The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Jesus, if Thou Thy servant guard,
I shall obey Thy laws,
Nor seek from man my base reward,
Nor aim at his applause:
O may I cast the world behind,
While in Thy work employ'd,
And only bear it in my mind
That I am seen of God.

98. [Through false pretence of honouring Thee]

They have their reward. —vi. 2.

Through false pretence of honouring Thee
Whoe'er themselves proclaim

175

Indulge their secret vanity,
And cloak it with Thy name;
For all their works and righteousness,
The hypocrites abhorr'd
In human, momentary praise
Receive their whole reward.

99. [Saviour, remove the vanity]

Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand, &c. —vi. 3.

Saviour, remove the vanity,
Which poisons all I do for Thee,
O make me studious to conceal
What boastful nature would reveal;
My good be to the world unknown,
Or publish'd for Thy praise alone.

A time, I know there is to' obey,
And act for God in open day:
O that I then with single eye
Thee, only Thee may glorify,
The least in my own eyes appear,
And always pray and always fear!

100. [Father, the good in secret done]

Himself shall reward thee openly. —vi. 4.

Father, the good in secret done
Will find acceptance at Thy throne;
Thine eye the hidden virtue sees,
Thy voice shall openly confess,
Thyself the recompence shalt be
Of all who humbly act for Thee.

101. [Lord, Thou know'st, I would be seen]

They love to be seen of men. —vi. 5.

Lord, Thou know'st, I would be seen
Doing good by foolish men,
Nature still usurps a part,
More than shares with Thee my heart:

176

Jesus, set my nature right,
Shut the creature from my sight,
Thou mine only Object be,
More than all the world to me.

102. [Their reward they have, not Thine]

They have their reward. —vi. 5.

Their reward they have, not Thine,
Human honours for Divine,
Have their aim, by man admired,
Have the thing their hearts desired:
When Thou dost as Judge appear,
Who received their portion here,
Stripp'd of all their earthly gains,
Only hell for them remains.

103. [Father, for power I groan]

Pray to thy Father which is in secret. —vi. 6.

Father, for power I groan
In secret prayer to spend
My few sad hours with Thee alone
Shut up, till life shall end:
I think of no reward,
But wail my follies pass'd,
And humbly hope, through Christ my Lord,
I may escape at last.

104. [How great our gain that serve a King]

How great our gain that serve a King
Whom by petitioning we please,
Who numbers the requests we bring,
And counts them faithful services,
Our begging confidence approves,
And most the boldest suitor loves.

Our Father's goodness we adore,
Who doth our praying hearts inspire,

177

Bestows whate'er we ask, and more,
More than our most enlarged desire,
And after all His blessings given,
Rewards our prayer itself with heaven.

105. [Prayer is the language of the heart]

When ye pray, use not vain repetitions. —vi. 7.

Prayer is the language of the heart,
By humble faith to Heaven address'd,
Above the studied rules of art,
And more in groans than words express'd,
Groans by the wrestling Spirit bestow'd,
Groans which affect the heart of God.

Father, the prayer Thou dost require
Through Jesus I present to Thee,
In vehemence of inflamed desire,
In faith's resign'd simplicity,
In hope Thy promised grace to prove,
In speechless eloquence of love.

106. [For the' Omniscient's information]

Your Father knoweth what things ye have need, &c. —vi. 8.

For the' Omniscient's information
Need we formal prayers repeat?
To excite His slow compassion,
God, the gracious God, entreat?
Lord, our hearts are bare before Thee,
Lord, to all Thy bowels move;
Help us, for our wants implore Thee,
Love us with a Father's love.

107. [We must in our requests succeed]

After this manner . . . . . . pray ye. —vi. 9.

We must in our requests succeed,
When Jesus teaches us to plead,
We must receive our granted prayer
Who in His words our wants declare:

178

Himself did the petition pen,
His Spirit seconds it in men,
And still the everlasting Son
To God presents it as His own.

108. [Father of earth and sky]

Our Father which art in heaven, &c. —vi. 9–13.

Father of earth and sky,
Thy name we magnify:
O that earth and heaven might join
Thy perfections to proclaim,
Praise the attributes Divine,
Fear, and love Thy awful name!

When shall Thy Spirit reign
In every heart of man?
Father, bring the kingdom near,
Honour Thy triumphant Son,
God of heaven, on earth appear,
Fix with us Thy glorious throne.

Thy good and holy will,
Let all on earth fulfil:
Men with minds angelic vie,
Saints below with saints above,
Thee to praise and glorify,
Thee to serve with perfect love.

This day with this day's bread
Thy hungry children feed,
Fountain of all blessings, grant
Now the manna from above,
Now supply our bodies' want,
Now sustain our souls with love.

