He was feeling a renewal, a sensation that he hadn’t quite
felt before, and was pondering the import of its source. He marveled, and had
an outpouring for the remainder of his life that could not be contained from
the summit of this experience. It must have been a pretty powerful moment. How
could one describe it in secular terms…maybe like winning the lottery’s biggest
accumulated sum, or the entire pile of brilliant gold bars from Fort Knox (see
picture)? That’s how someone might think of an incredible acquisition, if they
had never before heard of Charles Wesley’s “And Can It Be That I Should Gain”
written in 1738.
Charles Wesley had tried to follow a calling, but he’d just
returned to his homeland from a depressing experience abroad as a 31-year old. Although
he had a discipline (and hence the name ‘Methodist’) that earned him a reputation
and a college education, which seemed to culminate and affirm his upbringing and
compel him toward the Anglican Church’s work abroad, Wesley was in fact not a
committed believer until many years after his initial efforts in spreading the
Christian message. After graduating from Christ College and signing up for duty
in the Anglican Church, he and brother John (a preacher) went to the American continent
to work in the Georgia colony. Charles’ authoritarian ways did not sit well
with the colonists, however, leading to a short tenure in the new world. Soon
after his return to England, Wesley had a faith- and life-altering experience
at Aldersgate in London with Moravians, who showed him the void in his beliefs.
Its effect was so far-reaching that his brother John also made a commitment to
God soon after Charles did. One doesn’t have to wonder what the message was
that transformed the Wesleys, for it is contained in the hymns Charles wrote,
particularly “And Can It Be…”. Historians believe this may be one of two that
he wrote soon after his conversion on 21 May 1738. His thoughts convey how
stirred he felt, realizing that the Christ’s life intersected with his own. It
was from the valley of depression, lifted to the peak of existence, which spurred
Wesley to write the words that Spring of 1738.
Wesley wrote six verses to express his elation in his hymn.
It hardly needs more exposition than its own words express clearly. But, Wesley’s
poetry flows effortlessly, giving voice to what happened in this English
gentleman’s heart 275 year ago. That someone, who had been seemingly an active believer
for years, could write words as if he’d only just made a decisive breakthrough
is enlightening. He felt the novelty of his discovery. Others might have
hesitated to admit their actions prior to this had been empty, in light of the
fresh news only just uncovered. Not so with Wesley. This news bulletin was
indeed ‘good’ news, although the words Wesley uses indicate ‘good’ may have been
too tame to describe his feelings. How about great? Awesome? Breathtaking? Use
any superlative you want. His words still resonate today.
Information on the song was
obtained from the books “Amazing Grace –
366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions”, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, 1990; “The
Complete Book of Hymns – Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs”,
by William J. and Ardythe Petersen, 2006; and “Then Sings My Soul – 150 of the
World’s Greatest Hymn Stories”, by Robert J. Morgan, Thomas Nelson publisher,
2003.
More biographic information on composer:
Links to all six verses that the composer originally wrote:
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/And_Can_It_Be_That_I_Should_Gain%3F
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