 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
I. KINGS.
542.
[The parent indolently mild]
His father had not displeased him at any time, &c.
—i. 6.
The parent indolently mild
May here his fatal dotage see:
Afraid to vex thy darling child,
Thy darling child shall trouble thee,
Make his indulgent father smart,
And break thy old, fond, foolish heart.
May here his fatal dotage see:
Afraid to vex thy darling child,
Thy darling child shall trouble thee,
Make his indulgent father smart,
And break thy old, fond, foolish heart.
173
“What pity 'tis, to cross his will,
His clamorous appetites deny,
Restrain the acts of childish ill,
And make the fretted infant cry,
Harshly his little faults reprove!
How can I grieve the son I love?”
His clamorous appetites deny,
Restrain the acts of childish ill,
And make the fretted infant cry,
Harshly his little faults reprove!
How can I grieve the son I love?”
Continue then thy son to please,
Leave him to nature's discipline,
Till ripe in full-grown wickedness
He claims the wages of his sin,
The wrath of heaven's impartial Lord,
The edge of the Avenger's sword.
Leave him to nature's discipline,
Till ripe in full-grown wickedness
He claims the wages of his sin,
The wrath of heaven's impartial Lord,
The edge of the Avenger's sword.
543.
[Thou bidd'st me ask whate'er I will]
God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
—iii. 5.
Thou bidd'st me ask whate'er I will,
Thou wilt the thing required bestow:
I ask Thy hallowing Spirit's seal,
I ask, Thy precious Self to know,
I ask an humble, perfect heart,
With all Thou hast, and all Thou art.
544.
[David's true, celestial Son]
There was neither hammer nor axe, &c.
—vi. 7.
David's true, celestial Son
Carries thus His building on,
Joins the stones before prepared,
By the line and plummet squared:
Who the sure foundation lays,
He completes the work of grace,
He brings forth the crowning-stone,
Perfects all His saints in one.
545.
[Lo! the house of holiness]
Lo! the house of holiness,Founded, built, by just degrees,
174
Speaks the Architect Divine!
Silenced by His secret power
Hurrying man is heard no more,
All the workmen's noise is still'd,
All the house with glory fill'd!
546.
[Jesus, bid our hearts be still]
Jesus, bid our hearts be still,Calmly wait Thine hallowing will,
Till brought forth in us we own
Thee the head, and corner stone:
Then the living stones cry out,
Then with one consent we shout,
God, and giver of all grace,
Take our everlasting praise!
547.
[Darkness and clouds around me roll]
The Lord said, that He would dwell, &c.
—viii. 12.
Darkness and clouds around me roll,
But God shall in the clouds appear,
In this thick darkness of my soul
The great Invisible is near:
He now in His pavilion dwells;
And when He doth the veil remove,
And when His glory He reveals,
My fear shall all be lost in love.
548.
[Lo! the pious monarch stands]
Solomon stood before the altar, &c.
—viii. 22.
Lo! the pious monarch stands,
And lifts his heart and eyes,
Spreads to heaven his praying hands,
To Him who fills the skies!
Never king appear'd so great!
Himself not half so glorious shone,
Clad in all his robes of state,
And on his ivory throne.
175
549.
[See, through him, the heavenly King]
See, through him, the heavenly KingWho for His subjects prays!
Israel's Intercessor sing,
And magnify His grace,
Praise our Lord, who ever lives
To save and bless His saints forgiven,
Till He to Himself receives,
And blesses us in heaven.
550.
[He did: the King invisible]
But will God indeed dwell on the earth?
—viii. 27.
He did: the King invisible,
Jehovah, once on earth did dwell,
And laid His majesty aside:
Whom all His heavens cannot contain,
For us He lived, a mournful man,
For us a painful death He died!
Jehovah, once on earth did dwell,
And laid His majesty aside:
Whom all His heavens cannot contain,
For us He lived, a mournful man,
For us a painful death He died!
Still the great God resides below,
(And all His faithful people know
He will not from His church depart,)
The Father, Son, and Spirit dwells,
His kingdom in the poor reveals,
And fills with heaven the humble heart.
(And all His faithful people know
He will not from His church depart,)
The Father, Son, and Spirit dwells,
His kingdom in the poor reveals,
And fills with heaven the humble heart.
