Enlisted into the cause of sin

Enlisted into the cause of sin

Author: Charles Wesley
Published in 24 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Enlisted in the cause of sin,
Why should a good be evil?
Music too long, alas! has been
Press'd to obey the devil:
Press'd to obey the devil,
Press'd to obey the devil:
Drunken, or lewd, or light the ray,
Flows to the souls undoing,
Widens and strews with flow'rs the way,
Down to our utter ruin.

2 Who on the part of God will rise,
Innocent sounds recover;
Fly on the prize, and seize the prize,
Plunder the carnal lover:
Plunder the carnal lover,
Plunder the carnal lover:
Strip him of eve'ry moving strain,
Of every melting measure;
Music in virtue's cause retain,
Rescue the holy pleasure.

3 Come, let us try if Jesus' love
Will not as well inspire us;
This is the theme of those above,
This upon earth shall fire us.
Try, if your hearts are tuned to sing,
Is there a subject greater?
Harmony all its strains may bring,
Jesus' name is sweeter.

4 Jesus, the soul of music is,
His is the noblest passion;
Jesus' name is life, and peace,
Happiness and salvation.
Jesus' name the dead can raise,
Show us our sins forgiven,
Fill us with all the life of grace,
Carry us up to heaven.

5 Who has a right like us to sing?
Us, whom his mercy raises;
Merry our hearts, for Christ is King,
Joyful we'll sing his praises.
Who of his love doth once partake,
He in the Lord rejoices;
Melody in our hearts we make,
Melody with our voices.

6 Then, let us in his praises join,
Triumph in his salvation;
Glory ascribe to love divine,
Worship, and adoration.
Heaven already is begun,
Open'd in each believer;
Only believe, and still sing on,
Heaven is ours forever.

Source: Linden Harp: a rare collection of popular melodies adapted to sacred and moral songs, original and selected. Illustrated. Also a manual of... #154

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: Enlisted into the cause of sin
Author: Charles Wesley
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 24 of 24)
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A Collection of original and select hymns and spiritual songs #CXV

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #A4

Camp Meeting Hymn Book #d42

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Dupuy's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Rev. corr. and enl.) #S55

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians. 9th ed. #d53

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians. 8th ed. #d50

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Selected and Original. 7th ed. #d121

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Hymns for the Use of the Society of United Christian Friends #I.II

Linden Harp #d24

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Linden Harp #154

Pilgrim Songster #d27

Pilgrim's Songster #d24

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The American Vocalist #352b

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The Camp-Meeting Chorister #340

The Christian Harmony #d42

The New and Improved Camp Meeting Hymn Book #d41

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The New and Improved Camp Meeting Hymn Book #79

The Sacred Songster. 5th ed. #d45

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The Zion Songster #256

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The Zion Songster #256

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Zion's Songster #79

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