The Backslider: His Retrospect

O that I were as heretofore! When warm in my first love

Author: Charles Wesley
Published in 59 hymnals

Representative Text

1 O that I were as heretofore!
When warm in my first love;
I only live my God t'adore,
And seek the things above!

2 Upon my head his candle shone,
And lavish of his grace,
With cords of love he drew me on,
And half unveil'd his face.

3 Far, far above all earthly things
Triumphantly I rode;
I soar'd to heaven on eagles' wings,
And found and talk'd with God.

4 Where am I now, from what a height
Of happiness cast down!
The glory swallow'd up in night,
And faded is the crown.

5 O God, thou art my home, my rest,
For which I sigh in pain!
How shall I 'scape into thy breast,
My Eden how regain?

Source: Hymns, Selected and Original: for public and private worship (1st ed.) #418

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: O that I were as heretofore! When warm in my first love
Title: The Backslider: His Retrospect
Author: Charles Wesley
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

O that I was as heretofore. C. Wesley. [A Minister’s Prayer.] Published in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1749, vol. i., No. 188, in 8 stanzas of 6 lines. (Poetical Works, vol. v., 1868-72, p. 105). Two centos from this hymn are in common use:—
1. Give me the faith which can remove. Composed of stanzas iii.-vii. in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, No. 421, and later collections.
2. I would the precious time redeem. Composed of stanzas v.-vii. in the Baptist Hymnal, 1879.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 59 of 59)

A Collection of Hymns Adapted to the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church #d452

A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Generally Used at Camp and Prayer Meetings #d168

A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social and Domestic Worship #d628

A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social and Domestic Worship #d631

A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #d630

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A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #443

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America #d270

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A Collection of Hymns for the use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America #873

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A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church #88

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A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church #88

A Collection of Hymns for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. with a Supplement #d458

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the United Brethren in Christ #d261

A Collection of Hymns for the use of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America #d386

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #537

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America. #419

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A Collection of Hymns #88

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #814

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

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A Pocket Hymn-book #271

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A Pocket Hymn-Book #CCLXXI

Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d532

Family and Social Melodies #d254

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church #470

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (11th ed.) #470

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Hymns and Sacred Poems #69

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Hymns for Christian Melody #731

Hymns for the Use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Impr. ed. #d366

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Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. ed. #873

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Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship #418

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Hymns, Selected and Original #418

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Hymns #418

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Hymns #418

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Hymns #557

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Hymns #418

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Hymns #418

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New Hymn and Tune book #105c

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New Hymn and Tune Book #105c

Pocket Hymn Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church #d194

Pocket Hymn Book, Designed as a Constant Companion. 25th ed. #d192

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Revival Hymns #4

Revival Hymns ... with a Supplement. 2nd ed. #d203

Spiritual Melodies #d233

Spiritual Melodies. Enl. & impr. ed. #d274

The African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymn Book #d325

The American Hymn and Tune Book #d587

The Church Hymn Book #d723

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The Harp #658

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The Harp. 2nd ed. #a658

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The Heart and Voice #194a

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The Hymn Book of the African Methodist Episcopal Church #471

The Methodist Pocket Hymn Book. 35th ed. #d209

The Methodist Pocket Hymn Book. Rev. #d212

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

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The Psalmody #776

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The Reformed Methodist Pocket Hymnal #I.35

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The Saint's Harp #44

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