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 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
THE SIXTY-THIRD CHAPTER OF ISAIAH.
PART II.
I too will magnify the Lord,
And emulate the angels' lays,
His loving-kindnesses record,
In sounds of everlasting praise.
And emulate the angels' lays,
His loving-kindnesses record,
In sounds of everlasting praise.
For all He hath on us bestow'd
This only tribute can I bring,
Extol the mercies of my God,
His multitude of mercies sing.
This only tribute can I bring,
Extol the mercies of my God,
His multitude of mercies sing.
How good to Israel's chosen race!
Who, who can all His goodness tell?
So rich in unexhausted grace;
His riches are unsearchable.
Who, who can all His goodness tell?
So rich in unexhausted grace;
His riches are unsearchable.
Surely, He said, Mine own they are;
My people will not faithless prove;
My children will not slight My care,
Or disappoint a Father's love.
My people will not faithless prove;
My children will not slight My care,
Or disappoint a Father's love.
58
Sweetly He strove their hearts to gain,
He woo'd them to embrace His will.
They never ask'd His help in vain,
But found a present Saviour still.
He woo'd them to embrace His will.
They never ask'd His help in vain,
But found a present Saviour still.
Dear as the apple of His eye
In all their griefs He kindly grieved;
The angel of His presence nigh
From all the favourite nation saved.
In all their griefs He kindly grieved;
The angel of His presence nigh
From all the favourite nation saved.
He rescued when to evil sold,
He snatch'd them from impending harms,
Carried them all the days of old
Safe in His everlasting arms.
He snatch'd them from impending harms,
Carried them all the days of old
Safe in His everlasting arms.
He magnified His saving power,
Call'd them His utmost grace to prove;
With infinite compassion bore
The objects of His tenderest love.
Call'd them His utmost grace to prove;
With infinite compassion bore
The objects of His tenderest love.
But O! they soon forsook their God;
The faithless and rebellious race
In devious paths of evil trod,
And grieved the Spirit of His grace.
The faithless and rebellious race
In devious paths of evil trod,
And grieved the Spirit of His grace.
They vex'd; and forced His wrath to rise:
His vengeance fell, so long delay'd:
Constrain'd the rebels to chastise,
He pour'd His judgments on their head.
His vengeance fell, so long delay'd:
Constrain'd the rebels to chastise,
He pour'd His judgments on their head.
His mercy then He call'd to mind;
He call'd to mind the ancient days
When, only merciful and kind,
He smiled on the peculiar race.
He call'd to mind the ancient days
When, only merciful and kind,
He smiled on the peculiar race.
59
Where is He now—their God, their Guide!
(He taught their hearts the powerful plea;)
Where is He now, their hearts replied,
Who brought His people from the sea?
(He taught their hearts the powerful plea;)
Where is He now, their hearts replied,
Who brought His people from the sea?
Who placed a shepherd o'er the rest,
And gave him wisdom from above,
And breathed into his peaceful breast
The meek, mild spirit of His love.
And gave him wisdom from above,
And breathed into his peaceful breast
The meek, mild spirit of His love.
Them by the hand of Moses led,
His power and goodness to proclaim,
Beyond the bounds of time to spread
Jehovah's everlasting name.
His power and goodness to proclaim,
Beyond the bounds of time to spread
Jehovah's everlasting name.
The Lord of Hosts in all appear'd,
He smote the sea with Moses' rod,
His glorious arm aloft He rear'd:
The parting sea confess'd its God.
He smote the sea with Moses' rod,
His glorious arm aloft He rear'd:
The parting sea confess'd its God.
He brought them through the wondrous way;
The deep was dry at His command;
Secure they march'd in firm array,
Nor stumbled, till they reach'd the land.
The deep was dry at His command;
Secure they march'd in firm array,
Nor stumbled, till they reach'd the land.
Smooth as the generous-nurtured beast
Into the verdant vale goes down,
To bring them to that promised rest,
His Spirit gently led them on.
Into the verdant vale goes down,
To bring them to that promised rest,
His Spirit gently led them on.
Thus didst Thou guide Thy chosen race,
That every tongue might speak Thy fame,
And earth and heaven conspire to praise
The God of Israel's glorious Name.
That every tongue might speak Thy fame,
And earth and heaven conspire to praise
The God of Israel's glorious Name.
60
PART III.
God of eternal Majesty,
High as Thou art, from heaven look down;
Holy and Just, we cry to Thee;
Behold us from Thy glorious throne!
High as Thou art, from heaven look down;
Holy and Just, we cry to Thee;
Behold us from Thy glorious throne!
Where is Thy strength to conquer sin?
Thy zeal to save a fallen race?
Thy bowels sounding from within?
Thy mercies, and Thy pardoning grace?
Thy zeal to save a fallen race?
Thy bowels sounding from within?
Thy mercies, and Thy pardoning grace?
Thy pity, and paternal care,
The tender yearnings of Thy heart,
Are they restrain'd? Is fury there?
Ah, no! Thou still our Father art.
The tender yearnings of Thy heart,
Are they restrain'd? Is fury there?
Ah, no! Thou still our Father art.
Doubtless Thou art our Father still,
Though Abraham his seed disowns
Debased by sin, though Israel
Renounces his degenerate sons.
Though Abraham his seed disowns
Debased by sin, though Israel
Renounces his degenerate sons.
Our Lord, and our Redeemer now
Thou art, and wilt be still the same;
Our everlasting Father Thou;
Jehovah is Thy glorious name.
Thou art, and wilt be still the same;
Our everlasting Father Thou;
Jehovah is Thy glorious name.
Why, then, O Lord, if ours Thou art,
Why hast Thou suffer'd us to rove?
Withdrawn Thy Spirit from our heart,
And left us to our want of love?
Why hast Thou suffer'd us to rove?
Withdrawn Thy Spirit from our heart,
And left us to our want of love?
Why hast Thou hid Thy lovely face,
And caused us from Thy paths to err?
Abandon'd by restraining grace,
Our hearts were harden'd from Thy fear.
And caused us from Thy paths to err?
Abandon'd by restraining grace,
Our hearts were harden'd from Thy fear.
61
Yet, Lord, for Thee again we mourn:
Now let our prayers Thine aid engage,
Now for Thy servant's sake return,
And cheer Thy drooping heritage.
Now let our prayers Thine aid engage,
Now for Thy servant's sake return,
And cheer Thy drooping heritage.
The land we fondly deem'd our own
(Alas! how short a time enjoy'd!)
Our adversaries have o'erthrown,
And trampled on the house of God.
(Alas! how short a time enjoy'd!)
Our adversaries have o'erthrown,
And trampled on the house of God.
Yet we are Thine, though dispossest,
And outcasts from the promised land;
They never have Thy sway confess'd,
Or yielded to Thy just command.
And outcasts from the promised land;
They never have Thy sway confess'd,
Or yielded to Thy just command.
We, we are call'd by Thy great name;
Accept our plea, Thine ear incline;
Thine, Lord, we are; renew Thy claim;
Receive, and seal us ever Thine.
Accept our plea, Thine ear incline;
Thine, Lord, we are; renew Thy claim;
Receive, and seal us ever Thine.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |