“A Charge to Keep”

Description

"A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, A never-dying soul to save, And fit it for the sky. Arm me with jealous care, As in thy sight to live, Thy servant, Lord, prepare, A strict account to give. To serve the present age, My calling to fulfill...."

Notes

This, like many shape note hymns, appears with a bewildering variety of tunes. William Walker apparently printed it to "Carolina." "Songs of Zion" put it to "Kentucky." And in the Sacred Harp, it is called by the text-title "A Charge to Keep"; it's said to have a tune by Paine Denson. - RBW

References

  1. BrownIII 522, "A Charge to Keep" (1 fragment)
  2. Roud #11817
  3. BI, Br3522

About

Author: Words: Charles Wesley
Earliest date: 1851 (Songs of Zion)
Keywords: religious nonballad
Found in: US(SE)