When Calvinist Ideology Changes Lyrics

One of my favorite hymns is “And Can It Be?” —It’s a wonderful statement of the Gospel. But what happens in a Calvinist hymnal?

Here is the third verse as written by Charles Wesley:

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!

Now see a Calvinist version:

He left His Father’s throne above—

So free, so infinite His grace—

Humbled Himself, so great his love!

And bled for all his chosen race:

’Tis mercy all, immense and free,

For, O my God, it found out me!

Charles Wesley is spinning in his grave.