Our trespasses forgive;
And when absolved we live,

179

Thou our life of grace maintain;
Lest we from our God depart,
Lose Thy pardoning love again,
Grant us a forgiving heart.

In every fiery hour
Display Thy guardian power,
Near in our temptation stay,
With sufficient grace defend,
Bring us through the evil day,
Make us faithful to the end.

Father, by right Divine,
Assert the kingdom Thine;
Jesus, Power of God, subdue
Thine own universe to Thee;
Spirit of grace and glory too,
Reign through all eternity.

109. [Father who art in heaven]

Father who art in heaven,
The' omnipotent I AM,
Homage Divine be given
To Thy most holy name;
Thine attributes and nature
Let all Thy works display,
And praise their great Creator
Through one eternal day.

Our first and last desire
That all our God may own,
Thy majesty admire,
And worship at Thy throne;
That all may bow before Thee,
Jesus, Thy power assume,
And manifest Thy glory,
And let Thy kingdom come.

180

The virtue of Thy Spirit
To every soul impart,
And let us here inherit
The kingdom in our heart,
The evangelic blessing,
Inviolable peace,
Celestial joy increasing,
And finish'd holiness.

Thy kingdom's restoration
O might we feel within,
Thine uttermost salvation
Exterminating sin!
Let sin and Satan's power
At Thy appearing fall,
And all on earth adore
The glorious Lord of all.

Thy Spirit of inspiration
Pour out on all below,
And perfect renovation
Our ruin'd earth shall know,
The nations all shall bless Thee
In that millennial day,
And every tongue confess Thee,
And every heart obey.

The fulness of Thy graces,
Of Thy own Godhead give,
And in Thy kind embraces
Our fallen race receive:
Through love's most large effusion
Let us the Promise find,
The general restitution,
The life of all mankind.

181

Thy kingdom's fruits mature
O that we all may bring,
Obedience full and pure,
And worthy of our King!
Thy holy will be ours,
Thy holy will alone,
As by the heavenly powers,
By all on earth be done.

No pause or intermission
The' angelic service knows,
While the transporting vision
Their vast reward bestows,
With that enraptured choir
Let every creature gaze,
And earth and heaven conspire
In Thy eternal praise.

While in the flesh we tarry,
We ask our daily bread:
With all things necessary
Thy crying children feed:
And while Thou spread'st a table
Our bodies to supply,
With meat imperishable
Sustain us from the sky.

Father, for Jesus' merit
To the unworthy give
That strength-restoring Spirit,
By whom we truly live;
Send down the gracious shower,
The manna from above,
And now and evermore
Refresh our souls with love.

182

On us bestow the pardon
Bought by His precious blood,
Who paid the utmost farthing
We to Thy justice owed;
The peace and consolation
Incomprehensible,
The knowledge of salvation
To all our hearts reveal.

Pardon'd without condition,
Our debtors we release,
With free and full remission
Of all their trespasses:
The bowels of our Saviour
As we to them extend,
Preserve us in Thy favour
And pardon to the end.

From trials unexempted
Thy dearest children are;
But let us not be tempted
Above what we can bear;
Exposed to no temptation
That may our souls o'erpower,
Be Thou our strong salvation
Through every fiery hour.

Ah! leave us not to venture
Within the verge of sin;
Or if the snare we enter
Thy timely help bring in:
And if Thy wisdom try us,
Till pain and life are pass'd,
Almighty Love stand by us,
And save from first to last.

183

Deliver us from evil,
From every evil here,
The world, the flesh, the devil,
His works and character:
A total abolition
Of all his works I see
Comprised in this petition,
And promised, Lord, to me.

Fain would we cease from sinning,
In thought and word and deed,
From sin in its beginning
We languish to be freed:
From every base desire,
Our fallen nature's shame,
Jesus, we dare require
Deliverance in Thy name.

For every sinful action
Thou hast atonement made,
The rigid satisfaction
Thy precious blood has paid;
But take entire possession;
To make an end of sin,
To finish the transgression,
Most holy God, come in.

The mind of earthly savour,
The carnal enmity,
Which hates our God and never
Can subject prove to Thee,
The old rebellious nature
With all its relics slay,
Appear our New-Creator,
And bring the perfect day.

184

Fulfilling Thy own prayer,
Destroy this fleshly mind;
Sin by the roots uptear,
No evil leave behind.
This huge enormous mountain
Of inbred guilt remove,
Dry up corruption's fountain,
And fill our souls with love.

Essence of holinesses,
Jesus, Thou only art
With plenitude of graces
Inhabiting the heart:
'Tis thus Thou dost deliver
Thine own in Thee secure,
And keepest us for ever
From all pollution pure.

110. [Lead me not into temptation]

Lead us not into temptation. —vi. 13.