551.
[Father, Thine eyes are open now]
That Thine eyes may be open toward this house, &c.
—viii. 29.
Father, Thine eyes are open now,
And mark the Place to which I bow,
To which direct my prayer,
The Temple never built with hands,
Before Thy glorious throne it stands,
And all Thy name is there!
And mark the Place to which I bow,
To which direct my prayer,
The Temple never built with hands,
Before Thy glorious throne it stands,
And all Thy name is there!
There in the temple of Thy Son,
I still for mercy, mercy groan,
Till Thou my guilt remove;
The grace for Jesus' sake I claim,
Through Him declare to me Thy name,
And manifest Thy love.
I still for mercy, mercy groan,
Till Thou my guilt remove;
176
Through Him declare to me Thy name,
And manifest Thy love.
552.
[O God, take all my sins away!]
What prayer soever be made by any man, &c.
—viii. 38, 39.
O God, take all my sins away!
Instructed by Thyself I pray,
Spread forth my hands and heart;
Its secret plague too well I know:
Mercy on Thy poor servant show,
And bid my sins depart.
Instructed by Thyself I pray,
Spread forth my hands and heart;
Its secret plague too well I know:
Mercy on Thy poor servant show,
And bid my sins depart.
I turn to the true House of God,
The Temple for three days destroy'd,
And then raised up to heaven:
Father, regard that glorious Shrine
Fill'd with the plenitude Divine,
And speak my sins forgiven.
The Temple for three days destroy'd,
And then raised up to heaven:
Father, regard that glorious Shrine
Fill'd with the plenitude Divine,
And speak my sins forgiven.
553.
[Meanest of that happy band]
Happy are these thy servants, &c.
—x. 8.
Meanest of that happy band
Who in Jesu's presence stand,
O might I, even I appear,
Wisdom's self in Jesus hear!
Humbly weeping at Thy feet,
Lord, I wait a look to meet,
By a smile Thy servant raise,
Lift me up, to see Thy face.
554.
[On the first early dawn of grace]
When Solomon was old, his wives turned away, &c.
—xi.
On the first early dawn of grace,
Alas! who can depend,
When the wise monarch's youthful days
In shameful dotage end!
177
Nor let me rest secure
Of heavenly bliss, till death shall make
My perseverance sure.
555.
[But kings may spare their labour vain]
Jeroboam made priests of the lowest of the people.
—xii. 31.
But kings may spare their labour vain,
For in such happy times as these
The vulgar can themselves ordain,
And priests commence, whoever please.
556.
[Was it a sin in Nebat's son]
This thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, &c.
—xiii. 34.
Was it a sin in Nebat's son,
A sin which all his house destroy'd,
(What safely may by us be done)
To make Divine appointments void?
Fearless of Jeroboam's fate
Shall men without commission dare
Priests from the crowd to consecrate,
And place them in the' apostle's chair?
557.
[Me if Thou in the desert hide]
Hide thyself.
—xvii. 3.
Me if Thou in the desert hide,
Or lay Thy servant quite aside,
I patiently submit;
For Thee if I must work no more,
For Thee I suffer, and adore
In silence at Thy feet.
558.
[That thy stock may never cease]
The barrel of meal wasted not, &c.
—xvii. 16.
That thy stock may never cease,
That thy little may increase,
Gladly of that little give,
Poor thyself, the poor relieve;
178
Sure eternally to gain
All the infinite reward,
All the glory of Thy Lord.
559.
[To bring my former sins to mind]
Art thou come to call my sin to remembrance, &c.
—xvii. 18.
To bring my former sins to mind,
My comforts, Lord, Thou dost remove,
Revoke Thy gifts, severely kind,
And chasten me in jealous love:
The father's sin hath slain the son:
And if it still my offspring slays,
Deep humbled in the dust I own
Righteous and good are all Thy ways!
560.
['Tis thus the Lord my God descends]
He stretched himself upon the child.
—xvii. 21.
'Tis thus the Lord my God descends
To raise a sinner from the dead,
His goodness over me extends,
And covers with His Spirit's shade,
Himself (amazing grace!) applies,
Inspires me with celestial powers,
And bids my quicken'd spirit rise,
And to my Father's arms restores.
