Adventist Pioneer Library

The Christian — Godly Life

What! never speak one evil word,

  • No. 630
  • Words Charles Wesley.
  • Singing key B♭ major
  • 2 stanzas

Sung to RETREAT (hymn 923)

1

What! never speak one evil word,Or rash, or idle, or unkind?O, how shall I, most gracious Lord,This mark of true perfection find?

2

Thy sinless mind in me reveal;Thy Spirit's plenitude impart;And all my spotless life shall tellThat thou hast purified my heart.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «630» (large) in the right column of p. 206, under «Anon.» of hymn 629, with the italic reference line «923, 316, 23.» (= sing to the tunes of hymns 923, 316 or 23) beside the number; two stanzas, numbered «1» and «2» (no period; written «1.» … here as in the other deliveries of this book), lines 2 and 4 of each stanza indented; «Charles Wesley.» in italics after stanza 2, at the foot of the column. The first word «WHAT» is set in capitals and small capitals; written in ordinary type here. In stanza 2 «spotless» and «thou hast purified» are blotted (doubled impression) but legible. The print sets a thin space before «!», «?» and «;» («WHAT !», «unkind ?», «reveal ;»); it is closed up here. No meter is printed (the text is L. M., like the tunes referred to). Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's.

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
The Christian — Godly Life · No. 630 · printed page 206
Music
The hymnal prints no music for this hymn; its words are set here to the music of this tune.
Checked
lyrics verified · 2026-10-02
Download audio · 958 KB
Singing key · B♭ major
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Score of What! never speak one evil word,
Original: PDF · 49 KB · MusicXMLSinging key: PDF · 992 KB · MusicXML

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