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.

University of Virginia Library

CXCI. HYMNS FOR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS.

Hymn 1.