561.
[Without that sin-consuming fire]
The fire of the Lord fell, and consumed, &c.
—xviii. 38.
Without that sin-consuming fire,
The priests of Baal pray in vain,
And teach, as taught by the old liar,
“Sin cannot be consumed in man!”
But who Elijah's God believe,
And wait His coming from above,
We shall the Holy Ghost receive,
The Spirit pure of burning love.
179
562.
[Thou God, that answerest by fire]
Thou God, that answerest by fire,
On Thee in Jesu's name we call,
Fulfil our faithful heart's desire,
And let on us Thy Spirit fall:
Bound on that altar of Thy cross
Our old offending nature lies;
Now for the honour of Thy cause
Come, and consume the sacrifice.
On Thee in Jesu's name we call,
Fulfil our faithful heart's desire,
And let on us Thy Spirit fall:
Bound on that altar of Thy cross
Our old offending nature lies;
Now for the honour of Thy cause
Come, and consume the sacrifice.
Consume our lusts as rotten wood,
Consume our stony hearts within,
Consume the dust, the serpent's food,
And lick up all the streams of sin,
Its body totally destroy,
Thyself the Lord, the God approve,
And fill our hearts with holy joy,
And fervent zeal, and perfect love.
Consume our stony hearts within,
Consume the dust, the serpent's food,
And lick up all the streams of sin,
Its body totally destroy,
Thyself the Lord, the God approve,
And fill our hearts with holy joy,
And fervent zeal, and perfect love.
563.
[O that the fire from heaven might fall]
The Lord, He is the God! the Lord, &c.
—xviii. 39.
O that the fire from heaven might fall,
Our sins its ready victims find,
Seize on our sins, and burn up all,
Nor leave the least remains behind!
Then shall our prostrate souls adore,
The Lord, He is the God, confess,
He is the God of saving power,
He is the God of hallowing grace!
564.
[While wandering in the wilderness]
He requested for himself that he might die.
—xix. 4.
While wandering in the wilderness,
Such was my clamour to expire,
Not the deliberate wish of grace,
But nature's passionate desire:
180
And strengthen'd by Thy Spirit's supply,
Patient, at Thy command, I live,
Joyful, at Thy permission, die.
565.
[Like him, in piety's decay]
I, even I, only am left.
—xix. 10.
Like him, in piety's decay
I made my solitary moan,
Thou heard'st Thy desolate servant say,
I, even I am left alone!
But now with open heart and eyes
Thousands I in our Israel see,
Who idols hate, the world despise,
Its god renounce, and follow Thee.
566.
[Not in the strong impetuous wind]
After the fire a still small voice.
—xix. 12.
Not in the strong impetuous wind
Can I my gentle Saviour find;
Not in an hurricane of sound
Which rents the rocks, and shakes the ground;
Not in the heaven-enkindled fire,
The fervours of intense desire;
But I expect Him from above,
In the soft whispering voice of love.
567.
[That voice which speaks Jehovah near]
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face, &c.
—xix. 13.
That voice which speaks Jehovah near,
That still small voice I long to hear:
O might it now the Lord proclaim,
And fill my soul with holy shame!
Ashamed I must for ever be,
Afraid the God of love to see,
If saints and prophets hide their face,
And angels tremble, while they gaze.
181
568.
[I ask my soul, What dost thou here]
What doest thou here, Elijah?
—xix. 13.
I ask my soul, What dost thou here,
Thou poor, afflicted sojourner?
My soul returns the sad reply,
I wander, wish, yet fear to die;
The burden of the' Almighty bear,
Consign'd to temporal despair,
Throughout this endless desert rove,
And pine, and faint for want of love.
Thou poor, afflicted sojourner?
My soul returns the sad reply,
I wander, wish, yet fear to die;
The burden of the' Almighty bear,
Consign'd to temporal despair,
Throughout this endless desert rove,
And pine, and faint for want of love.
Zealous I for my Lord have been,
Against the advocates of sin
Defied the world and Satan's frown,
And thrown their impious altars down;
And now of second death afraid,
I seek the shelter of the shade,
My hoary, hated head conceal,
And life's severest evils feel.
