All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

By: Edward Perronet 

All hail the pow'r 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. 

Ye chosen seed of Israel's 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. 

Let ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tribe on this terrestrial ball,

To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all;

To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall! 

We'll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all;

We'll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.

 Edward Perronet was born in 1726 in the English town of Sundridge. He was the son of a well-known and respected vicar (priest) in the Church of England, so he grew up in the parish church. As the evangelical movement headed by John and Charles Wesley swept across the English countryside, the elder Perronet became a trusted counselor to the younger preachers. Often, John Wesley would ride up to the parish on horseback, anxious to discuss with the vicar some matter of doctrine or administration. It was during these visits that Edward developed an admiration for Wesley and his determined efforts to break from the traditional forms of the Anglican church. Edward Perronet broke with his traditionalist background and joined the Wesleys. If it was adventure he sought, he was no to be disappointed. Shortly after his association with John Wesley, Perronet was involved in incidents of persecution where, according to Wesley's diary: "he was thrown down and rolled in mud and mire. Stones were hurled and windows broken." Edward was inspired by his mentor to preach, but had determined never to do so in front of John Wesley. So Wesley surprised Edward. One Sunday morning, John Wesley announced to the congregation that the following day, they would hear a wonderful message from Edward Perronet. Edward was quite shocked and irritated that Wesley would put him in such an uncomfortable position. He did not wish to cause public embarrassment by refusing the evangelist's request, but neither did he feel prepared to present the new day's sermon. In the morning, Edward announced: "Although I have no sermon of my own to give to you, I promise you I shall deliver the finest one ever heard." He then opened his Bible and proceeded to read the sermon on the mount. When he completed the reading, he closed the book and sat down without comment. Several years later, Edward Perronet left the Wesleys and became the pastor of an independent church at Canterbury, England. As he pastored his little flock of country folk, Perronet saw the need for new hymns. He wrote three small volumes of hymns, published in 1756, 1782, and 1785. "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name" was included in the second volume, having been previously published in a 1779 issue of Gospel Magazine. The hymn reflects Perronet's conviction that God ought always to be worshipped in great glory and honor, with an emphasis upon his holy kingship. Paired with a beautiful melody written by Edward Srubsole, the hymn became popular across England. However, when it was first introduced in America, a Massachusetts carpenter composed the tune, "Coronation," for the stirring words and it is to this tune that the hymn is best known in the United States. It has been said that whenever Queen Victoria had the hymn played, she would direct that her jeweled crown be removed in deference to the hymn's message that Jesus should be crowned Lord of all. 

Have a blessed week, friends.

Blessings in Christ,

Ashley

Psalm 95:1-6

O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.