The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Friendship Divine! Thy praise I sing,
Descendant of the heavenly King,
Thou fairest of the' angelic kind,
Thou copy of the Perfect Mind,
Indulged poor mortals from above,
To teach our hearts that God is love.

Thee, thine ally, the heaven-born muse
Throughout this lower world pursues,
Thy lovely lineaments to trace,
And point thee to the fallen race,
If haply some thy charms may see,
And paradise regain'd in thee.

404

But who on earth with thee is blest,
And where doth sacred friendship rest?
Shall we to palaces repair?
Alas! thy name alone is there,
Thou canst not dwell with polish'd art,
Or harbour in a selfish heart.

Thou never didst the wicked join,
Or cast thy pearls to worldly swine,
Howe'er they touch with lips profane,
And take thy hallow'd name in vain:
Who will not to their Maker bend,
“Who fear no God can love no friend.”

Seldom alas! thy silken cord
Hath bound a subject to his lord:
For how can contraries be join'd,
An humble with an haughty mind,
Or two so different in degree,
Descend, arise, and meet in thee?

Falsely to thee the great pretend,
Not all their gold can buy a friend,
Who fancy thee their easy spoil,
Attracted by an high-born smile:
Thou wilt not yield thy treasures up,
To crown their impudence of hope.

Thee to procure how fond their boast!
The beggars cannot bear the cost:
Nor will the flatter'd worms submit
To lay their honour at thy feet,
Give up their life, to friendship's claim,
Or sacrifice their dearer fame.

405

Strangers to truth, how can it be,
That such should bear it all from thee?
And therefore banish'd from their sight,
Thou tak'st thine everlasting flight,
Nor stoop'st again to souls so mean,
When pride has fix'd the gulf between.

Far from the world thy calm retreat,
The needy rich, and vulgar great,
Who mourn their impotence of power,
And want relief amidst their store,
For thy support the wretches sigh,
And pine undone for love's supply.

Poor is the man by slaves adored,
Of kneeling worlds the friendless lord:
A thousand barter'd worlds to' obtain
The blessing of a friend, were gain;
Yet none the blessing can bestow,
But He who died to save His foe.

That happy man whom Jesus loves,
And with peculiar smiles approves,
On him the angel shall descend,
And God shall bless him with a friend,
To none but chosen vessels given,
Those highest favourites of Heaven.

CXCII. THE SAME.

Hymn 2.

[Foolish world, who canst not find]

Foolish world, who canst not find
Friendship in a Christian mind!
“Where the heart so many share,
No peculiar love is there:”

406

Idly doth thy malice rage,
Baffled by the sacred page,
Vainly would thy maxims prove
God incapable of love.

God of all-redeeming grace,
Hath He not His chosen race?
Dare ye hence His love deny,
Feign He pass'd one sinner by?
Some if He hath doubly blest,
Hath He therefore cursed the rest?
No, like rain His blessings fall,
Loving is our God to all.

Taught of God, like Him we love
All to whom His bowels move;
Pity, and good-will we find
To the whole of human kind:
But the saints, who walk in white,
These are all our soul's delight,
These we seek, in these we rest,
Most desire, and love the best.

Yet of these if God's decree
Single out a soul for me,
Give me to his tenderest care,
Bid him all my burdens bear,
Each for each if Jesus use,
Shall we dare the grace refuse?
Shall we not the blessing own,
Glad that all His will is done?

Is it not His will to join
Spirits in a bond Divine,
Knit in friendship's closest tie,
Each with each to live and die?

407

Did He not inspire, approve
Jonathan and David's love?
Had not God His favourite one,
Jesus His beloved John?

Happy soul, above the rest!
Leaning on thy Saviour's breast,
Thou the dear disciple art,
Ever closest to His heart,
Thou dost all His secrets know,
Choicest of His friends below,
Call'd peculiarly to prove
Christ is God, and God is love!

Jesu, Lover of mankind,
Grant me Thy extensive mind,
Head of the believing race,
Give me Thy peculiar grace,
Give it to my dearest friend,
Make him faithful to the end,
Root and 'stablish him in Thee,
Save my other self, and me.

Let it in our souls be seen
Thy unbounded love to men,
Show in us how good Thou art,
Stamp Thy image on our heart,
Call us out Thy witnesses,
Bid us all Thy life express,
All the happiness above,
All the height of Christian love.

408

CXCIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 3.

[Father, at Thy footstool see]

Father, at Thy footstool see
Two who now are one in Thee,
Draw us by Thy grace alone,
Give, O give us to Thy Son.

Jesus, Friend of human kind,
Let us in Thy name be join'd,
Each to each unite and bless,
Keep us still in perfect peace.

Heavenly all-alluring Dove,
Shed Thine overshadowing love,
Love, the sealing grace impart,
Dwell within our single heart.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Be to us what Adam lost,
Let us in Thy image rise,
Give us back our paradise.

Made like the first happy pair,
Let us here Thy nature share,
Holy, pure, and perfect be,
Transcripts of the Trinity.

Foremost of created things,
Nearest the great King of kings,
Standing as the first we stood,
Made a little less than God!

CXCIV. THE SAME.

Hymn 4.

[Author of friendship's sacred tie]

Author of friendship's sacred tie,
Regard us with a gracious eye,
Two souls whom Thou hast join'd in one,

409

Join'd by the unction from above
In bonds of pure seraphic love,
United in Thy love alone.
Searcher of hearts unsearchable,
To Thee, great God, we dare appeal,
To Thee we dare our cause commend;
Thou know'st our simpleness of heart,
And as Thou didst the grace impart,
O keep us, keep us to the end.

Our friendship sanctify, and guide,
Unmix'd with selfishness, and pride,
Thy glory be our single aim:
In all our intercourse below
Still let us in Thy footsteps go,
And never meet but in Thy name.
Fix on Thyself our single eye;
Oh! may we on Thyself rely
For all the help which each conveys,
The help as from Thy hands receive,
And still to Thee all glory give,
All thanks, all might, all love, all praise.

Whate'er Thou dost on one bestow,
Let each the doubled blessing know,
Let each the common burden bear,
In comforts, and in griefs agree,
And wrestle for his friend with Thee
In all the' omnipotence of prayer.
Our mutual prayer accept, and seal,
In both Thy glorious self reveal,
Both with the fire of love baptize

410

Thy kingdom in our souls restore,
And keep, till we can sin no more,
Till both in all Thy image rise.

Witnesses of the' all-cleansing blood,
Long may we work the works of God,
And do Thy will like those above;
Together spread the gospel sound,
And scatter peace on all around,
And joy, and happiness, and love.
True yoke-fellows, by love compell'd
To labour in the gospel field,
Our all let us delight to spend
In gathering in Thy lambs and sheep;
Assured that Thou our souls wilt keep,
Wilt keep us faithful to the end.

And if it be Thy sovereign will,
Jesus, our hearts' desire fulfil,
Thou know'st, dear Lord, what we would say:
To Thee the matter we submit,
But if Thy wisdom deems it fit,
Oh! call us both at once away.
Let both at once the summons hear,
And bless the welcome messenger,
The angel of Thy latest grace:
Let both at once our souls resign
Into those gracious hands of Thine,
And see at once Thy glorious face.

In Thee together let us die,
Together mount above the sky,
Smooth wafted on the angel's wings,

411

Together take the starry crown,
And sit with Thee triumphant down,
Assessors of the King of kings;
Together on Thy fulness feast,
In Thee, and in each other blest,
The social joys of heaven improve,
Sing the new song which ne'er shall end,
And jointly in Thy praises spend
An everlasting age of love.

CXCV. THE SAME.

Hymn 5.

[Father of lights, to Thee I lift]

Father of lights, to Thee I lift
My humbly thankful heart and eyes,
Giver of every perfect gift,
Accept my grateful sacrifice;
I own Thy mercies never end:
O God, I bless Thee for my friend.

Thou only didst the gift bestow,
Thou know'st it came unsought from Thee:
Thy will appointed him to go,
And comfort one in misery,
In all my griefs to claim his part,
And bear me on his faithful heart.

Thou only didst our spirits join
In bonds of everlasting love:
I own, and bless the work Divine,
The work of Thy descending Dove;
From heaven He suddenly came down,
And made our souls for ever one.

412

Hovering o'er both His wings He spread,
And breathed His love into our breast,
The ground of heavenly friendship laid,
And each to each He sweetly blest,
He knit the' indissoluble tie,
And with that soul I live, and die.

My first of comforts here below,
My chief of all created good,
Through him the grace I surely know
On me, for Jesu's sake, bestow'd,
Receive the blessing from above,
And see my Lord's reflected love.

The God of love hath touch'd his breast,
And fill'd with softest sympathy,
With pity not to be express'd,
Pity for such a worm as me:
He loves me by myself abhorr'd,
Loves in the bowels of my Lord.

