Holy Zeal and Diligence

Author: Benjamin Beddome

Benjamin Beddome was born at Henley-in Arden, Warwickshire, January 23, 1717. His father was a Baptist minister. He studied at various places, and began preaching in 1740. He was pastor of a Baptist society at Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, until his death in 1795. In 1770, he received the degree of M.A. from the Baptist College in Providence, Rhode Island. He published several discourses and hymns. "His hymns, to the number of 830, were published in 1818, with a recommendation from Robert Hall." Montgomery speaks of him as a "writer worthy of honour both for the quantity and the quality of his hymns." --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

Originally published in Rippon's Selection, 1787, as Hymn 293, "While carnal men, with all their might", 3 sts., entitled Holy zeal and diligence – 1818 Hymn 161, 4 sts.: Expanded first st. to two sts. and altered the other two.
Part 2 of Hymn 293 was first published in Rippon's Tenth Edition, 1800, as "If duty calls, and suffering too", 7 sts., entitled Zeal for God – first section (sts. 1-4) not found in 1818, sts. 5-7 amended in 1818 as Hymn 216. John Julian, 1907, p. 1273, misdates this to Rippon's First Edition, 1787, but part 2 does not occur there.