 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
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ESTHER.
714.
[But no such rigid law we fear]
Whosoever shall come unto the king, &c.
—iv. 11.
But no such rigid law we fear,
Who to the King of kings draw near,
Boldly approach His gracious throne,
And freely our requests make known:
Beyond the inner court we press,
Enter into the holiest place,
Sure to obtain the peace of God,
And all we ask, through Jesu's blood.
715.
[Ye that in royal mansions live]
Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape, &c.
—iv. 13.
Ye that in royal mansions live,
And Christ into your hearts receive,
Think not to serve your Saviour's cause,
Yet 'scape the scandal of His cross:
In Cæsar's house, to save your fame,
Ye must deny your Master's name,
Or bear, if Christ ye dare confess,
The mark of Jesu's witnesses.
716.
[Though I am condemn'd to die]
If I perish, I perish.
—iv. 16.
Though I am condemn'd to die,
Shall I not for mercy try?
If the fix'd decree is pass'd,
I can only die at last:
Prostrate now before my Lord,
Let me wait the fatal word,
Let me here my sentence meet,
Perish at His bleeding feet.
717.
[Immortal King, with pity see]
The king held out to Esther the golden sceptre.
—v. 2.
Immortal King, with pity see,
And hear a suppliant sinner groan,
Mercy extend to me, to me,
Who venturing on a God unknown,
Prostrate before Thy footstool lie,
And by Thy sentence live or die.
And hear a suppliant sinner groan,
Mercy extend to me, to me,
Who venturing on a God unknown,
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And by Thy sentence live or die.
Thy sceptre of redeeming love
Reach out, my trembling soul to raise,
My dread of endless death remove,
To magnify Thy pardoning grace,
And make, in honour of Thy Son,
A beggar partner of Thy throne.
Reach out, my trembling soul to raise,
My dread of endless death remove,
To magnify Thy pardoning grace,
And make, in honour of Thy Son,
A beggar partner of Thy throne.
718.
[Father, in Christ my Father, Thou]
Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
—v. 2.
Father, in Christ my Father, Thou
Dost sinners for His sake receive:
I touch Thy golden sceptre now,
Accept Thy pardoning grace, and live;
And trust, as I have favour found,
To rise, with all His glories crown'd.
719.
[What profit hath the' ambitious man]
Yet all this availeth me nothing.
—v. 13.
What profit hath the' ambitious man,
Of earthly goods possess'd?
Something he wants, but cannot gain,
Which cankers all the rest:
His canker'd all as nothing weighs;
And if the world be won,
He soon must go to his own place,
Eternally undone.
720.
[How mean the gifts which earthly kings]
Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king, &c.
—vi. 9.
How mean the gifts which earthly kings
On favourites bestow,
What childish toys the noblest things
And most esteem'd below!
But whom the King of kings delights
To honour as His son,
He to an heavenly feast invites,
And places on His throne.
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721.
[The wicked in that net is snared]
They hanged Haman on the gallows, &c.
—vii. 10.
The wicked in that net is snared,
Which for the righteous he prepared,
To make the trembling heathen know
There is a God reigns below.
722.
[All thanks to Heaven let Britain pay]
Seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking, &c.
—x. 3.
All thanks to Heaven let Britain pay,
For kings to Britain sent,
Who bless us with their gracious sway,
And gentlest government;
Promote the public happiness
With fatherly delight,
And bid their children live in peace,
And serve our God aright!
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |