Pray, without ceasing, pray (StF 528)
- Authors & translators:
- Wesley, Charles
- Theme:
- Intercession and Petition
- Metre:
- 66.86.D. Double Short Metre
- Composers & arrangers:
- Naylor, Edward Woodall
- Source:
- Singing the Faith: 528 (CD22 #3)
- Verses:
- 3
- STF Number:
- 528
Further information
The verses of this hymn are taken from a much longer hymn that begins with the words "Soldiers of Christ, arise" (listed as a separate hymn at StF 637). The three verses of "Pray without ceasing" are verses 12,13 and 15 of the original.
The complete text was originally published as an appendix to John Wesley's tract, "The Character of a Methodist" and had the heading: "The whole armour of God, Ephesians 6". Taken together, the verses of "Pray without ceasing, pray" and "Soldiers of Christ, arise" primarily draw on Ephesians 6:10-20. In addition, these three verses allude to 1 Thessalonions 5:17 and Psalm 18:3 (Verse 1); Psalms 43 and 100, and Joshua 24:15 (Verse 2); and Psalms 62, 95 and 122, and 2 Chronicles 6:13 (Verse 3).