Music & HymnsWhere Shall My Wondering Soul Begin?

"Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back." Revelation 12:7

Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1739.

Music: "St. Petersburg," attributed to Dmitri Stepanovich Bortniansky, 1825

"Carey's Surrey," Henry Carey, circa 1732; harmony from The English Hymnal, 1906

Charles Wesley's journal for May 21, 1738, says:

At nine, I began an hymn upon my conversion, but I was persuaded to break off for fear of pride. Mr. Bray, coming encouraged me to proceed in spite of Satan. I prayed Christ to stand by me, and finished the hymn.

The next day, his brother, John was converted, and for that day Charles wrote in his journal:

Towards ten my brother was brought in triumph by a troop of our friends, and declared "I believe." We sang the hymn with great joy and parted with prayer.

It's widely thought this hymn was "Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin?"

Where shall my wondering soul begin?
How shall I all to heaven aspire?
A slave redeemed from death and sin,
A brand plucked from eternal fire,
How shall I equal triumphs raise,
Or sing my great Deliverer's praise?

O how shall I the goodness tell,
Father, which Thou to me hast showed?
That I, a child of wrath and hell,
I should be called a child of God,
Should know, should feel my sins forgiven,
Blessed with this antepast of heaven!

And shall I slight my Father's love?
Or basely fear His gifts to own?
Unmindful of His favors prove?
Shall I, the hallowed cross to shun,
Refuse His righteousness to impart,
By hiding it within my heart?

No! though the ancient dragon rage,
And call forth all his host to war,
Though earth's self-righteous sons engage
Them and their god alike I dare;
Jesus, the sinner's friend, proclaim;
Jesus, to sinners still the same.

Outcasts of men, to you I call,
Harlots, and publicans, and thieves!
He spreads His arms to embrace you all;
Sinners alone His grace receives;
No need of Him the righteous have;
He came the lost to seek and save.

Come, O my guilty brethren, come,
Groaning beneath your load of sin,
His bleeding heart shall make you room,
His open side shall take you in;
He calls you now, invites you home;
Come, O my guilty brethren, come!

For you the purple current flowed
In pardons from His wounded side,
Languished for you the eternal God,
For you the Prince of glory died:
Believe, and all your sin's forgiven;
Only believe, and yours is heaven!

Hymns supplied through the gracious generosity of the Cyber Hymnal Website