Present in spirit, howe'er disjoin'd
In flesh, he carries me to God,
Supports my feebleness of mind,
And more than shares my nature's load;
He mentions me in all his prayers,
In faith's almighty arms he bears.

When weary oft I faint, and droop,
And Amalek prevails in fight,
My hands he, under God, lifts up,
And prays me strong in Jesu's might;
His prayer my sinking spirit stays,
And arms the minister of grace.

413

Snatch'd from ten thousand snares I prove
The power Divine that sets me free:
The channel of Thy grace I love,
But give the glory all to Thee;
Thou, Father, Thou the work hast done;
Ador'd be Thy great name alone.

I dare not, Lord, the gift refuse,
The gift, howe'er transferr'd, is Thine:
If Thou vouchsafe a worm to use,
I bless the ordinance Divine,
And at Thy hand the grace receive,
Which God, and only God, can give.

CXCVI. THE SAME.

Hymn 6.

[Fountain of good, from Thee alone]

Fountain of good, from Thee alone
Our every gift and comfort flows,
Whate'er we fondly call our own
Thy freely streaming grace bestows,
Thy blessings all through Christ descend,
Our heavenly and eternal Friend.

Meanest of all Thy sons, on me,
On me Thou hast a gift bestow'd,
Dearer than life, or liberty,
And only less beloved than God,
I take the friend Thy grace has given,
And bless him, till we meet in heaven.

Thither he still points out my way,
And arms my soul with mighty prayers,
Stands by me in the evil day,
And all my griefs and burdens bears,
Blest minister of grace Divine;
But all the glory, Lord, is Thine.

414

Thou only dost the power transfer,
Through which a worm supports the weak,
Thou only dost my spirit cheer
By words which he receives to speak;
Thy secret hand in all I see,
And render all the praise to Thee.

What though my every lucid hour,
My every comfort here below,
My all of hope, or peace, or power,
Through this, this only, channel flow,
The help which on our earth is done
Thou dost it, Lord, and Thou alone.

Thou didst at first the grace impart,
The tender charity Divine,
Will'd him to bear me on his heart,
And love me with a love like Thine,
Pure heavenly love, on earth unknown,
A stream that issues from Thy throne.

And can I, dearest Lord, not love
A soul Thyself endear'st to me?
So like the blessed spirits above,
So restless to be all like Thee,
So long desired, so late bestow'd,
So honour'd, and beloved of God!

But (for I know my wretched heart
Would still Thy noblest gifts abuse)
A second benefit impart,
And grant me grace Thy grace to use,
From all the dross of nature free,
Give me to love that soul for Thee.

415

O may I never, never seek
My own delight, my own applause,
Ready Thy gifts to render back,
To nail my Isaac to the cross,
My all of comfort to resign,
And say, “Thy will be done, not mine.”

Refrain my soul, and keep it low,
Wean'd as a child from creature-good,
Thee, only Thee, resolved to know,
My Jesus, and Thy sprinkled blood:
All other comforts I disdain,
And more than all in Thee I gain.

What are Thy gifts, compared to Thee!
A beam from that bright shining Sun,
A drop from that unfathom'd Sea!
Fountain of life, and love unknown,
Into Thy depths, O God, I fall:
O God, Thou art mine all in all.

CXCVII. THE SAME.

Hymn 7.

[See, Jesu, see that much loved soul]

See, Jesu, see that much loved soul,
For whom Thy precious life was given,
Haste to renew, and make him whole,
And fill him now with all Thy heaven.

Now, Saviour, now (if after God
I ask) the second gift impart,
And shed Thy glorious love abroad,
And give him the pure spotless heart.

Remove the stumbling-block within,
The possible offence remove,
Say to his soul, “Thou canst not sin,
For ever saved by perfect love.”

416

Answer on him Thine own request,
Answer in us Thy Spirit's groan,
Speak him into Thy people's rest,
And tell his inmost soul 'tis done!

When inbred sin is all destroy'd,
Long let him here Thy witness live,
In love's angelic task employ'd,
And free what he receives to give.

Greatest of all O let him be,
And ever in Thy footsteps go,
And gladly minister to Thee,
A servant of Thy church below.

Let him through Thine almighty name
A father in our Israel rise,
Cherish the followers of the Lamb,
And nurse them till they reach the skies.

Thus may he still his faith approve,
And make the lambs his tenderest care,
The little ones that lisp Thy love
Delighted in his arms to bear.

Jesus, fulfil his heart's desire,
And gather in Thy lambs and sheep,
Bid them into Thy fold retire,
And far from sin and danger keep.

Far from the world a place provide,
Even in this howling wilderness,
And in Thy sanctuary hide
The vessels of Thy perfect grace.

Who the good fight of faith have fought,
And found the love that casts out fear,
Within the sacred verge be brought,
And rest from all their labours here.

417

In answer to Thy Spirit's prayer
Now let the polish'd pillars rise,
Firm as the throne of God, and bear
Thy glorious temple to the skies.

CXCVIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 8.

[O Thou whose special grace]

O Thou whose special grace
Did kindly condescend
Of all the chosen race
To single out a friend,
To shower on him, above the rest,
Thy richest favours down,
And press him closest to Thy breast,
Thy best-beloved John!

I lift my heart to Thee,
To Thee, who know'st the whole,
Its dearest amity
For one distinguish'd soul:
The soft unutterable love
Wherewith I one embrace,
With gracious smiles behold, approve,
And turn it to Thy praise.

To Thee, and Thy great name
My whole affection turn,
And let the hallow'd flame
For Thy pure glory burn;
From all idolatrous excess,
From earthly dross refine,
And on my simple heart impress
The character Divine.

418

No more may I provoke
My God to jealousy,
Or to Thy creature look
For what proceeds from Thee:
Fountain of life, and joy, and peace,
Thee may I always own,
And find my total happiness,
Laid up in God alone.

My all of comfort here,
Whoe'er the grace transmit,
To Thee may I refer,
And worship at Thy feet:
From Thee may I my partner take,
(That precious loan of Thine,)
And wait Thy call to give him back,
And bless the name Divine.

On Thee, my God, on Thee
Alone would I depend,
And taste Thy love, and see
Thy image, in my friend.
My bosom-friend at Thy demand
I promise to restore;
But let us meet at Thy right-hand,
And praise Thee evermore!

CXCIX. THE SAME.

Hymn 9.

[Jesus, with kindest pity see]

Jesus, with kindest pity see
Two souls that would be one in Thee
If now accepted in Thy sight,
Thou dost our upright hearts unite,
Allow us, while on earth to prove
The noblest joys of heavenly love.

419

Before Thy glorious eyes we spread
The wish which doth from Thee proceed,
Our love from earthly dross refine,
Holy, angelical, Divine
Thee let it its great Author show,
And back to the pure Fountain flow.

A drop of that unbounded sea
O God, resorb it into Thee,
While both our souls with restless strife
Spring up into eternal life,
And lost in endless raptures prove
Thy whole immensity of love.

A spark of that ethereal fire,
Still let it to its Source aspire,
To Thee in every wish return,
Intensely for Thy glory burn,
With both our souls fly up to Thee,
And blaze through all eternity!

CC. THE SAME.

Hymn 10.

[My Jesus, my All, Thy name I confess]

My Jesus, my All, Thy name I confess,
My freedom in thrall, My help in distress,
Thy boundless compassion The cordial did send,
The strong consolation Convey'd in a friend.

The hallow'd delight With thanks I receive,
And give Thee Thy right, In praises I give:
The bliss-giving power And glory be Thine,
The plentiful shower Of blessings is mine.

I now on the scale Of friendship arise,
The kingdom assail, And press to the skies,
To joys never ending My comforts improve,
From earthly ascending To heavenly love.

420

Thy goodness I taste, Thy goodness proclaim,
And joyfully haste To sup with the Lamb;
Together invited Our Lord we pursue,
With vigour united We fight our way through.

Caught up in the air I soon shall ascend,
The kingdom to share With Thee and my friend,
(On earth, to each other, In heaven, well known,)
And I with my brother Shall sit on Thy throne.

CCI. THE SAME.

Hymn 11.

[What shall I do my God to love]

What shall I do my God to love,
Who pours His blessings from above,
And comforts without end!
Let all my grateful soul embrace
His rich inestimable grace
Vouchsafed me in a friend.

My former friend (for ever dear,
For ever mention'd with a tear)
Did long ago depart:
On honour's fatal Gilboa
He vilely cast his shield away,
And broke my faithful heart.

But lo! when Jonathan was dead,
I found an Hushai in his stead,
Restorer of my peace,
A friend in all my conflicts tried,
Who never parted from my side,
Or left me in distress.

A minister of heavenly love,
In paths that tend to joys above
My shining pattern treads:

421

He meets me still in Jesu's name,
And back to Him from whom he came,
My thankful spirit leads.

Friend of my soul, its griefs he shares,
Confirms my hands by mighty prayers,
And props my feeble knees;
On earth he helps me to look down,
And bids me seize with him the crown
Of life, and righteousness.

