Servant of God, well done

Servant of God, well done, Rest from thy loved employ

Author: James Montgomery
Published in 170 hymnals

Full Text

Servant of God, well done!
Rest from thy loved employ!
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy.

The voice at midnight came,
He started up to hear;
A mortal arrow pierced his frame,
He fell,--but felt no fear.

Tranquil amidst alarms,
It found him on the field,
A veteran slumbering on his arms,
Beneath his red-cross shield.

His sword was in his hand,
Still warm with recent fight,
Ready that moment, at command,
Through rock and steel to smite.

It was a two-edged blade
Of heavenly temper, keen;
331
And double were the wounds it made,
Where'er it glanced between.

'Twas death to sin,--'twas life
To all who mourn'd for sin;
It kindled and it silenced strife,
Made war and peace within.

Oft with its fiery force
His arm had quell'd the foe,
And laid, resistless in his course,
The alien armies low.

Bent on such glorious toils,
The world to him was loss,
Yet all his trophies, all his spoils,
He hung upon the Cross.

At midnight came the cry,
"To meet thy God prepare!"
He woke,--and caught his Captain's eye;
Then, strong in faith and prayer,--

His spirit, with a bound,
Left its encumbering clay;
His tent, at sunrise, on the ground,
A darken'd ruin lay.

The pains of death are past,
Labour and sorrow cease;
And life's long warfare closed at last,
His soul is found in peace.

Soldier of Christ, well done!
Praise be thy new employ;
And while eternal ages run,
Rest in thy Saviour's joy.

Sacred Poems and Hymns, 1854

Author: James Montgomery

Montgomery, James, son of John Montgomery, a Moravian minister, was born at Irvine, Ayrshire, Nov. 4, 1771. In 1776 he removed with his parents to the Moravian Settlement at Gracehill, near Ballymena, county of Antrim. Two years after he was sent to the Fulneck Seminary, Yorkshire. He left Fulneck in 1787, and entered a retail shop at Mirfield, near Wakefield. Soon tiring of that he entered upon a similar situation at Wath, near Rotherham, only to find it quite as unsuitable to his taste as the former. A journey to London, with the hope of finding a publisher for his youthful poems ended in failure; and in 1792 he was glad to leave Wath for Shefield to join Mr. Gales, an auctioneer, bookseller, and printer of the Sheffield Register newspap… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Servant of God, well done, Rest from thy loved employ
Title: Servant of God, well done
Author: James Montgomery
Meter: 6.6.8.6

