The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Farewell, (since heaven ordains it so,)
Farewell, my yearning heart's desire!
Stunn'd with the providential blow,
And scarce beginning to respire,
I own, and bow me in the dust,
My God is good, and wise, and just.

He justly claims the first-born son,
Accepts my costly sacrifice,
Dearest of all His gifts but one,
At His command the victim dies!
He but resumes what He had given,
He takes my sacrifice to heaven.

His wisdom timed the lingering stroke,
The mother first resolved to save;
The mother left, the child He took,
Nor let them share a common grave;
And still my better half survives,—
Joseph is dead, but Rachel lives.

His goodness towards us all design'd
To save us from a world of care;
He knew His pleading Spirit's mind,
He heard in me His Spirit's prayer,
And kindly hasten'd to remove
The object of my fatal love.

The Searcher of my heart can tell
How oft its fondness I withstood,
When forced a father's joy to feel,
I shrunk from the suspected good,
Refused the perilous delight,
And hid me from the pleasing sight.

255

The labour of my aching breast,
The racking fears, to God are known;
I could not in his danger rest,
I trembled for my helpless son:
But all my fears for ever cease,
My son hath gain'd the port of peace.

The travail of my soul is past,
Severer than the mother's throes,
For lo! my child is born at last,
The glorious life of angels knows,
He bursts yon ambient azure shell,
He flies from us, with God to dwell.

Look down, thou happy spirit, look down,
An eye of pitying love let fall
On us, who long to share thy crown,
Who for that spotless mantle call,
In which thou shalt for ever shine,
That robe of righteousness Divine.

Great King of saints, to Thee alone
For mercy and for grace we pray:
Thy glorious grace hath saved the son;
The parents next to heaven convey,
Thy power and goodness to adore,
Where death and parting is no more.

University of Virginia Library

Hymn XXI.

PART II.

[Farewell, (since heaven ordains it so,)]