Oh! might I rise by love restored,
And following him, as he his Lord,
These storms of care outfly,
This cloudy atmosphere transcend,
And claim, and grasp my happy friend
In purer worlds on high!

CCII. THE SAME.

Hymn 12.

[See, O my Lord, Thy servant see]

See, O my Lord, Thy servant see,
And graciously approve
My other self, and next to Thee
The object of my love:
The love, wherewith my heart runs o'er,
I dare to Thee present,
Thine all-indulging grace adore,
And bless Thine instrument.

My gifts and comforts all, I know,
From Thee alone descend;
Thou only couldst on me bestow
So true, and kind a friend.

422

Cast in one mould by art Divine
Our blended souls agree,
And pair'd above our spirits join
In sacred harmony.

As sent, to bless me, from above
Thy creature I receive,
To turn my utmost strength of love
On Him for whom I live;
To raise, and help my weakness on,
The' angelic power is given,
He comes in human form sent down,
And guards my soul to heaven.

Thankful from Thy bless'd hands I take
The' inestimable loan,
And stand prepared to give him back,
To render Thee Thine own:
I dare not to Thy creature cleave,
Thy creature, Lord, recall,
Thy glory still to Thee I give,
That Thou art all in all.

CCIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 13.

[Thou God of truth and love]

Thou God of truth and love,
We seek Thy perfect way,
Ready Thy choice to' approve,
Thy providence to' obey,
Enter into Thy wise design,
And sweetly lose our will in Thine.

Why hast Thou cast our lot
In the same age and place,
Or why together brought
To see each other's face,

423

To join with softest sympathy,
And mix our friendly souls in Thee?

Didst Thou not make us one,
That both might one remain,
Together travel on,
And bear each other's pain,
Till both Thine utmost goodness prove,
And rise renew'd in perfect love?

Surely Thou didst unite
Our kindred spirits here,
That both hereafter might
Before Thy throne appear,
Meet at the marriage of the Lamb,
And all Thy glorious love proclaim.

Then let us ever bear
The blessed end in view,
And join with mutual care
To fight our passage through,
And kindly help each other on,
Till both receive the starry crown.

O might Thy Spirit seal
Our souls unto that day,
With all Thy fulness fill,
And then transport away,
Away to our eternal rest,
Away to our Redeemer's breast.

There, only there, we shall
Fulfil Thy great design,
And in Thy praise with all
Our elder brethren join,
And hymn in songs which never end
Our heavenly everlasting Friend.

424

CCIV. THE SAME.

Hymn 14.

[Come, let us arise]

Come, let us arise,
And press to the skies,
The summons obey,
My friend, my beloved, and hasten away!
The Master of all
For our service doth call,
And deigns to approve
With smiles of acceptance our labour of love.

His burden who bear,
We alone can declare
How easy His yoke,
While to love, and good works we each other provoke:
By word and by deed,
The bodies in need,
The souls to relieve,
And freely as Jesus hath given to give.

Then let us attend
Our heavenly Friend,
In His members distress'd
With want, or affliction, or sickness oppress'd!
The prisoner relieve,
The stranger receive,
Supply all their wants,
And spend, and be spent in assisting His saints:

Thus while we bestow
Our moments below,
Ourselves we forsake,
And refuge in Jesus's righteousness take:
His passion alone
The foundation we own,
And pardon we claim,
And eternal redemption in Jesus's name.

425

CCV. THE SAME.

Hymn 15.

[God of all good gifts the Donor]

God of all good gifts the Donor,
God, whose mercies never end,
Thee with lips and heart I honour,
Bless Thee for my darling friend,
Thankful at Thy hands receiving,
Ever longing to fulfil
All Thy wise design in giving,
All my Father's welcome will.

If for this the' uniting Spirit
Hath on me his burden laid,
Give me joyfully to bear it,
Him with all my prayers to aid:
Fill my heart with supplication,
Let in me Thy bowels move,
Softness of Divine compassion,
Tenderness of heavenly love.

Sanctify our mutual care,
More and more let it increase,
Strengthen us hereby to share
Every tempted soul's distress:
Stir us up to toil unceasing,
Lay on both the common load,
Make our love a general blessing,
Turn it all to Sion's good.

While with just peculiar kindness
We each other's souls embrace,
Save us from that doting blindness,
Fatal to our fallen race;
From the mean contracting passion
Keep us free, and unconfined,
Raise our generous inclination,
Fix our love on all mankind.

426

As a wide extended river,
Let thy love our hearts o'erflow,
Purest love that lasts for ever,
Reaching every soul below:
Love that doth with free election
Some beyond the rest approve,
Bless us with Thy whole affection,
Special, universal love.

CCVI. THE SAME.

Hymn 16.

[Author of the peace unknown]

Author of the peace unknown,
Lover of my friend and me,
Who of twain hast made us one,
One preserve us still in Thee,
All our heighten'd blessings bless,
Crown our hopes with full success.

Centre of our hopes Thou art,
End of our enlarged desires:
Stamp Thine image on our heart,
Fill us now with holy fires,
Cemented by love Divine,
Seal our souls for ever Thine.

All our works in Thee be wrought,
Levell'd at one common aim,
Every word, and every thought
Purge in the refining flame,
Lead us through the paths of peace
On to perfect holiness.

Let us both together rise,
To Thy glorious life restored,
Here regain our paradise,
Here prepare to meet our Lord.

427

Here enjoy the earnest given,
Travel hand in hand to heaven.

CCVII. THE SAME.

Hymn 17.

[How happy the pair, Whom Jesus unites]

How happy the pair, Whom Jesus unites
In friendship to share Angelic delights,
Whose chaste conversation Is coupled with fear,
Whose sure expectation Is holiness here!

My Jesus, my Lord, Thy grace I commend,
So kind to afford My weakness a friend!
Thy only good pleasure On me hath bestow'd
An heavenly treasure, A servant of God.

Appointed by Thee, We meet in Thy name,
And meekly agree To follow the Lamb,
To track Thy example, The world to disdain,
And constantly trample On pleasure and pain.

Rejoicing in hope We humbly go on,
And daily take up The pledge of our crown,
In doing and bearing The will of our Lord
We still are preparing To meet our reward.

The heavenly prize Is ever in view,
Till both shall arise, Created anew;
That first resurrection We pant to attain,
Go on to perfection, And suffer to reign.

O Jesus, appear, No longer delay
To sanctify here, And bear us away:
The end of our meeting On earth let us see,
Triumphantly sitting In glory with Thee.

428

CCVIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 18.

[Holy sanctifying Dove]

Holy sanctifying Dove,
God of truth, and God of love,
On my feeble soul descend,
On my dearest earthly friend.
Come, and all our wants supply,
Now the pardon'd sanctify,
Now our little faith increase,
Fill us now with perfect peace.

Lead us, Thou, our constant Guide,
Witness in our hearts abide,
Earnest of the joys to come,
Make our souls Thy glorious home:
Every precious promise seal,
All the depths of God reveal,
Keep us to that happy day,
Bear us on Thy wings away.

If Thou didst the grace impart,
Mad'st us of one mind and heart,
Still our friendly souls unite
Partners in the realms of light;
Let us there together soar,
Quickly meet to part no more,
There our ravish'd spirits join,
Mingled, lost in love Divine.

CCIX. THE SAME. AT PARTING.

Hymn 19.

Lord, we Thy will obey,
And in Thy pleasure rest,
We, only we, can say
Whatever is, is best,

429

Joyful to meet, and glad to part,
Assured we still are one in heart.

Hereby we sweetly know
Our love proceeds from Thee,
We let each other go,
From every creature free,
And cry, in answer to Thy call,
Thou art, O Christ, our all in all!

Our Husband, Brother, Friend,
Our Counsellor Divine,
Thy chosen ones depend
On no support but Thine;
Our everlasting Comforter,
We cannot want, if Thou art here.

Still let us, gracious Lord,
Sit loose to all below,
And to Thy love restored
No other comfort know,
Stand fast in glorious liberty,
And live and die wrapp'd up in Thee.

CCX. THE SAME.

Hymn 20.

[Thou heavenly Love, from whom]

Thou heavenly Love, from whom
All holy passions come,
Hear my faith's availing cry,
Now the peaceful answer send,
Author of the social tie,
Giver of my bosom friend.

My bosom-friend receive,
Whom back to Thee I give:

430

Strengthen'd by Thy Spirit's power,
Him I cheerfully resign,
Him I thankfully restore,
Leave him in the arms Divine.

Far from the soul removed,
Whom next to Thee I loved,
Still I bear him on my heart,
To Thy tenderest care commend:
With us both if now Thou art,
Be our everlasting Friend.

With us through life abide,
And to Thy glory guide,
Give us, Lord, if not below,
Give us soon to meet above,
All the dignity to know,
All the height of heavenly love.