Notes

Servant of God, well done! Thy glorious warfare's past. C. Wesley. [Death and Burial of a Minister.] This hymn, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, was printed at the end of the Funeral Sermon by John Wesley, on the death of G. Whitefield. (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. vi. 316.) Whitefield died on Sept. 30, 1770, and J. Wesley preached the Funeral Sermon at the Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, and again at Moorfields on Nov. 18, 1770. He also preached on the same subject at Greenwich and at Deptford. His remark in his Journal is, “In every place I wish to show all possible respect to the memory of that great and good man." It must be noted that this hymn is a distinct piece from C. Wesley's Elegy on the Death of the Rev. George Whitefield.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (170)TextImageAudioScore
A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of the Baptist Church and all lovers of song #299Image
A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Songs. 19th ed. #d385
A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social and Domestic Worship #d732
A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social and Domestic Worship #d736
A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #d736
A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #739Image
A Collection of Hymns, for the Christian Church and Home #389Image
A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ: taken from the most approved authors, and adapted to public and private worship #382Image
A Collection of Hymns: Supplementary to the Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #452Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship #559Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (10th ed.) #559Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. 16th ed. #559Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (3rd ed.) #559Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (45th ed.) #559Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (6th ed.) #559Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship (Rev. ed. with supplement) #642Image
A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Sanctuary #551Image
A Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs; suited to the various kinds of Christian worship; and especially designed for and adapted to the Fraternity of the Brethren... #614Image
A New and Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of the Regular Baptist Church. 10th ed. #d422
A Selection of Hymns: designed as a supplement to the "psalms and hymns" of the Presbyterian church #490Image
A Selection of Spiritual Songs: with music for the Church and the Choir #962Image
Baptist Songs with Music #d164
Book of Common Praise #d499
Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d782
Carmina Sanctorum, a selection of hymns and songs of praise with tunes #684Image
Carmina Sanctorum: a selection of hymns and songs of praise with tunes #684Image
Chapel Hymns #d478
Christian Hymn and Tune Book, for use in Churches, and for Social and Family Devotions #605Image
Christian Hymns for Public and Private Worship: a collection compiled by a committee of the Cheshire Pastoral Association (11th ed.) #547Image
Christian Praise: a manual of worship for public, social and private devotion #599Image
Christian Praise: hymns and tunes for public worship #266Image
Christian Praise: hymns and tunes for the use of the Baptist churches #266Image
Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d781
Church Harmonies: a collection of hymns and tunes for the use of Congregations #729Image
Church Melodies: collection of psalms and hymns, with appropriate music. For the use of congregations. #850Image
Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #745Image
Church Psalmist: or Psalms and Hymns Designed for the Public, Social, and Private Use of Evangelical Christians ... with Supplement. 53rd ed. #522Image
Church Psalmist: or psalms and hymns for the public, social and private use of evangelical Christians (5th ed.) #522Image
Church Psalmist: or, psalms and hymns, for the public, social and private use of Evangelical Christians. With Supplement. (50th ed.) #522Image
Common Praise: hymns with tunes for Christian worship #533Image
Congregational Hymn and Tune Book; containing the Psalms and Hymns of the General Association of Connecticut, adapted to Suitable Tunes #1192
Dyer's Psalmist: A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Songs for the use of Baptist Churches (Rev. & Corrd. ed.) #432Image
General Baptist Hymn Book #d406
Gloria Deo: a Collection of Hymns and Tunes for Public Worship in all Departments of the Church #565Image
Glorious Gospel Hymns #d475
Gospel Hymns #d473
Gospel Light, or Hymns and Tunes for all Occasions of Christian Work and Worship #d358
Gospel Melodies: a New Collection of Gospel Hymns and Songs #d144
Hymn and Tune Book, for the Church and the Home #524Image
Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home and Services for Congregational Worship. Rev. ed. #d614
Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home. (Rev. ed.) #711Image
Hymn and Tune Book for Use in Old School or Primitive Baptist Churches #595Image
Hymn and Tune Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (Round Note Ed.) #655Image
Hymn Book for Christian Worship #660Image
Hymn Book of the Colored M.E. Church in America #d455
Hymn-Book of the Evangelical Association #818Image
Hymn Book of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South #655Image
Hymn Book of the United Evangelical Church #579Image
Hymnal Adapted to the Doctrines and Usages of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Revised Edition #486Image
Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #287
Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #314Image
Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book: with accompanying tunes #280Image
Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book with Accompanying Tunes (Second Edition) #280Image
Hymnal of the Evangelical Church. Word ed. #d652
Hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church #d104
Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #1331Image
Hymns for Christian Devotion: especially adapted to the Universalist denomination #593Image
Hymns for Christian Devotion: especially adapted to the Universalist denomination. (New ed.) #593Image
Hymns for Public Worship #490Image
Hymns for Social Worship and Private Devotion #d137
Hymns for the Church of Christ (3rd thousand) #781Image
Hymns for the Church of Christ. (6th thousand) #781Image
Hymns for the Use of the Brethren in Christ #d422
Hymns of the Ages for Public and Social Worship #642Image
Hymns of the Ages for Public and Social Worship, Approved and Recommended ... by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. 2nd ed. #d455
Hymns of the Church Militant #511Image
Hymns of the Church Universal #515Image
Hymns Recommended for use in the Reformed Episcopal Church #160Image
Hymns: selected and original, for public and private worship (4th ed. 3rd rev. ed.) #905Image
