Mr. Perronet’s Joke

Edward Perronet (1726-1792) was born in England, the descendant of a distinguished French family that had fled the continent in a time of religious oppression. Like his father before him, Edward sought to enter Christian ministry, and he joined with the Wesleys in their evangelical outreach. Brothers John and Charles Wesley were an outstanding team. Charles wrote many hymns that are still in use. John was usually the preacher. In his lifetime, he traveled about 250,000 miles on horseback, and preached some 42,000 sermons!

But Perronet served the Lord, under very difficult circumstances during his time with the Wesleys. This was in the 1740’s and 1750’s when the “Methodists” as they came to be known were suffering much persecution. Their street preachers were often violently attacked. This note appears in Wesley’s diary: “From Rockdale we went to Bolton, and soon found that the Rockdale 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.”

John Wesley was always hoping to encourage new preachers. As he got to know Edward Perronet, he saw the quality of the man, and asked him to preach to one of the assembled crowds. Perronet refused, thinking how poor a message he could offer in comparison to the dynamic Wesley. This went on for some time. And each time Wesley asked him to speak, the young man deferred to him. Finally, John Wesley adopted a new and bold strategy. Instead of asking beforehand, he stood while a meeting was in progress and announced, “Mr. Perronet will now speak to us.”

How could he refuse? It would embarrass not only himself but his leader as well. So, slowly he stepped forward and took his place before the assembled crowd. Every eye was on him–and no doubt a few jaws dropped!–as he declared, “I will now present the greatest sermon ever heard on earth!”

Then, Edward Perronet proceeded to read the Sermon on the Mount, from Matthew 5–7, and sat down. (Talk about quick thinking!)

Peronnet went on to become a pastor. And the faithful servant of God wrote a number of hymns, but almost none are used today. Edward Perronet might have been long forgotten, except for a most significant contribution to our hymnody. In 1779 he penned what has been called the “National Anthem of Christendom:” It summons us to worship in this way:

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all!

Let every kindred, every tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all!