My longing soul prepare
To meet my brother there;
Him to see at Thy right hand,
Fair in loveliness Divine,
With him in Thy sight to stand,
With him in Thy praise to join.

For this immortal hope
I freely give him up:
Only keep us to that day—
Or if more I may request,
Let me first escape away,
Let me find an earlier rest.

My residue of days
Add to his lengthen'd race:

431

Or if mercy hath ordain'd
Both at once should take our flight,
Let us suddenly ascend,
Now obtain the blissful sight.

Now; or whene'er Thy will
Shall call us to the hill:
Only give us hearts to pray
Till Thine arms receive us home,
Come, Redeemer, come away,
King of saints triumphant, come.

CCXI. THE SAME.

Hymn 21.

[Thou Son of God, whose flaming eyes]

Thou Son of God, whose flaming eyes
Mark every wish and thought that rise
In this poor troubled heart,
Disclose, drag out to open light
All things displeasing in Thy sight,
And bid them all depart.

Wretched, and void of God, and blind,
Wouldst Thou that I should comfort find,
And ease in aught below?
Or rather bear my utmost load,
And shrink from every creature-good,
And only Jesus know?

Spite of myself resolved to' obey,
I tear the dear right eye away,
If it my Lord offend;
I bow me to the will Divine,
My life, and more than life resign,
I give Thee back my friend.

432

Thy will be done, whate'er it be,
Thy blessed will concerning me
I awfully adore:
If Thou demand my only prop,
I yield, I yield—to give him up,
And see his face no more.

No more; till that thrice welcome day,
When earth and heaven shall pass away
Before Thy glorious face:
We then shall both to Thee repair,
And catch each other in the air,
And fly to Thy embrace.

For this I part with Him below,
Let us but meet above, and know
Each other in the throng,
Partake the heavenly bridal feast,
And sing reclining on Thy breast
The Lamb's eternal song.

CCXII. THE SAME.

Hymn 22.

[Come the heavenly peace Divine]

Come the heavenly peace Divine,
Enter this sad heart of mine,
Come the everlasting rest,
Visit my companion's breast,
Dwell within my other soul,
Let our social joy be full.

Whom Thy grace to me hath lent,
Lord, I at Thy throne present,
Object of my tenderest care,
Mention him in every prayer,
Instant ask, that both may be
One, for ever one, in Thee.

433

What Thou dost on one confer
Let us both delight to share,
Both the heighten'd blessing taste,
Both to Thy embraces haste,
Sweetly on Thy bosom prove
All the pleasantness of love.

Let us thus with even pace
Measure out our quiet days,
Calmly through the valley glide,
Led by our celestial Guide,
Lovely in our lives beneath,
Not divided in our death.

CCXIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 23.

[Jesus, to Thy preserving care]

Jesus, to Thy preserving care
My choicest blessing I commend,
Receive, and in Thy bosom bear
The soul, whom Thou hast made my friend.

My friend! by pitying grace bestow'd
On me, a man of woe and strife,
To lighten my severest load,
And soothe the pain of irksome life.

My former desperate wound to heal,
To draw the dire envenom'd dart,
The sting of injured love expel,
And drive the vipers from my heart.

Thou, Lord, by him, and Thou alone
Hast forced me to let go my pain,
Hast cheer'd Thy long forgotten son,
And turn'd me to my rest again.

434

Through him Thou hast restored my hope,
(The hope my madness cast away,)
Strangely revived, and stirr'd me up,
And forced my heart again to pray.

And can I the dear soul forget
The choicest instrument Divine,
And not my instant suit repeat
That all his heart may still be Thine.

Must I from him so much receive,
(To Thee ascribing all the praise,)
Yet want the blessedness to give,
To minister Thy heavenly grace?

O that I might his burden bear,
Employ my all to do him good,
My utmost strength, my total care,
My life, my latest drop of blood!

If I may be so greatly bless'd,
Thy blessings to my friend to deal,
This moment breathe into his breast,
And fill him with celestial zeal.

Ten thousand blessings on his head!
Ten thousand goods in one impart,
Thy Spirit with Thy love be shed,
And dwell for ever in his heart.

CCXIV. THE SAME.

Hymn 24.

[Father of mercies hear]

Father of mercies hear,
And send the blessing down,
In answer to this faithful prayer
Presented through Thy Son:

435

The friend, whom for His sake
Thou hast on me bestow'd,
Into Thy arms, Thy bosom take,
And fill his soul with God.

Even now his heart inspire
With wisdom from above,
And pure delight, and chaste desire,
And everlasting love:
Him of Thy pardoning grace
This moment certify,
And make him meet to see Thy face,
And reign above the sky.

Do for him, dearest Lord,
Above what I can say,
And keep, to all Thy love restored,
His soul against that day!
To him with glory crown'd
The highest throne be given,
But let me too in heaven be found,
Found at his feet in heaven!

CCXV. THE SAME.

Hymn 25.

[O all-loving Lamb]

O all-loving Lamb,
I call on Thy name,
Thy grace for my drooping companion I claim:
Whose burden I bear,
And wrestle in prayer,
Till all Thy salvation to him Thou declare.

Thou know'st his distress
For the sense of Thy grace,
The permanent sight of Thy heavenly face:

436

His sorrow control,
Speak peace to his soul,
And pronounce him accepted, and perfectly whole.

If sometimes he believes,
And his Saviour receives,
Yet again overwhelm'd at Thy absence he grieves:
Allow his request,
For ever to rest,
For ever to lean on his Jesus's breast.

His suit is my own:
Myself I bemoan,
And doubly distress'd for the Comforter groan,
Till in us He reside,
And we fully confide
In the blood which we feel every moment applied.

O wouldst Thou appear
This moment to cheer
Thy mourners, and banish our trouble and fear!
In us, and in all
For the blessing who call,
The Witness implant, and redeem from our fall.

Thy kingdom restore
In the spirit of power,
That prays, and exults, and gives thanks evermore:
Thy nature make known,
And perfect in one,
And receive us as gods to a share of Thy throne.

CCXVI. THE SAME.

Hymn 26.

[O Thou that on all]

O Thou that on all
The wretched dost call
To come, and be happy in Thee,

437

Thy promise make good,
And sprinkle with blood
The heart of my partner, and me.

The blessing we want
Thou art ready to grant,
More ready than we to request:
The guilty forgive,
The weary receive
In the arms of Thy mercy to rest.

That taste of Thy grace,
That glimpse of Thy face
To Thy sorrowing servants restore:
Now, Saviour, return,
And leave us to mourn,
And lament for Thy absence no more.

Our Jesus appear
To Thy followers here,
Who commune of Thee, and are sad;
Thy Spirit afford
To unfold the good word,
And our hearts they again shall be glad.

The promise apply,
And whisper “'Tis I,
Who your sins and your sorrows have borne:
I have pacified God,
I have bought you with blood,
To your merciful Owner return.”

We come at Thy call,
Thou Redeemer of all,
By the power of Thy rising we rise,
Through a paradise led,
With joy on our head,
We return to our place in the skies.

438

CCXVII. THE SAME.

Hymn 27.

[Jesus, if from Thee I find]

Jesus, if from Thee I find
This sudden call to pray,
Suffer not my feeble mind
To cast the grace away:
Lest I quickly faint, and droop
Heartless, helpless, and alone,
Stir my absent partner up,
And bring him to the throne.

Wake in him the strong desire
Which now for Thee I feel,
Touch our lips with hallow'd fire,
Our breasts with heavenly zeal;
Let us for Thy glory pant,
And follow on Thy face to see,
Always pray, and never faint,
Till both are lost in Thee.

See us now, as side by side,
Before Thy mercy-seat:
Let us feel Thy blood applied,
And kiss Thy wounded feet,
Let our tears incessant flow,
Till both the height of mercy prove,
Till the length and breadth we know,
And depth of perfect love.

O that both might soon arise
By perfect love prepared,
Meet the Bridegroom in the skies,
And find our full reward!

439

Touching this we both agree
To ask the Father in Thy name,
Father, make us meet to see
The marriage of the Lamb.

Send the Witness from above,
The Spirit of Thy Son,
Seal of Thy eternal love,
And pledge of joys unknown,
Let Him in our hearts reside,
Till Jesus comes in person down:
Jesus comes—to fetch His bride,
And crown us with His crown.

CCXVIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 28.

[Great Searcher of hearts]

Great Searcher of hearts,
In our innermost parts
Declare the whole counsel Divine,
Our evils remove,
Our graces improve,
And secure us eternally Thine.

On me and my friend
The Comforter send,
The Fountain of blessings unknown;
On both let Him flow,
For we neither can know,
Or inherit a blessing alone.

Yet, Lord, if it be
Unpleasing to Thee
Our oneness of mind and of heart,
We call for the sword,
We acknowledge our Lord,
And agree at Thy bidding to part.

