Hark, How the Watchmen Cry

Representative Text

1 Hark, how the watchmen cry!
Attend the trumpet's sound!
Stand to your arms, the foe is nigh!
The powers of hell surround.

2 Who bow to Christ's command,
Your arms and hearts prepare;
The day of battle is at hand;
Go forth to glorious war!

3 See, on the mountain top,
The standard of your God.
In Jesus' name I left it up,
All stained with hallowed blood.

4 His standard-bearer, I
To all the nations call:
Let all to Jesus' cross draw nigh,
He bore the cross for all.

5 All power to Him is given!
He ever reigns the same.
Salvation happiness, and heaven
Are all in Jesus' name.

Source: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #223

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: Hark, how the watchmen cry
Title: Hark, How the Watchmen Cry
Author: Charles Wesley
Meter: 6.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Hark, how the watchmen cry. C. Wesley. [Old and New Year.] This is No. 8 of 19 “Hymns for the Watchnight," published in Hymns & Sacred Poems, 1749, vol. ii., No. 91, in 12 stanzas of 8 lines (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. v. p. 271.) From this hymn the following centos are in common use:—
1. Hark, how the watchmen cry. This is composed of stanzas i., ii., iv., and vi., and was given in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, No. 305 (edition 1875, No. 314). It is found in several modern collections.
2. Angels your march oppose. This embodies stanzas vii.-x., and was given as the 2nd part of "Hark, how the watchmen cry," in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, No. 306 (edition 1875, No. 315). It is in several modern collections.
3. Angels our march oppose. This, as given in a few American hymn-books in 2 stanzas of 8 lines, or 4 stanzas of 4 lines. It is compiled from stanzas vii., vi., viii., ix., in the order named.
4. Our Captain leads us on. In Hymns and Songs of Praise, N. Y., 1874.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

DENNIS (Nägeli)

Lowell Mason (PHH 96) arranged DENNIS and first published it in The Psaltery (1845), a hymnal he compiled with George. Webb (PHH 559). Mason attributed the tune to Johann G. Nageli (b. Wetzikon, near Zurich, Switzerland, 1773; d. Wetzikon, 1836) but included no source reference. Nageli presumably pu…

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The Cyber Hymnal #2401
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Instances

Instances (1 - 85 of 85)
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A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #247

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A Collection of Hymns for the use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America #723

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A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church #401

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A Collection of Hymns, for the Use of the People Called Methodists, with a Supplement #314

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #641

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America. #209

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A Collection of Hymns #L303

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A Collection of Hymns #401a

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A Collection of Hymns #313

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A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints #29

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A Manual of Devotion for Soldiers and Sailors #103

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A Pocket hymn-book, designed as a constant companion for the pious #CCLIX

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A Pocket Hymn-book #259

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A Pocket Hymn-Book #CCLIX

A. M. E. C. Hymnal #14

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African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #223

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African Methodist Episcopal hymn and tune book #292

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Chapel Treasures (Christ Chapel Sabbath-School, Lebanon, PA) #422

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Choral Echoes from the Church of God in All Ages #277

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Church Poetry #200b

Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d253

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Free Methodist Hymnal #418

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Hymn and Tune Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Round Note Ed.) #209

Hymn Book of the Colored M.E. Church in America #d179

Hymn Book of the Holiness Movement Church #d159

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South #209

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church #209

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (11th ed.) #209

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (2nd ed.) #268

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Hymn book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (4th ed.) #268

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Hymn-Book of the Evangelical Association #569

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #582

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #582

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Hymnal #292

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Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #852

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Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. ed. #723

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Hymns of the "Jubilee Harp" #a321

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Hymns selected from various authors #295

Jubilant Voices #d57

Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #d280

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Methodist Hymn-Book #460

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New Hymn and Tune book #259b

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New Hymn and Tune Book #259b

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Plymouth Collection #a633

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Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #633

Popular Hymns for Youth #d59

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Sacred Hymns and Tunes #237

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Salvation Army Songs #539

School Recreations #d44

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Songs of Beulah #79

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Songs of Pilgrimage #1271

Spiritual Songs and Hymns for Pilgrims. New Church ed. #d63

The A. M. E. Zion Hymnal #315

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The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #431

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The African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book #292

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book #633

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The Centenary Singer #221

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The Choice #H454

The Choice #H454

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The Christian Hymn Book #878

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #2401

The Evangelical Hymn and Tune Book #d241

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The Evangelical Hymnal #398

The Harmonia Sacra. 14th ed. #d107

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The Harp #636

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The Harp. 2nd ed. #a636

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The Heart and Voice #219c

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The Hymn Book of the African Methodist Episcopal Church #292

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The Hymn Book of the Free Methodist Church #567

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The Jubilee Harp #321

The Methodist Hymn-Book with Tunes #481

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The Methodist Pocket Hymn-book, revised and improved #CCVI

The Mission Hymnal #d36

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The New Harmonia Sacra #138b

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The New Hymn Book #75

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The Reformed Methodist Pocket Hymnal #I.161

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The Saint's Harp #104

The Saints' Harp #d334

The Song Book of the Salvation Army #d232

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The Voice of Praise #651

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The Wesleyan Methodist Hymnal #418

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Wondrous Love #72

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