case with two of the hymns from today's Morning and Evening Prayer.  -  So, I will begin this ongoing series by reproducing hymns 71 and 73, below.  -  I will go back to cover verses from previous hymns, as the series continues.

My hope is that this will be thought provoking and helpful in deepening the sacramental awareness of those within the Wesleyan tradition.  I also hope that it might give some insight for those looking in from outside of Wesleyanism.

71:1.  Draw near, ye blood-besprinkled race.

And take what God vouchsafes to give;

The outward sign of inward grace,

Ordain'd by Christ Himself, receive:

The sign transmits the signified,

The grace is by the means applied.

2.  Sure pledges of His dying love,

Receive the sacramental meat,

And feel the virtue from above,

The mystic flesh of Jesus eat,

Drink with the wine His healing blood,

And feast on th' Incarnate God.

3.  Gross misconceit be far away!

Through faith we on His body feed

Faith only cloth the Spirit convey,

And fills our souls with living bread,

Th' effects of Jesu's death imparts,

And pours His blood into our hearts.

73:1.  Is not the cup of blessing, blest

By us, the sacred means t' impart

Our Saviour's blood, with power imprest

And pardon to the faithful heart?

2.  Is not the hallow'd broken bread

A sure communicating sign,

An instrument ordain'd to feed

Our souls with mystic flesh Divine?

3.  Th' effects of His atoning blood,

His body offer'd on the tree,
Are with the awful types bestow'd

On me, the pardon'd rebel, me;

4.  On all who at HIs word draw near,

In faith the outward veil look through:

Sinners, believe, and find Him here;

Believe, and feel He died for you.

5.  In memory of your dying God,
The symbols faithfully receive,

And eat the flesh and drink the blood

Of Jesus, and for ever live.