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“Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.” Sarah Dessen

Music historians tell us that Edward Perronet (1726-1792), the author of the words for today’s hymn, All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name, was not one who was easy to get along with. A co-worker of John and Charles Wesley, Perronet was known as a ruffian, a devout man of God who loved Jesus, but one who often found himself at odds with many of his brothers and sisters in Christ.

In 1749, John Wesley wrote this in his diary about his co-worker…

“From Rochdale went to Bolton, and soon found that the Rochdale 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.”

In his later years, even the Wesley brothers decided to separate themselves from Perronet, disagreeing on just how far a pastor should take a “dissenting” voice when it came to addressing the reformation they all thought was needed in the Church of England. At one point in his pastoral career, in a satirical book, The Mitre (a ceremonial headband worn by bishops), and a publication that John Wesley absolutely despised, Perronet wrote:

“I was born, and am like to die, in the tottering communion of the Church of England; but I despise her nonsense…”

So it was for the ruffian Edward Perronet, the man who has become best known for writing what many call the National Anthem of Christendom.

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!

O seed of Israel’s chosen race,
Now ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all!

Let every kindred, every tribe;
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!

Oh, that with yonder sacred throng,
We, at His feet, may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all!

The first stanza of this powerful hymn appeared under the name of On The Resurrection in the November, 1779 edition of Gospel Magazine, accompanied by the tune Miles Lane, written by Perronet’s organist friend, William Shrubsole. A year later, the hymn appeared once again, with additional verses, and later (1793), the tune Coronation was adapted to Perronet’s words and has become the hymn we all know and love today. Amazing, isn’t it, how a man who had a very hard time reconciling with his brothers and sisters in Christ could write a hymn that would serve to unify an often-divided Church under one banner of declaration of Jesus Christ as Lord and King?

My prayer: Father God, despite my many differences and disagreements with others in the Body of Christ, may I be found, when it’s all said and done, joining in full agreement “with all the sacred throng” as we “join the everlasting song and crown Him Lord of all.” For Your name’s sake. Amen.

My questions to ponder: So how might I lay down my argumentative side so that I live in deeper communion with the entire Body of Christ? Can I hold to my strong convictions yet not become divisive, thus allowing the oneness Jesus wants for His Body to become more evident in a world where being argumentative is the norm?

So what is God speaking to you today as we ponder together 30 Great Hymns of Faith?

Between now and Easter 2016, we will be sharing with you this blog series we call Thirty Great Hymns of Faith. In order to keep all 34 blog sessions organized, we suggest you bookmark our Thirty Great Hymns of Faith home page for ease of use. ENJOY!

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