Against the advocates of sin
Defied the world and Satan's frown,
And thrown their impious altars down;
And now of second death afraid,
I seek the shelter of the shade,
My hoary, hated head conceal,
And life's severest evils feel.
O might the hidden God unknown,
For whom I make my ceaseless moan,
The fugitive in pity see,
And manifest Himself to me!
That still, small voice I pant to hear,
Which speaks Him mercifully near,
Covers with guiltless shame the face,
And wraps the soul in silent praise.
For whom I make my ceaseless moan,
The fugitive in pity see,
And manifest Himself to me!
That still, small voice I pant to hear,
Which speaks Him mercifully near,
Covers with guiltless shame the face,
And wraps the soul in silent praise.
Speak, Lord, that I my work may know,
May suffer out my time below,
Perform Thine acceptable will,
And all Thine after-pangs fulfil;
Tell me, Elijah's God is mine,
And strengthen'd by the voice Divine,
My course I shall with comfort end,
And on the fiery car ascend.
May suffer out my time below,
Perform Thine acceptable will,
And all Thine after-pangs fulfil;
Tell me, Elijah's God is mine,
And strengthen'd by the voice Divine,
My course I shall with comfort end,
And on the fiery car ascend.
182
569.
[Even in the most degenerate days]
Yet have I left Me seven thousand in Israel.
—xix. 18.
Even in the most degenerate days
Some witnesses reserved shall be,
Some vessels of peculiar grace,
Conceal'd from man, but known to Thee;
Thou only canst their number tell:
O may they prosperously go on,
Till thousands into millions swell,
And all mankind in Christ are one.
570.
[Thou know'st what Thou to me hast done]
Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
—xix. 20.
Thou know'st what Thou to me hast done,
Thou hast my carnal soul pass'd by,
And after Thee I swiftly run,
Thy resolute disciple I,
Wrapp'd in a covering from above,
Caught by the mantle of Thy love!
Thou hast my carnal soul pass'd by,
And after Thee I swiftly run,
Thy resolute disciple I,
Wrapp'd in a covering from above,
Caught by the mantle of Thy love!
Thy dying love my heart constrains:
My all for Thy dear sake I leave,
Participate my Saviour's pains,
And with the Man of Sorrows grieve,
Accept Thine every state below:
But back from Thee I cannot go.
My all for Thy dear sake I leave,
Participate my Saviour's pains,
And with the Man of Sorrows grieve,
Accept Thine every state below:
But back from Thee I cannot go.
571.
[Scarce have we put the harness on]
Let not him that girdeth on his harness, &c.
—xx. 11.
Scarce have we put the harness on,
When nature thinks, the work is done,
Defies the world and Satan's hosts,
And of her own perfection boasts:
But veterans in the service know
Their work is never done below;
And when to Christ their spirits they give,
They cease at once to fight and live.
183
572.
[Worthy of death, afraid to die]
We have heard that the kings of Israel, &c.
—xx. 31.
Worthy of death, afraid to die,
To Israel's gracious King I cry;
The grace Thou hast to others show'd,
O might it be on me bestow'd!
My cause of hope is all in Thee;
O God, be merciful to me,
I pray Thee let the sinner live,
And for mere mercy's sake forgive.
573.
[Doth God regard the outward show?]
Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before Me?
—xxi. 29.
Doth God regard the outward show?
There must be some remorse within,
Some dread (if it no farther go)
Of judgment hanging o'er his sin:
Righteous the judgment he confess'd,
Pray'd that on him it might not come,
And mercy stoop'd to his request,
And respited the tyrant's doom.
There must be some remorse within,
Some dread (if it no farther go)
Of judgment hanging o'er his sin:
Righteous the judgment he confess'd,
Pray'd that on him it might not come,
And mercy stoop'd to his request,
And respited the tyrant's doom.
Humbled like him, the Lord I fear,
And softly in His presence go,
With horror mark His judgments near,
His arm made bare to give the blow!
O Thou who didst an Ahab spare,
A partial penitent reprieve,
Break, and inspire my heart with prayer,
And then for Thy own sake forgive.
And softly in His presence go,
With horror mark His judgments near,
His arm made bare to give the blow!
O Thou who didst an Ahab spare,
A partial penitent reprieve,
Break, and inspire my heart with prayer,
And then for Thy own sake forgive.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |