O how restless is the foe

Verse 1
O how restless is the foe
Jesus’ kingdom to o’rethrow!
Fill’d with diabolic zeal,
All the messengers of hell
Labour on, and never cease
True religion to suppress.

Verse 2
Shall not we as zealous prove
Publishers of Jesus love,
Spread the savour of his grace
Scatter life in every place,
Dare the world and Satan’s frown,
Turn his kingdom upside down?

Hymnal/Album: Originally titled: “‘When the Jews had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.’—[Acts 17,] v. 13." This hymn appears in the 1764 manuscript “MS Acts.” This manuscript is part of the collection of the Methodist Archive and Research Centre in The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester (accession number MA 1977/555, Charles Wesley Notebooks Box 1). Accessed through the website of The Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition, Duke Divinity School. Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 12 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1871), page 334.
Publishing: Public Domain