Stupendous Height of Heavenly Love

Words: Charles Wesley.

Source: Sacred Poetry: Selected from the Works of the Rev. Charles Wesley, M.A. (New York: W. H. Kelley & Brother, 1864), Part X. "The Incarnation of Christ," Hymn VII of VIII, p. 368. This hymn is said to have been first published in the 1830 Supplement to A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists.

Mal. 4:2. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays.

1. Stupendous height of heavenly love,
   Of pitying tenderness divine;
It brought the Saviour from above,
   It caused the springing day to shine;
The Sun of Righteousness to appear,
And gild our gloomy hemisphere.

2. God did in Christ himself reveal,
   To chase our darkness by his light,
Our sin and ignorance dispel,
   Direct our wandering feet, aright:
And bring our souls, with pardon blest,
To realms of everlasting rest.

3. Come, then, O Lord, thy light impart,
   The faith that bids our terrors cease;
Into thy love direct our heart,
   Into thy way of perfect peace:
And cheer the souls, of death afraid,
And guide them through the dreadful shade.

4. Answer thy mercy's whole design,
   My God incarnated for me.
My spirit make thy radiant shrine,
   My Light and full Salvation be;
And through the shades of death unknown,
Conduct me to thy dazzling throne.

Note: Also found in George Osborn, ed., The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, “Reprinted from the Originals, With the Last Corrections of the Authors.” Vol. 11. (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1871), Hymns on the Four Gospels: Luke (April, 1766), Hymn 1166, Through the tender mercy of our God. St. Luke i. 78, pp. 114-115.

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