Hymns: selected and original, for public and private worship (60th ed., 1st rev. ed.) #905Image
Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship, published by General Synod for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 68th ed. (8th rev. ed.) #d676
Hymns : selected from various authors for the use of the Evangelical Association, and all lovers of pious devotion (5th ed.) #368Image
Laudes Domini: a selection of spiritual songs ancient and modern #1101Image
Laudes Domini: a selection of spiritual songs, ancient and modern for use in the prayer-meeting #543Image
Many Voices; or, Carmina Sanctorum, Evangelistic Edition with Tunes #499Image
New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #390Image
New Manual of Praise: for Sabbath and Social Worship #590Image
Offices of Worship and Hymns: with tunes, 3rd ed., revised and enlarged #1339Image
Parish Hymns: a collection of hymns for public, social, and private worship; selected and original #559Image
Parish Psalmody #d704
Parish Psalmody #d717
Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #1139Image
Prayers and Hymns for the Church and Home #d577
Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs: a manual of worship for the church of Christ #1190Image
Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship #H627Image
Sacred Poems and Hymns #311Text
Seamen's Hymns #522Image
Seamen's Hymns and Devotional Assistant #d518
Social Hymn and Tune Book: for the Lecture Room, Prayer Meeting, Family Circle, and Mission Church #d355
Social Hymn Book: Being the Hymns of the Social Hymn and Tune Book for the Lecture Room, Prayer Meeting, Family, and Congregation (2nd ed.) #401Image
Social Psalmist: or hymns, selected for the private use and social meetings of evangelical Christians #522Image
Songs of Christian Praise with Music #d472
Songs of Devotion for Christian Assocations: a collection of psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with music for chuch services, prayer and conference meetings, religious conventions, and family worship. #387Image
Songs of the Church: or, hymns and tunes for Christian worship #781Image
The A. M. E. Zion Hymnal #d464
The African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book: adapted to the doctirnes and usages of the church (6th ed.) #486Image
The Baptist Harp: a new collection of hymns for the closet, the family, social worship, and revivals #281Image
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book: being "The Plymouth Collection" enlarged and adapted to the use of Baptist churches #1139Image
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship #324.942Image
The Baptist Hymn Book #942Image
The Baptist Hymnal, for Use in the Church and Home #648bImage
The Baptist Hymnal, for Use in the Church and Home #648aImage
The Baptist Hymnal. Shaped notes ed. #d506
The Baptist Praise Book #1135Image
The Baptist Psalmody: a selection of hymns for the worship of God #1218Image
The Baptist Standard Hymnal with Responsive Readings #d465
The Book of Common Praise #d514
The Book of Praise: or, Hymns for Public and Social Worship #d673
The Camp-Meeting Chorister: or, a collection of hymns and spiritual songs, for the pious of all denominations. To be sung at camp meetings, during revivals of religion, and on other occasions #348Image
The Canadian Baptist Hymn Book #695
The Canadian Baptist Hymnal for the use of Churches and Families #d544
The Centennial Hymnal #d335
The Christian Church Hymnal #383Image
The Christian Hymn Book: a compilation of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, original and selected (Rev. and enl.) #1070Image
The Christian Hymnal #d584
The Christian Hymnal: a choice collection of hymns and tunes for congregational and social worship #542Image
The Christian Psalter #d468
The Church Hymnary: a collection of hymns and tunes for public worship #941Image
The Church of God Selection of Spiritual Songs for the Church and Choir #d778
The Clifton Chapel Collection of "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs": for public, social and family worship and private devotions at the Sanitarium, Clifton Springs, N. Y. #1432Image
The Disciples' Hymn Book: a collection of hymns and chants for public and private devotion #144Image
The Evangelical Hymn and Tune Book #d644
The Evangelical Hymnal #483Image
The Evangelical Hymnal with Tunes #448Image
The Friends' Hymnal, a Collection of Hymns and Tunes for the Public Worship of the Society #d535
The Gospel Hymnal #d531
The Gospel Psalmist #692Image
The Highway Hymnal #d254
The Lecture-Room Hymn-Book: containing the psalms and hymns of the book of common prayer, together with a choice selection of additional hymns, and an appendix of chants and tunes... #H437Image
The Liturgy and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum #749Image
The Liturgy and the Office of Worship and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum, or the Moravian Church #1339Image
The Manual of Praise for Sabbath and Social Worship #549Image
The Methodist Hymnal #597Image
The National Baptist Hymn Book #d472
The National Baptist Hymnal: arranged for use in churches, Sunday schools, and young people's socieities (5th ed. Rev.) #597Image
The New Hymn Book: a Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #278Image
The New Laudes Domini: a selection of spiritual songs, ancient and modern for use in Baptist churches #1149Image
The People's Praise Book or Carmina Sanctorum #d529
The Plymouth Hymnal #d456
The Psalmist: a new collection of hymns for the use of Baptist churches; with a supplement #1118Image
The Psalmist: a New Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Baptist Churches #1118Image
The Psalmody: a collection of hymns for public and social worship #1130Image
The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D.: to which are added select hymns, from other authors; and directions for musical expression (New ed.) #D456Image
The Reformed Church Hymnal: with tunes #611Image
The Richard Allen A.M.E. Hymnal, with Responsive Scripture Readings. Rev. #d337
The Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book, for the Service of Song in the House of the Lord #314dImage
The Sabbath Hymn Book. Baptist ed. #d917
The Sacrifice of Praise. psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs designed for public worship and private devotion, with notes on the origin of hymns. #579Image
The Service of Praise #d269
The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d489
The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d775
The Soldier's Manual of Devotion, or Book of Common Prayer 2d ed. #d71
The Soldier's Pocket Book #d21
The Song Book of the Salvation Army #d696
The South Western Psalmist #d343
The Spirit of Praise: a collection of music with hymns for use in Sabbath-school services and church meetings #202Image
The Springfield Collection of Hymns for Sacred Worship #499Image
The Sweet Singer of Israel: a collection of hymns and spiritual songs, usually sung at camp, prayer, and social meetings, and revivals of religion (New ed. much enlarged) #274Image
The Victory #d324
Zion's Harp ... Sacred Songs Not Found in the Methodist Hymn Book and Many Never Before Published with Several Original Pieces #d261