The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Friendly, faithful soul, adieu,
Join'd to those escaped before!
Thou hast gain'd the port in view,
Thou hast reach'd the happy shore:
Thee released we cannot mourn,
Lighten'd of thine earthly load,
Dead—or rather truly born,
Dead to man, thou liv'st to God.

Thou art gone to thy reward,
Follow'd by thy works of love,
By the servants of thy Lord,
All whose hearts are fix'd above;
Us, who saw thy walk below,
Us, who seek thy place on high,
Study in thy steps to go,
Long, like thee, to live and die.

Calmly didst thou run thy race,
Steadily thine end pursue:
All the fruits of righteousness
Proved thy faith divinely true:
Happy thou for Christ prepared,
Found, when all thy work was past,
Watching to receive thy Lord,
Blameless, and in peace at last.

Fruit of Jesus' lips and prayer,
Peace thy parting soul attends,
All thy dying words declare
Life begun that never ends,

233

“Bless'd be God, for ever bless'd,
God of my salvation still!
I am enter'd into rest,
Pardon on my heart I feel.

“What a gracious God is ours!
How almighty to redeem!
Blessings on His own He showers,
Grace alone proceeds from Him;
He can only good ordain:
This in life and death I prove,
Happy I, though full of pain,
Fuller still of joy and love.

“Him for everything I praise,
Every benefit Divine,
Chiefly for His pardoning grace;
Life, eternal life is mine!
Yes, I know, the heavenly Lamb,
Whom I gladly die to see,
He hath register'd my name,
Fitted up the house for me.

“Thither on that 'pointed morn,
By His Spirit signified,
I shall to my Lord return,
I His pure unspotted bride:
Lo! the Bridegroom from above
Comes my spirit to receive!
Lo! I die, to meet my Love,
Die, eternally to live.”

University of Virginia Library

HYMN IX. ON THE DEATH OF MRS. MARY STOTESBURY, MARCH 17, 1759.