the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”
(Revelation 4:10-11)
“I was born and brought up and am likely to die in the tottering communion of the Church of England, but I despise her nonsense”. So said Edward Peronnet (1726 – 1792), hymn writer, evangelist and satirist.
The eighteenth century was a time of great revival of the fortunes of the church, but it wasn’t without its controversy. Many were angered by the fresh emphasis on faith - they rather liked the idea of a God who was distant, and not really interested in what they did. Peronnet was a great preacher, for a while a collegue of the Wesleys, and John Wesley records in his journal an account which serves to demonstrate the hostility the preaching of the Gospel brought:
From Rochdale went to Bolton, and soon found that the Rochdale lions were lambs in comparison with those of Bolton. Edward Perronet was thrown down and rolled in mud and mire. Stones were hurled and windows broken.
Peronnet was fearless in the face of opposition, and was even willing to face down John Wesley at times. The two eventually parted company, and Peronnet ended up as the minister of an independant, congregational church in Canterbury.
So was Peronnet incorrect when he said that he was “likely to die in the tottering communion of he Church of England”? Not quite: as it happens his final resting place is within Canterbury Cathedral itself. Such, it would seem, is the sense of humour of Amighty God.
1 All hail the power of Jesu's name;
let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem
to crown him, crown him, crown him,
crown him Lord of all.2 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.3 Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
praise him whose way of pain ye trod,
and crown him Lord of all.4 Ye seed of Israel's chosen race,
ye ransomed of the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.5 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.6 Let every tribe and every tongue
to him their hearts enthral,
lift high the universal song
the crownéd Lord of all