440

Thy favour to know,
We each other forego,
If our love be an hindrance to Thine;
Thy counsel we take,
And each other forsake,
To recover the friendship Divine.

At Jesus's call
We freely sell all
The delights of reciprocal love;
For that better hope
We calmly give up,
And reposit our treasure above.

Made perfect through woe,
From our parting below
To our last happy meeting we rise,
Our friendship renew,
(For Who promised is true,)
And embrace evermore in the skies.

CCXIX. THE SAME.

Hymn 29.

[Jesus, Lord, whose only merit]

Jesus, Lord, whose only merit
Can the dying sinner save,
Let me render up my spirit,
Quickly find my long sought grave:
Come in this thrice welcome hour,
Thy sad captive to release,
Snatch me from the adverse power,
Change, and bid me die in peace.

Is there in this low creation
That for which I wish to live?
All my bliss and consolation
Would I not from Thee receive?

441

Earthly joys I long to lose them,
Lest my Saviour I offend:
Let me sink into Thy bosom,
Let me leave to Thee my friend.

Him to the all-gracious Lender
Lo! I cheerfully restore;
Thou, my God, be his defender,
Till he follows me to shore:
Let him trust in Thy protection,
Live from sin and sorrow free,
Place on Thee his whole affection,
Rest his happy soul on Thee.

Jesus, crown Thine own desire,
Take the soul I Thee bequeath,
His accept, and mine require,
Open now the gate of death,
Draw me through the bloody fountain,
Closing now my willing eyes,
Now escaping to the mountain,
Let me wake in paradise.

CCXX. THE SAME.

Hymn 30.

[Thou God, that hear'st the prayer]

Thou God, that hear'st the prayer,
And dost in secret see,
I tell my softest care,
My closest grief to Thee,
To Thy Divine compassion
I earnestly commend
My friend in tribulation,
My poor afflicted friend.

442

Thou seest him sore tormented,
With fears and sorrows torn,
Afraid he ne'er repented,
And grieved for power to mourn;
Thou hear'st him deeply groaning
At Thy severe delay,
And still himself bemoaning,
He cannot, cannot pray.

In hellish toils o'ertaken,
As at the point to die,
He seems of God forsaken,
Nor knows that Thou art nigh;
Throughout the dreary hour
Thou dost Thy servant hide;
But let him feel Thy power,
And know Thee pacified.

Thou never wilt relinquish
Thine own in time of need,
The smoking flax extinguish,
Or break the bruised reed:
The bowels of my Saviour
Toward all the tempted move:
But manifest Thy favour,
But show his heart Thy love.

End, Lord, the fierce temptation,
And bring him through the fire;
With joy and consolation
His panting breast inspire,
Thy love's abiding Witness,
Thy precious self impart,
And let him taste the sweetness
Of Jesus in his heart.

443

By Jesu's dying merit,
Father, I Thee conjure
To help his fainting spirit,
And speak his pardon sure:
Or hear our Friend before Thee,
Thine interceding Son,
And show us both Thy glory,
And take us to Thy throne.

CCXXI. THE SAME. IN DANGER OF LOSING HIS FRIEND.

Hymn 31.

Gracious Lord, how long shall I
Tremble at Thy comforts nigh,
Taste with fear my pleasant food,
Start from every creature good?

Kept in awe by my own heart,
Lest Thy gifts I still pervert,
Still Thy holy things profane,
Turn Thy blessings into bane,

Never sure was heart like mine,
Heart so contrary to Thine,
None so wholly lost as me,
Lost in vile idolatry.

Thus I from my birth have been
Grace abusing into sin,
Poorer for the plenty given,
Wretched through the smiles of heaven.

444

But, my Lord, I cry to Thee,
Must it thus for ever be?
Must I still Thy gifts abuse,
Lose them all, and more than lose?

Shall I force Thee still to take
Thy perverted blessings back?
Blast with my infectious breath,
Doom my fondled joys to death?

Shall my most suspected love
Hurtful to its object prove,
Soon in double ruin end,
Fatal to my dearest friend?

Rather let my soul depart,
Stop the panting of my heart,
Speak again my sins forgiven,
Sweep me off—from earth to heaven!

CCXXII. THE SAME.

Hymn 32.

[Fluttering soul, what dost thou here]

Fluttering soul, what dost thou here,
Pinion'd with a load of clay?
Poor afflicted sojourner,
Shake thy wings, and fly away,
From the mournful valley fly,
Break the cage, and reach the sky.

What doth this low earth afford
Worthy an immortal mind?
Man, its miserable lord,
Can he here his equal find?
Fallen, yet in ruins great,
Sinks the world beneath his weight.

445

All on earth is vanity,
This I surely feel and know,
Good itself is ill to me,
Seeming joy but real woe,
Comforts double my distress,
Edge the pain they cannot ease.

Friendship's self, celestial guest,
Can she make me happy here?
Answer this distracted breast,
Answer this foreboding fear!
Fear to lose outweighs my gain,
Heighten'd bliss is heighten'd pain.

Oh! that all the pain were past,
Never, never to return!
Might I but escape at last,
Cease at once to live and mourn,
Grasp through death the' immortal prize,
Meet my friend in paradise.

CCXXIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 33.

[And must I give him up?]

And must I give him up?
And doth the Lord recall
My only joy, my latest prop,
My friend, my earthly all!
I must—I will—comply
With Jesus' just demand,
I do pluck out the dear right eye,
Cut off the dear right hand.

Wherefore should I complain
In pining discontent,
If God requires His own again,
Resumes the good He lent?

446

The potter, sure, has power
Over the passive clay,
And whom my God bestow'd this hour,
My God may take away.

'Twas on these terms alone
That first I call'd him mine,
And vow'd without a murmuring groan
The blessing to resign:
And if my friend He claim,
And hold me to my word,
I bless and magnify His name,
And own Him for my Lord.

The fatal blow I feel
Of His almighty hand,
My grief commanded to conceal,
I bow to His command.
But Thou hast not forbid
My secret tears to flow,
And all my griefs, from mortals hid,
Thou dost with pity know.

Of this assured I rest
Thou wouldst not put to pain
(For me if anguish were not best)
This helpless child of man;
The grieved Thou wouldst not grieve,
Increase the sufferer's load,
Me of so great a good bereave
But for my greater good.

Or if, my faith to prove,
Thou dost resume Thine own,
Thou shalt by a strange turn of love
Restore the render'd loan,

447

The offering father's hand
Shall drop the lifted knife,
And still Thy merciful command
Shall save my Isaac's life.

CCXXIV. THE SAME.

Hymn 34.

When our lovely Lord appears,
Folding us in His embrace,
He shall wipe away the tears,
Kiss the sorrow from our face:
Though we in continual mourning
The short night of life employ,
Joy shall come with Christ returning,
Heavenly everlasting joy.

O what cordial consolation
Doth this blessed hope afford!
We shall gain His full salvation,
We shall meet our smiling Lord:
We shall soon appear before Thee,
Shall the stars and sun outshine,
Shout among the sons of glory,
All immortal, all Divine.

448

Jesus, our exalted Jesus,
Clothed in light, shall bow the sky,
Shall from all our griefs release us,
All our wants at once supply:
Grief, and curse, and death are over,
Pain and sin no more molest,
When we once the port recover,
Land on our Redeemer's breast.

Shall we there in plaintive passion
Our disastrous lot bewail,
There regret our separation
For a moment in the vale?
Or in Christ again united,
Heart to heart, and soul to soul,
Triumph each in each delighted,
While eternal ages roll?

For this hope display'd before us
Bear we now the destined cross,
Waiting, till our Lord restore us,
Amply recompense our loss,
Crown our soul's supreme ambition,
Bid us hand in hand ascend,
Rapt into the blissful vision
Of our everlasting Friend.

CCXXV. THE SAME.

Hymn 35.

[Away my needless fears]

Away my needless fears,
And doubts no longer mine!
A ray of heavenly light appears,
A messenger Divine:

449

Thrice comfortable hope
That calms my stormy breast,
My Father's hand prepares the cup,
And what He wills is best.

He knows whate'er I want,
He sees my helplessness,
And always readier is to grant
Than I to ask His grace:
My fearful heart He reads,
Secures my soul from harms,
And underneath His mercy spreads
Its everlasting arms.

Here is firm footing, here,
My soul, is solid rock,
To break the waves of grief and fear,
And trouble's rudest shock:
This only can sustain
When earth and heaven remove:
O turn thee to thy rest again,
Thy God's eternal love.

To God again I turn,
And shelter in His breast,
His will (let me rejoice or mourn)
His will is surely best;
His skill infallible,
His providential grace,
His power, and truth, that never fail,
Shall order all my ways.

The random blows of chance,
The being I defy,
Whose life's minutest circumstance
Is subject to His eye:

450

He hears the ravens call;
Nor can His children grieve,
Nor can a worthless sparrow fall
Without my Father's leave.

