Gospel Greats -- 'And Can It Be' Quiz

Answer: gain

The missing word is 'gain'.

The ever popular hymn 'And Can It Be', also known as 'Amazing Love', was written by Charles Wesley. The son of an Anglican clergyman, Wesley was born at Epworth, Lincolnshire, England on December 18, 1707, and died March 29, 1788. 'And Can It Be' was written in 1738. He was the younger brother of Methodist co-founder John Wesley.

Answer: Died

The missing word is 'died'.

According to Wikipedia, Diarmaid MacCulloch, professor of the History of the Church at the University of Oxford (since 1997) and a fellow of St Cross College, Oxford (since 1995) suggests 'And Can it Be' is "one of the best-loved" of Wesley's hymns. That's saying a mouthful, considering Wesley is credited with writing more than 6,000 hymns.

Answer: how can it be

The missing words are 'how can it be'. Lines 5 and 6 are repeated in lines 7 and 8.

Wikipedia states Charles Wesley wrote 'And Can It Be' to celebrate his "conversion."

He was a member of the Church of England and his conversion to evangelical Christianity took place on May 21, 1738, according to Wikipedia. The Website also reports the lines 'My chains fell off, my heart was free/I rose, went forth, and followed thee' are based on the story of the "liberation" of Peter in the New Testament.

Answer: dies

The missing word is 'dies'.

In 1749, Charles Wesley, author of 'And Can It Be', married Sarah Gwynne, the daughter of a "wealthy Welsh magistrate who had been converted to Methodism by Howell Harris," according to Wikipedia. At the time of marriage, she was twenty-three and he was forty-two. Despite the age difference, Hymnary.org reports they had a "most happy" marriage. Charles and Sarah were the parents of musician Samuel Wesley and grandparents of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley.

Answer: love

The missing word is 'love'.

Charles Wesley's son Charles Junior spent most of his career as the personal organist of the English Royal family, Wikipedia states. Charles Junior was the father of Samuel Wesley who became "one of the most accomplished musicians in the world and often called 'the English Mozart'," Wikipedia reports. "Furthermore, Samuel Wesley's son, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, was one of the foremost British composers of the 19th century."

Answer: let earth adore

The missing words are 'let earth adore'. Lines 5 and 6 are repeated in lines 7 and 8.

In May of 1738, Charles Wesley read Martin Luther's book on Galatians and was deeply convicted. Hymnswelove.blogspot.ca tells about Wesley writing about the matter. "At midnight I gave myself to Christ, assured that I was safe, whether sleeping or waking," the Website reports. "I had the continual experience of His power to overcome all temptation, and I confessed with joy and surprise that He was able to do exceedingly abundantly for me above what I can ask or think."

Hymnswelove.blogspot.ca goes on to quote Wesley: "I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in hope of loving Christ. I saw that by faith I stood." Two days later he began writing the hymn 'And Can It Be', or 'Amazing Love'.

Answer: above

The missing word is 'above'.

Hymnary.org describes Charles Wesley as "unique" as he wrote an estimated 6,500 hymns and "it is perfectly marvelous how many there are which rise to the highest degree of excellence."

Hymnary.org goes on to state the following about Wesley: "His feelings on every occasion of importance, whether private or public, found their best expression in a hymn. His own conversion, his own marriage, the earthquake panic, the rumours of an invasion from France, the defeat of Prince Charles Edward at Culloden, the Gordon riots, every Festival of the Christian Church, every doctrine of the Christian Faith, striking scenes in Scripture history, striking scenes which came within his own view, the deaths of friends as they passed away, one by one, before him, all furnished occasions for the exercise of his divine gift."

Answer: race

The missing word is 'race'.

According to Hymnary.org, 'And Can It Be' has been published in more than 215 hymnals over the years. The same Website offers this comment on the hymns of Charles Wesley: "The saying that a really good hymn is as rare an appearance as that of a comet is falsified by the work of Charles Wesley; for hymns, which are really good in every respect, flowed from his pen in quick succession, and death alone stopped the course of the perennial stream."

Answer: light

The missing word is 'light'.

'And Can It Be' remains popular with Christians around the world for a number of reasons. Yes, the hymn is set to a catchy tune. However, it's the words of the hymn that have been known to penetrate into the hearts of believers.

Hymnary.org offers this synopsis of Charles Wesley's classic: "The first three stanzas of this hymn explore both the contrast between the glory of heaven that Christ came from and the suffering He endured on earth, and the mystery of the love that motivated Him to make that journey. In stanza four we are reminded how God brings us to salvation in language that reminds us of Peter's experience in Acts 12:6-11, where God sent an angel to open the prison doors and loose Peter's chains. The final stanza is a jubilant celebration of our new state in Christ and the privilege of communion with God that we enjoy."

Answer: throne

The missing word is 'throne'.

An extremely popular Christmas carol written by Charles Wesley is 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing'. Some titles of other popular hymns include 'Christ the Lord Is Risen Today', 'O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing' and 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling'.

Here are the words to the old-time classic 'And Can It Be', also known as 'Amazing Love'.

"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."