A charge to keep I have

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General information

A charge to keep I have is a hymn by Charles Wesley, first published as Hymn 188 on pp58-59 of Volume 1 of his collection Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures, Bristol: 1762, where it is prefaced by the words 'Keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die not' (taken from Leviticus 8:35).

Settings by composers (automated)

William Henry Monk — A charge to keep I have English SATB
Samuel Sebastian Wesley — A charge to keep I have English SATB

Text and translations

English text

A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky;
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil:
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master's will!

Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live,
And O! Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give:
Help me to watch and pray,
And on thyself rely,
Assur'd, if I my trust betray,
I shall for ever die.