“A Charge to Keep I Have”
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 fulfill:
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,
Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall for ever die.
Charles Wesley died this date (3/29/1788) in London, England. He had been born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, the eighteenth of nineteen children, all sons and daughters of Samuel (too often under-rated) and Susanna (perhaps a bit over-rated) Wesley. He married Sally Gwynne on April 8, 1749 and to this union were born eight little Wesleys. His hymns and/or gospel songs exceeded 6500.
A few other songs by Wesley are “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” “Jesus Lover of My Soul,” and “O for a Thousands Tongues.”
Separate-Holy 