Both Charles Wesley and his brother, John, kept journals.  Charles, the writer of the hymn, "O For a Thousand Tongues," wrote that on February 9, 1748, he and six other men were traveling by horse to a meeting.  On the way, five or six ruffians interrupted their journey and hit them with stones and bats.  He wrote, "How we escaped, God only knows, and our guardian angels."  "O For A Thousand Tongues" is one of the many hymns Charles wrote that tell why he did what he did.  He lived in England during the 1700's.

My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim

To spread thru all the earth abroad the honors of Thy Name.

One of Charles' ministries was at the infamous Newgate Prison, where he allowed himself to be locked up with condemned men on nights before their executions, so that he might comfort and witness to them during their final hours.

He breaks the pow'r of canceled sin, he sets the pris'ner free.

His blood can make the foulest clean..His blood availed for me.

The hymn was inspired by the words of an influential Moravian leader named Peter Bohler, who said, "Oh, Brother Wesley, the Lord has done so much for my life.  Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ Jesus with every one of them!"  Charles wrote an 18 verse poem in response.

Other verses to the hymn are:

O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise,

The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace.

Jesus!  The name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease,

"Tis music in the sinner's ears; 'tis life and health and peace.

Hear Him, ye deaf, His praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ;

Ye blind, behold your Savior come and leap ye lame, for joy.

Glory to God and praise and love be ever, ever giv'n

By sants below and saints above...the Church in earth and heav'n.