Why then was I cast down,
And troubled without cause,
And trembled at the creature's frown,
And fear'd the threaten'd loss?
Shall I mistrust His care
My blessings to defend,
Or dread (who cannot lose an hair)
To lose a bosom-friend?

If what I wish is good,
And suits the will Divine,
By earth and hell in vain withstood,
I know it shall be mine:
Still let them counsel take
To frustrate His decree,
They cannot keep a blessing back
By heaven design'd for me.

If what my soul requires
Evil to me will prove,
His love shall cross my fond desires,
His kindly jealous love:
But would I for His sake
With every rival part,
My life, my all, my friend give back?
He knows, He knows my heart.

Here then I doubt no more,
But in His pleasure rest,
Whose wisdom, love, and truth, and power,
Engage to make me blest:

451

To' accomplish His design
The creatures all agree,
And all the attributes Divine
Are now at work for me.

To know my final state
I at His footstool bow,
Who tells my soul the Hand of Fate
Is on the Curtain now!
His will the veil withdraws,
And while I lift my eyes,
Discovers there a glorious cross,
And wraps me to the skies.

CCXXVI. THE SAME.

Hymn 36.

[Raised to-day above my sorrow]

Raised to-day above my sorrow,
Happy now
Shall I bow
Burden'd for to-morrow?
Shall I anxiously forecasting
Still destroy
My own joy,
Doubtful of its lasting?

Rather let me snatch the' occasion,
In the friend
God doth lend,
Taste His consolation;
(From His hands a glad receiver)
Taste in this
Heavenly bliss,
Bliss that lasts for ever.

452

In the stream I drink the Fountain,
Drink, and haste
To the feast
On that holy mountain.
With the wings of faith and prayer
Fly we on
To the throne,
To the Saviour there.

There we fix our place of meeting,
Gladly come
To our home,
Songs of praise repeating.
Careless which shall first pass over,
Since we know
Both shall go,
Both the port recover.

Both shall reach the happy shore,
Quickly meet
At Thy seat,
Meet, and part no more.
Who shall there our spirits sever?
Friends beneath,
Friends in death,
Friends we live for ever!

CCXXVII. THE SAME.

Hymn 37.

[Two are better far than one]

Two are better far than one
For counsel, and for fight:
How can one be warm alone,
Or serve his God aright?

453

Join we then our hearts and hands,
Each to love provoke his friend,
Run the way of His commands,
And keep them to the end.

Woe to him, whose spirits droop,
To him, who falls alone!
He has none to lift him up,
And help his weakness on:
Happier we each other keep,
We each other's burden bear;
Never need our footsteps slip,
Upheld by mutual prayer.

Who of twain hath made us one
Maintains our unity,
Jesus is the Corner Stone,
In whom we all agree;
Servants of our common Lord,
Sweetly of one heart and mind,
Who can break a threefold cord,
Or part whom God hath join'd?

Breathes as in us both one soul,
When most distinct in place,
Interposing oceans roll,
Nor hinder our embrace;
Each as on his mountain stands,
Reaching hearts across the flood,
Join our hearts, if not our hands,
And sing the pardoning God.

O that all with us might prove
The fellowship of saints!
Find supplied in Jesu's love
What every member wants!

454

Gain we our high calling's prize,
Feel our sins through Christ forgiven,
Rise, to all His image rise,
And meet our Head in heaven.

CCXXVIII. THE SAME. GLORIA PATRI.

Hymn 38.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Mysterious One and Three,
We with Thy celestial host
Presume to worship Thee;
Still ourselves to Thee we give,
Who Thyself to us hast given,
Praise, and power, and love receive
From all in earth and heaven.

CCXXIX. THE SAME.

Hymn 39.

[Oh! that the flaming chariot]

Oh! that the flaming chariot,
By grace peculiar given,
Might now descend,
And wrap my friend,
My friend, and me, to heaven!
Above this gloomy region,
This vale of sin and sadness,
We'd soar away
To endless day,
And everlasting gladness.

Head of Thy church triumphant,
We long to see Thy glory,
With joy to rise
Beyond the skies,
Where all Thy hosts adore Thee.

455

We look for Thy appearing
With vehement expectation,
And swell the groan
Which from Thine own
Runs through the whole creation.

O might we now behold Thee
In radiant clouds descending,
Sublime upon
The great white throne,
With all Thy hosts attending!
Come in Thy glorious kingdom,
Thou worthy Judge eternal,
And seat us by
Thy side, to try
And doom the powers infernal.

Oh! wouldst Thou now receive us,
The heirs of full salvation,
To our reward,
For us prepared,
Before the world's foundation.
Now, Lord, assign his mansion,
And crown to each believer,
And let us rest,
In Thee possess'd
Of joy that blooms for ever!

CCXXX. THE SAME.

Hymn 40.

[Friend of all who seek Thy favour]

Friend of all who seek Thy favour,
Us defend
To the end,
Be our utmost Saviour.

456

Us, who join on earth to' adore Thee,
Guard, and love,
Till above
Both appear before Thee.

Fix on Thee our whole affection,
Love Divine,
Keep us Thine,
Safe in Thy protection.

Christ, of all our conversation
Be the scope,
Lift us up
To Thy full salvation.

Bring us every moment nearer;
Fairer rise
In our eyes,
Dearer still, and dearer.

Infinitely dear and precious,
With Thy love
From above
Evermore refresh us.

Strengthen'd by the cordial blessing
Let us haste
To the feast,
Feast of joys unceasing.

Perfect let us walk before Thee,
Walk in white
To the sight
Of Thy heavenly glory.

Both with calm impatience press on
To the prize,
Scale the skies,
Take entire possession:

457

Drink of life's exhaustless river,
Take of Thee,
Life's fair Tree,
Eat, and live for ever!

CCXXXI. THE SAME.

Hymn 41.

[Come, let us ascend]

Come, let us ascend,
My companion, and friend,
To a taste of the banquet above:
If thy heart be as mine,
If for Jesus it pine,
Come up into the chariot of love.

Who in Jesus confide,
We are bold to outride
The storms of affliction beneath,
With the prophet we soar
To that heavenly shore,
And outfly all the arrows of death.

By faith we are come
To our permanent home,
By hope we the rapture improve,
By love we still rise,
And look down on the skies;
For the heaven of heavens is love.

Who on earth can conceive,
How happy we live
In the city of God the great King!
What a concert of praise
When our Jesus's grace
The whole heavenly company sing!

458

What a rapturous song,
When the glorified throng
In the spirit of harmony join!
Join all the glad choirs,
Hearts, voices, and lyres,
And the burden is mercy Divine!

Hallelujah they cry
To the King of the sky,
To the great everlasting I AM,
To the Lamb that was slain,
And liveth again,
Hallelujah to God, and the Lamb!

The Lamb on the throne
Lo! He dwells with His own,
And to rivers of pleasure He leads,
With His mercy's full blaze,
With the sight of His face,
Our beatified spirits He feeds.

Our foreheads proclaim
His ineffable name,
Our bodies His glory display,
A day without night
We feast in His sight,
And eternity seems as a day!

CCXXXII. THE SAME. AT THE MEETING OF FRIENDS.

Hymn 42.

Saviour of sinful men,
Thy goodness we proclaim,
Which brings us here to meet again,
And triumph in Thy name!

459

Thy mighty name hath been
Our refuge and our tower,
Hath saved us from the world, and sin,
And all the' accuser's power.

Jesu, take all the praise,
That still on earth we live,
Unspotted in so foul a place,
And innocently grieve;
Shut up in Sodom, we
No pride or anger find,
But still compassionately see
The baseness of mankind.

We mourn, till Thou appear,
Along the desert way:
Briers, and thorns are with us here,
And we with scorpions stay;
Constrain'd (alas! how long!)
With human fiends to dwell,
Sinners of lying lips, whose tongue
Is set on fire of hell.

Through calumny, and pain,
Through a long vale of woe,
Far from the poisonous sons of men,
To purer worlds we go:
We shall from Sodom flee,
When perfected in love,
And haste to better company,
Who wait for us above.

The saints of ancient days,
We shall with them sit down,
Who fought the fight, and run the race,
And then received the crown;

460

Who first severely tried,
And exercised beneath,
Broke through the world, with Christ their guide.
And more than conquer'd death.

The prophets of the Lord,
Who suffer'd for His name,
Who bore, by fiends and men abhorr'd,
The Galilean's shame;
They that endured His cross,
And did His cup receive,
Of whom the world unworthy was,
Were deem'd not fit to live.

Swept from the earth away,
They join'd the heavenly throng;
And now for us their brethren stay,
And ever cry, “How long!”
Jesus the cry doth hear,
And He shall soon return,
With endless joy our souls to cheer,
Who for His coming mourn.

Awhile in flesh disjoin'd,
Our friends that went before
We soon in paradise shall find,
And meet to part no more;
In yonder blissful seat,
Waiting for us they are—
And thou shalt there an husband meet,
And I a parent there!