Lead me not into temptation,
Father, leave me not alone,
Thou, to whom my every passion,
Every secret thought is known:
If Thy providence forsake me
In the dark, unguarded hour,
Sin is sure to overtake me,
Hell is ready to devour.

In the feebleness of nature,
Never from Thy charge depart,
Infinitely good, and greater
Than the evil of my heart:
Watch, and hold me back from sinning,
Self-inclined from Thee to stray,
Stop me at the first beginning,
Turn my tempted heart away.

185

With mine enemies surrounded,
Sin, the world, and Satan's snare,
Let me never be confounded,
Tempted more than I can bear:
Rather from the dread occasion,
Thy poor, helpless creature hide,
Bind the sinful inclination,
Turn my stronger foe aside.

Conflicts I cannot require,
Who myself can nothing do;
If Thou bring into the fire,
Surely Thou shalt bring me through:
Shalt from every ill deliver,
That I may Thy glory see,
Magnify Thy name for ever,
Saved through all eternity.

111. [Wouldst thou be truly mortified?]

Appear not unto men to fast. —vi. 18.

Wouldst thou be truly mortified?
Be only to thyself severe.
Far from the surly Stoic's pride,
And Pharisaic character:
The sorrows of thy heart conceal,
Afflicted by a Father's rod,
Nor tell what thou art forced to feel,
Nor stumble those who know not God.

112. [The' example which to man we owe]

The' example which to man we owe
Surely there is a time to pay;
Then, only then, ourselves we show,
To guide them in the heavenly way:
There is a time when urged by pride
We would the' applause of man obtain;

186

We then should our own goodness hide,
To save ourselves from endless pain.

113. [Father, create my heart again]

Father, create my heart again,
That dead to the esteem of men,
Contentedly unknown,
In all I think, or speak, or do,
I humbly may the praise pursue
Which comes from God alone.

114. [Let heathens mock what God enjoin'd]

Thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward, &c. —vi. 18.

Let heathens mock what God enjoin'd,
Or fools explain away,
I find it good, I soon shall find
It glorious, to obey:
The secret fast, observed to Thee,
Who hast the precept given,
Shall openly rewarded be
With the full feast of heaven.

115. [Suffice, O Lord, the season pass'd]

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth. —vi. 19.

Suffice, O Lord, the season pass'd;
Henceforth I every good refuse,
To this vile earth which ties me fast,
Which nature would regret to lose,
I set my heart on things above,
And want no treasure but Thy love.

116. [Assist me, Lord, against that day]

Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. —vi. 20.

Assist me, Lord, against that day
In heaven to secure
Riches that cannot flee away,
Substance that must endure:
Thou art my fund infallible,
My portion here Thou art:

187

O let Thy Spirit now reveal
The earnest in my heart!

117. [If with my all I cannot part]

Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. —vi. 21.

If with my all I cannot part,
Cannot a child, or friend forego,
In vain I would disguise my heart;
My heart and treasure are below.

118. [Happy the man who knows]

Happy the man who knows
His heart is not his own,
And cheerfully what God bestows
Restores to God alone:
Not on the world misplaced,
Not to the creatures given,
His heart which hath the Lord embraced
Enjoys a constant heaven.

Jesus I own my heart
Was made for only Thee;
Worthy of all its love Thou art,
Its whole capacity:
O never let me rest,
Till I Thyself receive,
And with Thy joyous presence bless'd
The life of angels live.

119. [O for that single eye]

If . . . thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be, &c. —vi. 22.

O for that single eye
For ever fix'd on Thee!
Jesus, my want supply
Of true simplicity,
And then throughout my nature shine,
And fill my soul with light Divine.

188

120. [Then let the' unrighteous mammon go]

Ye cannot serve God and mammon. —vi. 24.

Then let the' unrighteous mammon go;
Suffice for me, that God I know,
And Jesu's richest grace:
My heart and treasure is above,
And all my joy to taste Thy love,
Till I behold Thy face.

121. [Labouring as one that labours not]

Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, &c. —vi. 25.

Labouring as one that labours not,
My wants industrious to supply,
Renouncing every anxious thought,
I would on God alone rely;
His blessing trust, His promise plead,
And ask of Him my daily bread.

Father, instruct my childlike heart
On Thee for all things to depend:
The Giver of my life Thou art,
And wilt support it to the end,
Thy banish'd one on earth sustain,
And bring me to Thyself again.

122. [Will man be diligent to serve]

Your heavenly Father feedeth the fowls of the air. —vi. 26.

Will man be diligent to serve
His fowls, and let his children starve?
Much less can God the ravens feed,
And let His nobler creatures need:
Doubtless He will our wants supply,
Who feeds His tenants of the sky,
Provides for all their plenteous food,
And fills the universe with good.

