The Signature of Divine Love

When shall I hear the inward voice

Author: Charles Wesley
Tune: SAUNDERS (Woodbury)
Published in 13 hymnals

Representative Text

1 When shall I hear the inward voice,
Which only faithful souls can hear?
Pardon, and peace, and heavenly joys
Attend the promised Comforter:
He comes, and righteousness divine,
And Christ, and all with Christ, is mine.

2 O that the Comforter would come,
Nor visit as a transient guest;
But fix in me His constant home,
And keep possession of my breast,
And make my soul His loved abode,
The temple of indwelling God.

3 Come, Holy Ghost, my heart inspire;
Attest that I am born again;
Come, and baptize me now with fire,
Or all Thy former gifts are vain.
I cannot rest in sins forgiven;
Where is the earnest of my heaven?

4 Where the indubitable seal,
That ascertains the kingdom mine?
The powerful stamp I long to feel,
The signature of love divine:
O shed it in my heart abroad,
Fullness of love, of heaven, of God!

Source: International Song Service: with Bright Gems from fifty authors, for Sunday-schools, gospel meetings, missionary and young people's societies, prayer-meetings, etc. #274

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: When shall I hear the inward voice
Title: The Signature of Divine Love
Author: Charles Wesley
Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

When shall I hear the inward voice. Part of C. Wesley's "Father, if Thou my Father art," p. 367, ii.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 13 of 13)
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Free Methodist Hymnal #283

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Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #385

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Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. ed. #479

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International Song Service #274

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New Hymn and Tune book #279c

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The Heart and Voice #260b

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The Hymn Book of the Free Methodist Church #414

The Imperial Harmony #d318

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The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. #D346

The Temple Harp #d388

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The Wesleyan Methodist Hymnal #283

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A Collection of Hymns for the use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America #479

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New Hymn and Tune Book #279c

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