Oh! what a mighty change
Shall Jesu's sufferers know,
While o'er the happy plains we range,
Incapable of woe!

461

No ill-requited love
Shall there our spirits wound,
No base ingratitude above,
No sin in heaven is found.

There all our griefs are spent,
There all our sufferings end,
We cannot there the fall lament
Of a departed friend,
A brother, dead to God,
By sin, alas! undone—
No father there, in passion loud,
Cries, Oh! my son, my son!

Nor slightest touch of pain,
Nor sorrow's least alloy
Can violate our rest, or stain
Our purity of joy:
In that eternal day
No clouds or tempests rise;
These gushing tears are wiped away
For ever from our eyes.

This languishing desire
Which now for heaven we feel
Shall there delightfully expire
In joy ineffable:
The weight of glorious bliss
That to our share shall fall
Not angel tongues can half express;
But we shall have it all.

462

CCXXXIII. THE SAME. AT PARTING.

Hymn 43.

PART I.

And let our bodies part,
To different climes repair,
Inseparably join'd in heart
The friends of Jesus are:
Jesus the Corner Stone,
Did first our souls unite;
And still He holds, and keeps us one,
Who walk with Him in white.

Then let us still proceed
In Jesu's work below,
And following our triumphant Head,
To farther conquests go;
The vineyard of the Lord
Before His labourers lies;
And lo! we see the vast reward
That waits us in the skies.

O let our heart and mind
Continually ascend,
That haven of repose to find,
Where all our labours end,
Where all our grief is o'er,
Our suffering, and our pain:
Who meet on that eternal shore
Shall never part again.

O happy, happy place,
Where saints and angels meet!
There we shall see each other's face,
And all our brethren greet.

463

The church of the first-born,
We shall with them be blest,
And crown'd with endless joy return
To our eternal rest.

With joy we shall behold
In yonder blest abode
The patriarchs and prophets old,
And all the saints of God;
Abraham and Isaac there,
And Jacob shall receive
The followers of their faith and prayer,
Who now in bodies live.

We shall our time beneath
Live out in cheerful hope,
And fearless pass the vale of death,
And gain the mountain-top:
To gather home His own
God shall His angels send,
And bid our bliss on earth begun
In endless triumphs end.

PART II.

O let us ever dwell
On the transporting thought!
We shall the joys of Jesus feel,
Up to His bosom caught;
We shall His glory see,
In silent raptures gaze,
The Man that hung upon the tree
We shall behold His face.

464

Shall soon behold our God,
But not as crucified;
The Lamb His vesture dipp'd in blood
At last hath laid aside:
As God's eternal Son
He now appears above,
And sits upon His dazzling throne
Of everlasting love.

Is this the Man of woe,
Whom glorious now we see!
The Man who suffer'd want below,
And shame, and agony!
Who here insulted was,
And scourged, and crucified,
Hung pierced, and naked on the cross,
And bled, and groan'd, and died!

'Tis He! the Prince of peace!
'Tis He! the Lord of power!
Whom all these shining hosts of His
Their Maker God adore:
He suffer'd in our stead,
That we with Him might reign;
But He shall never bow His head,
Shall never die again.

CCXXXIV. THE SAME. AT MEETING OF FRIENDS.

Hymn 44.

O Father receive Our heartiest praise,
For bidding us live To witness Thy grace,
For bringing us hither Thy goodness to prove,
And triumph together In Jesus's love.

465

Our confident trust In Him we declare,
Through Jesus the Just Accepted we are;
Redeem'd by His passion, We joyfully join
To' ascribe our salvation To mercy Divine.

Thee, Lord, we adore, And dwell on Thy praise,
Preserved by the power Of Jesus's grace;
Thee, Jesus, the Giver Of all we proclaim,
And publish for ever Thy wonderful name.

Thy name is release From sorrow, and sin,
'Tis pardon, and peace, And goodness brought in:
It speaks us forgiven, Sinks into the soul,
And spreads the pure leaven, And hallows the whole.

CCXXXV. THE SAME.

Hymn 45.

[Jesu, to Thee our hearts we lift]

Jesu, to Thee our hearts we lift,
Our hearts which now with love o'erflow,
With thanks for Thy continued gift,
That still Thy precious name we know,
Retain the sense of sin forgiven,
And wait for all our inward heaven.

What mighty troubles hast Thou shown
Thy feeble tempted followers here!
We have through fire and water gone,
But saw Thee on the floods appear,
But felt Thee present in the flame,
And shouted our Deliverer's name.

When stronger souls their faith forsook,
And lull'd in worldly hellish peace,
Leap'd desperate from their guardian Rock,
And headlong plunged in sin's abyss,
Thy power was in our weakness shown,
And still it keeps our souls Thine own.

466

All are not lost, or wander'd back,
All have not left Thy church, and Thee:
There are who suffer for Thy sake,
Enjoy Thy glorious infamy,
Esteem the scandal of Thy cross,
And only seek Divine applause.

We do not shamefully desert
Thy poor afflicted flock below,
Yield to the reverend tempter's art
Or sell our friend, to buy our foe,
To' increase the world's triumphant scorn,
And make our blushing brethren mourn.

The grace which kept us to this hour,
Shall keep us faithful to the end,
When clothed with majesty and power
Our Jesus shall from heaven descend,
His friends and confessors to own,
And seat us on His glorious throne.

CCXXXVI. THE SAME.

Hymn 46.

[And are we yet alive]

And are we yet alive,
And see each other's face?
Glory, and thanks to Jesus give
For His almighty grace:
Preserved by power Divine
To full salvation here,
Again in Jesu's praise we join,
And in His sight appear.

What troubles have we seen,
What mighty conflicts past,
Fightings without, and fears within,
Since we assembled last!

467

Yet out of all the Lord
Hath brought us by His love,
And still He doth His help afford,
And hide our life above.

Then let us make our boast
Of His redeeming power,
Which saves us to the uttermost,
Till we can sin no more:
Let us take up the cross,
Till we the crown obtain,
And gladly reckon all things loss,
So we may Jesus gain.

Jesus to Thee we bow
And for Thy coming wait:
Give us for good some token now
In our imperfect state;
Apply the hallowing word,
Tell each who looks for Thee,
Thou shalt be perfect as thy Lord,
Thou shalt be all like Me!

CCXXXVII. THE SAME.

Hymn 47.

[Jesu, we look to Thee]

Jesu, we look to Thee,
Thy promised presence claim!
Thou in the midst of us shalt be,
Assembled in Thy name:
Thy name salvation is,
Which here we come to prove;
Thy name is life, and joy, and peace,
And everlasting love.

468

Not in the name of pride
Or selfishness we meet;
From nature's paths we turn aside,
And worldly thoughts forget,
We meet, the grace to take
Which Thou hast freely given;
We meet on earth for Thy dear sake,
That we may meet in heaven.

Present we know Thou art;
But, O, Thyself reveal!
Now, Lord, let every bounding heart
The mighty comfort feel!
O might Thy quickening voice
The death of sin remove;
And bid our inmost souls rejoice
In hope of perfect love!

Thou wilt to us make known
Thy nature and Thy name,
Us who our utmost Saviour own,
From every touch of blame,
From every word and deed,
From every thought unclean,
Our Jesus till our souls are freed
From all remains of sin.

CCXXXVIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 48.

[All thanks to the Lamb, Who gives us to meet]

All thanks to the Lamb, Who gives us to meet;
His love we proclaim, His praises repeat:
We own Him our Jesus, Continually near
To pardon and bless us, And perfect us here.

469

In Him we have peace, In Him we have power,
Preserved by His grace Throughout the dark hour;
In all our temptation He keeps us, to prove
His utmost salvation, His fulness of love.

Through pride and desire Unhurt we have gone;
Through water and fire In Him we went on;
The world and the devil Through Him we o'ercame,
Our Jesus from evil, For ever the same.

When we would have spurn'd His mercy and grace,
To Egypt return'd, And fled from His face,
He hinder'd our flying, (His goodness to show,)
And stopp'd us by crying, “Will ye also go?”

O what shall we do Our Saviour to love?
To make us anew, Come, Lord, from above!
The fruit of Thy passion, Thy holiness, give!
Give us the salvation Of all that believe.

Come, Jesus, and loose The stammerer's tongue,
And teach even us The spiritual song:
Let us without ceasing Give thanks for Thy grace,
And glory, and blessing, And honour, and praise.

Pronounce the glad word, And bid us be free;
Ah! hast Thou not, Lord, A blessing for me?
The peace Thou hast given This moment impart,
And open Thy heaven, O Love, in my heart.

CCXXXIX. THE SAME.

Hymn 49.

[See, Jesus, Thy disciples see]

See, Jesus, Thy disciples see,
The promised blessing give!
Met in Thy name, we look to Thee,
Expecting to receive.

