Church Music: "And Can It Be?"

Doctrinal church music expressing proper response to the character of God has been a subject of many thoughts since reading a surprisingly good book on church music which will probably be the subject of a post later in the summer.  Recently, several friends brought to mind some favorite hymns which I wanted to pass on to you.  Most of these hymns are older, but don't think that the only good church music was written prior to 1960...maybe another time I'll look at some great church music composed recently:)

Charles Wesley wrote And Can It Be two days after his conversion in May, 1738.  It was published that same year in his brother John's hymnal.  Originally, the words were set to a melody called "Crucifixion" which was much slower than the melody we sing in church today.  It was not until the mid-1800s that it was set to the melody we know, "Sagina."  The melody's strength and energy parallel the text's marvel over God's sacrifice for sin on the cross applied to the believer.  The text moves from the speaker's wonder at his salvation, to his description of Christ's work, his personal experience of salvation, and the freedom he has to approach the Father because of Christ's work.  May your mind be informed again of the greatness of Christ's forgiveness, and may your affections be awakened to rejoice in the sufficiency of His forgiveness for everything you need. 

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

'Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love Divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love*,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness Divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." - Philippians 2:5-8

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." - Hebrews 4:16

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* Since one of the purposes of church music is to teach Christian doctrine, it should be noted that Christ did not empty Himself of His Deity as the song stages.  His incarnation added humanity to His Deity, rather than subtracting His Deity to make Him human.  Some congregations substitute the words "Humbled Himself and came in love."