123. [Greatest of all His works below]

Are ye not much better than they? —vi. 26.

Greatest of all His works below
Man only can his Maker know,

189

Can love, and live of God possess'd,
Supremely and completely bless'd:
After so rich a gift bestow'd
What may we not expect from God?
His plenitude of love Divine,
Even all He is in Christ is mine.

124. [Unprofitable all and vain]

Which of you by taking thought can add one, &c. —vi. 27.

Unprofitable all and vain,
Away this soul-distracting care!
I cannot lengthen out my span,
I cannot change a single hair:
Then let me hang upon His word
Who keeps His saints in perfect peace,
My burden cast upon the Lord,
And only care my God to please.

125. [Who bids the careless lilies grow]

Why take ye thought for raiment? Consider, &c. —vi. 28.

Who bids the careless lilies grow
My scanty substance can augment,
Sufficiency of food bestow,
And raiment, and therewith content:
Who stoops to clothe a fading flower
Will every needful blessing give,
And fit the creature of an hour
An endless life with Him to live.

126. [The cause of my misgiving fear]

Shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of, &c. —vi. 30.

The cause of my misgiving fear,
Lord, I my unbelief confess:
Author of faith, in me appear,
And bid my doubts and terrors cease:
Rich is the man of faith possess'd;
And when to me the grace is given,
I bear the earnest in my breast
Of all Thou hast in earth and heaven.

190

127. [Heathens, whatever call'd, they are]

After all these things do the Gentiles seek. —vi. 32.

Heathens, whatever call'd, they are,
A murmuring, self-tormenting race,
Who never seek relief in prayer,
Who pine for earthly happiness,
Their whole of comfort here receive,
Labouring for perishable food,
As atheists in the world they live,
And thus proclaim, There is no God!

128. [My Father knows the things I need]

Your . . . Father knoweth that ye have need of all, &c. —vi. 32.

My Father knows the things I need,
My Father knows, let that suffice:
I trust Him now, to clothe and feed
His child, who on His care relies:
I in Thy providence believe,
Its charge and proper business prove,
And daily from Thy hands receive
The manna of Thy heavenly love.

129. [I seek the kingdom first]

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His, &c. —vi. 33.

I seek the kingdom first,
The gracious joy and peace,
Thou know'st, I hunger, Lord, and thirst
After Thy righteousness;
My chief, and sole desire
Thine image to regain,
And then to join Thine heavenly choir,
And with Thine ancients reign.

130. [My God will add the rest]

And all these things shall be added unto you. —vi. 33.

My God will add the rest,
Will outward good provide:
But with Thy kingdom in my breast,
I nothing want beside:

191

Glory begun in grace
Delightfully I prove,
And earth and heaven at once possess
In Thy sufficient love.

131. [The past no longer in my power]

Take . . . no thought for the morrow. —vi. 34.

The past no longer in my power:
The future who shall live to see?
Mine only is the present hour,
Lent, to be all laid out for Thee:
Now, Saviour, with Thy grace endow'd
Now let me serve and please my God.

132. [Why should I ask the future load]

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. —vi. 34.

Why should I ask the future load
To aggravate my present care?
Strong in the grace to-day bestow'd,
The evil of to-day I bear;
And if to-morrow's care I see,
Fresh grace shall still suffice for me.

University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER VI.

97.

[Jesus, if Thou Thy servant guard]

98.

[Through false pretence of honouring Thee]

99.

[Saviour, remove the vanity]

100.

[Father, the good in secret done]

101.

[Lord, Thou know'st, I would be seen]

102.

[Their reward they have, not Thine]

103.

[Father, for power I groan]

104.

[How great our gain that serve a King]

105.

[Prayer is the language of the heart]

106.

[For the' Omniscient's information]

107.

[We must in our requests succeed]

108.

[Father of earth and sky]

109.

[Father who art in heaven]

110.

[Lead me not into temptation]

111.

[Wouldst thou be truly mortified?]

112.

[The' example which to man we owe]

113.

[Father, create my heart again]

114.

[Let heathens mock what God enjoin'd]

115.

[Suffice, O Lord, the season pass'd]

116.

[Assist me, Lord, against that day]

117.

[If with my all I cannot part]

118.

[Happy the man who knows]

119.

[O for that single eye]

120.

[Then let the' unrighteous mammon go]

121.

[Labouring as one that labours not]

122.

[Will man be diligent to serve]

123.

[Greatest of all His works below]

124.

[Unprofitable all and vain]

125.

[Who bids the careless lilies grow]

126.

[The cause of my misgiving fear]

127.

[Heathens, whatever call'd, they are]

128.

[My Father knows the things I need]

129.

[I seek the kingdom first]

130.

[My God will add the rest]

131.

[The past no longer in my power]

132.

[Why should I ask the future load]