470

Thee we expect, our faithful Lord,
Who in Thy name are join'd;
We wait, according to Thy word,
Thee in the midst to find.

With us Thou art assembled here;
But, O, Thyself reveal!
Son of the living God, appear!
Let us Thy presence feel.

Breathe on us, Lord, in this our day,
And these dry bones shall live;
Speak peace into our hearts, and say,
“The Holy Ghost receive!”

Whom now we seek, O may we meet!
Jesus, the Crucified,
Show us Thy bleeding hands and feet,
Thou who for us hast died.

Cause us the record to receive:
Speak, and the tokens show:
“O be not faithless, but believe
In Me, who died for you!”

Lord, I believe for me, even me
Thy wounds were open'd wide;
I see the prints, I more than see
Thy feet, Thy hands, Thy side.

I cannot fear, I cannot doubt,
I feel the sprinkled blood:
Let every soul with me cry out,
Thou art my Lord, my God!

471

CCXL. THE SAME.

Hymn 50.

[Come, Lord, with Thy disciples sit]

Come, Lord, with Thy disciples sit,
Assembled in Thy name,
And let us kiss Thy bleeding feet,
And let us love the Lamb.

Is this the time, say, Jesu, say
Wilt Thou, O Lord, restore
The kingdom to our souls to-day,
And bid us sin no more?

Now wilt Thou make an end of sin,
The kingdom of Thy peace
The joy unspeakable bring in,
The' eternal righteousness?

We wait till Thou the gift impart,
The unction from above:
Come quickly, Lord, in every heart
Set up Thy throne of love.

Or, (for it is not ours to know
The times by God assign'd,)
Give us till Thou Thyself bestow,
An humble patient mind.

Thee let us praise with one accord,
And in Thy temple stay,
Wait for the coming of our Lord,
And without ceasing pray:

Still at Jerusalem abide
In prospect of Thy peace,
Till Thou shalt in our hearts reside
And sin for ever cease.

472

Give, when Thou wilt, the blessing give,
The kingdom from above,
But let us all at last receive
The power of perfect love.

CCXLI. THE SAME. INVITATION TO OUR ABSENT FRIENDS.

Hymn 51.

Ye followers of the bleeding Lamb,
Before your Lord appear,
On you we call in Jesus' name
Be all in spirit here.

Jesus with us assembled is,
Him in the midst we feel,
Come share with us the glorious bliss,
The joy unspeakable.

Come all the members far and near,
Whoe'er to Christ are join'd,
Jesus our common Head is here,
We cannot stay behind.

The body with the Head is nigh:
Let every faithful soul,
Let every joint its strength supply
To edify the whole.

'Tis done: through faith our hands we join,
In Jesu's love we meet,
And clothed with righteousness Divine
The body is complete.

Then let us all at once aspire,
Our common Saviour praise,
And higher raise our hearts, and higher,
In honour of His grace:

473

His grace which hath salvation brought,
And raised us from our fall,
His grace which came to us unsought,
And comes unsought to all.

God of all grace, Thy saving name
We thankfully confess;
Let all the world adore the Lamb,
The general Blessing bless.

Ye that in strength Divine excel,
Ye first-born church above,
Adore the depth unsearchable
Of all-redeeming love.

Till we like you behold His face,
Angels, on you we call,
For ever, and for ever praise,
The Lamb, that died for all.

CCXLII. THE SAME.

Hymn 52.

[Ye followers of the Lamb]

Ye followers of the Lamb,
Who own the common Lord,
And trust in Jesu's name,
And hang upon His word,
In Jesu's sight with us appear,
Be present all in spirit here.

Let us together wait
For the descending power,
Which to our first estate
Shall all our souls restore,
Nor ever from the promise move
Till all are perfected in love.

474

Let us the word hold fast
Which we of Him have heard;
We shall obtain at last
A full and great reward,
The Comforter shall surely come,
And make us His eternal home.

The Father of our Lord
Shall send the promised grace:
Let us with one accord
Continue in one place,
Nor from Jerusalem depart,
But keep the issues of our heart.

In sure and steadfast hope,
In view of perfect peace,
Let us to Christ look up,
Till all our troubles cease,
The Lord our hope shall soon return,
The Lord shall comfort all that mourn.

In Jesus we believe,
And wait the truth to prove,
We shall, we shall receive
The blessing from above,
Fulness of love, and peace, and power,
And live in Christ, and sin no more.

We all the truth shall know,
Who in His word abide,
Be freed from sin below,
And wholly sanctified;
We all His witnesses shall be,
The truth, the truth shall make us free:

475

Shall make us free indeed
From every spot of sin,
Our pure and sinless Head
Shall bring His nature in;
We all His witnesses shall be,
The truth, the truth shall make us free.

The things He hath prepared
For us, in sight of men,
Their ear hath never heard,
Their eye hath never seen,
Nor can their carnal heart conceive
How gloriously we soon shall live.

Poor abject slaves of sin,
They madly hug their chains,
They will not be made clean
From sin's beloved remains;
But we Thy saying, Lord, receive,
And trust a spotless life to live.

Who for Thy coming wait,
And hang upon Thy word,
To our unsinning state
We shall be here restored;
Thou shalt the second time appear,
And then we all are perfect here.

CCXLIII. THE SAME.

Hymn 53.

[Jesu, soft harmonious name]

Jesu, soft harmonious name,
Every faithful heart's desire;
See Thy followers, O Lamb!
All at once to Thee aspire:

476

Drawn by Thy uniting grace,
After Thee we swiftly run;
Hand in hand we seek Thy face:
Come, and perfect us in one.

Mollify our harsher will;
Each to each our tempers suit,
By Thy modulating skill,
Heart to heart, as lute to lute:
Sweetly on our spirits move;
Gently touch the trembling strings;
Make the harmony of love,
Music for the King of kings!

See the souls that hang on Thee!
Sever'd though in flesh we are,
Join'd in spirit all agree;
All Thy only love declare;
Spread Thy love to all around:
Hark! we now our voices raise!—
Joyful consentaneous sound,
Sweetest symphony of praise.

Jesu's praise be all our song;
While we Jesu's praise repeat,
Glide our happy hours along,
Glide with down upon their feet!
Far from sorrow, sin, and fear,
Till we take our seats above,
Live we all as angels here,
Only sing, and praise, and love.

477

CCXLIV. THE SAME.

Hymn 54.

[Ye souls that own the common Lord]

Ye souls that own the common Lord,
Who suffer'd once for all,
And wait with us the hallowing word,
Which saves us from our fall;

You, though in body distant far,
We now in spirit meet,
You (for our souls united are)
In Jesu's name we greet.

United in the closest bands,
Whom seas and mountains part;
The Spirit more than joins our hands
He makes us one in heart.

Fellowship to the world unknown,
In Jesu's name we prove,
Jesus is our chief Corner Stone,
And cements us by love.

From Him our mingled blessings flow,
We feel His blood applied,
And nothing seek, and nothing know,
But Jesus crucified.

The Man who hung upon the tree
In every sinner's stead,
Him to receive we all agree,
And Him we call our Head.

To Him let every member cleave,
And we shall never part,
We cannot each the other leave,
When God hath all our heart.

478

Then let us love our Lord alone,
Till all His grace we prove,
And put His glorious image on
Imparadised in love.

CCXLV. THE SAME.

Hymn 55.

[Lift up your hearts to things above]

Lift up your hearts to things above,
Ye followers of the Lamb,
And join with us to praise His love,
And glorify His name:

To Jesu's name give thanks and sing,
Whose mercies never end:
Rejoice! rejoice! the Lord is King;
The King is now our Friend!

Our bosom-Friend, and Brother too,
Our Husband, and our Head,
Who all He bids delight to do,
And in His footsteps tread.

Who, for His sake, count all things loss;
On earthly good look down;
And joyfully sustain the cross,
Till we receive the crown.

O let us stir each other up,
Our faith by works to' approve,
By holy, purifying hope,
And the sweet task of love!

Love us, though far in flesh disjoin'd,
Ye lovers of the Lamb;
And ever bear us on your mind,
Who think and speak the same:

479

You on our minds we ever bear,
Whoe'er to Jesus bow;
Stretch out the arms of faith and prayer,
And, lo! we reach you now.

Surely we now your souls embrace,
With you we now appear,
Present before the throne of grace,
And you, and Christ are here.

Mercy and peace your portion be,
To carnal minds unknown,
The hidden manna, and the tree
Of life, and the white stone.

The blessings all on you be shed,
Which God in Christ imparts;
We pray the Spirit of our Head
Into your faithful hearts.

Let all who for the promise wait,
The Holy Ghost receive;
And, raised to our unsinning state,
With God in Eden live!

Live till the Lord in glory come,
And wait His heaven to share:
He now is fitting up your home:
Go on;—we'll meet you there.

University of Virginia Library

[HYMNS FOR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS]

CXCI. HYMNS FOR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS.

Hymn 1.