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A Charge to Keep I Have

Representative Text

1 A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.

2 To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill,
O may it all my pow'rs engage
to do my Master's will!

3 Arm me with watchful care
as in Thy sight to live,
and now Thy servant, Lord, prepare
a strict account to give!

4 Help me to watch and pray,
and still on Thee rely,
O let me not my trust betray,
but press to realms on high.


Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #391

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: A charge to keep I have
Title: A Charge to Keep I Have
Author: Charles Wesley (1762)
Meter: 6.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

A charge to keep I have. C. Wesley. [Personal Responsibility.] First published in his Short Hymns on Select Passages of Holy Scripture, 1762, vol. i.. No. 188, in 2 stanzas of 8 lines and based on Lev. viii. 35. It was omitted from the second edition of the Short Hymns, &c, 1794, but included in the Wesleyan Hymn Book 1780, and in the P. Works of J. & C. Wesley, 1868-72, vol. ix., pp. 60, 61. Its use has been most extensive both in Great Britain and America, and usually it is given in an unaltered form, as in the Wesleyan Hymn Book No. 318; and the Evangelical Hymnal, New York, No. 320. The line, "From youth to hoary age," in the American Protestant Episcopal Hymnal No. 474, is from the American Prayer Book Collection, 1826.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Notes

A charge to keep I have. C. Wesley. [Personal Responsibility.] First published in his Short Hymns on Select Passages of Holy Scripture, 1762, vol. i.. No. 188, in 2 stanzas of 8 lines and based on Lev. viii. 35. It was omitted from the second edition of the Short Hymns, &c, 1794, but included in the Wesleyan Hymn Book 1780, and in the P. Works of J. & C. Wesley, 1868-72, vol. ix., pp. 60, 61. Its use has been most extensive both in Great Britain and America, and usually it is given in an unaltered form, as in the Wesleyan Hymn Book No. 318; and the Evangelical Hymnal, New York, No. 320. The line, "From youth to hoary age," in the American Protestant Episcopal Hymnal No. 474, is from the American Prayer Book Collection, 1826.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Instances

Instances (501 - 600 of 1380)
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Hymns of the United Church #178

Hymns of The Voice of Praise #d1

Hymns of Victory #250

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Hymns of Worship and Service #360

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Hymns of Worship and Service (15th ed.) #360

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Hymns of Worship and Service (Chapel Ed., 4th ed.) #290

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Hymns of Worship and Service #360

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Hymns of Worship and Service #290

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Hymns of Worship and Service. (Chapel ed.) #290

Hymns of Worship and Songs of the Gospel #d2

Hymns of Zion #d1

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Hymns Recommended for use in the Reformed Episcopal Church #189

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Hymns selected from various authors #268

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Hymns that Help #211

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Hymns to the Living God #294

Hymns, Collects, Anthems and Selections #d1

Hymns, Religious and Patriotic #d1

Hymns, Selected and Original, for Sunday Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church #d1

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In Excelsis #524

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In Excelsis #a524

In His Name #d1

Inspirational Songs for Sunday School, Social Worship, Missionary and Evangelistic Work #d1

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Inspiring Hymns #63

Inter-Church Hymnal #74

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International Praise #180

International Singing Annual for Sabbath Schools #d1

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International Song Service #108g

Jasper and Gold #193

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Jehovah's Praise #221

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Jehovah's Praise #37

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Jewel Songs #134

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Joy and Gladness #S36

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Joy and Praise #239

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Joy Bells #N25

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Joy to the World #171

Joy, for use in Sunday School and Gospel Meetings #d1

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Joyful Praise #212

Joyful Singing #d1

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Joyful Songs of Salvation #94

Jubilant Voices #d1

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Kindly Light #63

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Kingdom of Song for the Sunday School #198

Kingdom Songs #d1

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Kingdom Songs #249

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Kingdom Songs #196

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Lasting Hymns #301

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Laudamus #294

Laudent Omnes #d1

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Laudes Domini #258

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Laudes Domini #561

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Laudes Domini #229

Let Everybody Sing #d1

Life and Light No.2 #d1

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Life and Service Hymns #307

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Life Songs No. 2 #333

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Light and Life Songs No. 2 #225

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Light and Life Songs No. 3 #297

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Light and Life Songs No. 4 #252

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Light in the Valley #217

Liturgy and Hymns for Sunday Schools #d1

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Living Hymns #334

Living Praise #227

Living Songs for the Sunday School, the Epworth League, Prayer Meetings, Revivals #d1

Living Songs for the Sunday School, the Epworth League, Prayer Meetings, Revivals ... #d1

Living Songs of Faith and Hope #d1

Living Water Songs No. 2 #d2

Loyalty to the King #d1

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Luther League Hymnal #224

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Make Christ King #243

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Make His Praise Glorious #198

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Manual for the chapel of Girard College #2

Manual of Devotion and Selection of Hymns for ... Girard College for Orphans #d3

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Many Voices; or, Carmina Sanctorum, Evangelistic Edition with Tunes #295

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Melodies and Hymns for Divine Service in Appleton Chapel #a249

Melodies of Salvation #d1

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Melodies of Salvation #42

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Melodies of Salvation #42

Mennonite Hymn Book #d1

Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #441

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Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #501

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Methodist Hymn-Book #441

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Methodist Social Hymn Book #170

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Millennial Harp #C40

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Millennial Harp #M40

Millennial Musings #d1

Ministry in Song #d2

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Missionary Hymnal #116

Missionary Hymns #d1

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Missionary Services and Hymnal #35

TextPage Scan

Moravian Book of Worship #645

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Morning Stars #140

Music that Wins #d1

Musical Gems. 7th ed. #d1

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New Anti-Saloon Songs #135

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New Awakening Songs #83

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New Baptist Hymnal #203

New Century Carols #188

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New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #382

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New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #382

Pages

Exclude 1327 pre-1979 instances
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