Hymn #22: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

Lyrics: Edward Perronet, with a final verse added by John Rippon.
Music: Ah, yes, the hymn with (at least) three tunes:
MILES LANE by William Shrubsole. Published 1779.

CORONATION by Oliver Holden. Published 1793.

DIADEM by James Ellor. Published 1838.

So, which tune do you prefer?

Both Shrubside and Ellor were nineteen years old when each published his setting for All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.

Theme: The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:10-11

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

Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre, and as they tune it, fall
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.

[Baptist John Rippon added this verse in 1787.]

O that, with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all!

Edward Perronet who wrote most of the lyrics to this famous hymn was an associate of John and Charles Wesley. The hymn was published anonymously in a collection of poems called Occasional Verses, Moral and Sacred. Published for the instruction and amusement of the Candidly Serious and Religious (1785). Perronet later disagreed with the Wesley brothers over doctrine and withdrew from the Methodists, then still later from the Anglican fellowship, and finally became a Congregational pastor in Canterbury.

Though considered a capable preacher, Perronet was uneasy about doing so in front of John Wesley, despite Wesley’s persistent urging. After wearying of his requests, Wesley simply announced one day that Brother Perronet would speak. Edward cleverly managed to escape Wesley’s sly intention by mounting the pulpit, declaring he would deliver the greatest sermon ever preached, and proceeding to read Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount”; after which, he immediately sat down.

Perronet’s last words: “Glory to God in the height of His divinity! Glory to God in the depth of his humanity! Glory to God in His all-sufficiency! Into His hands I commend my spirit.”

Sources:
Selah Pub.
Wikipedia: Edward Perronet.
Glimpses of Christian History: January 2, 1792 Edward Perronet Wrote the “National Anthem of Christendom.”

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