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 | CHAPTER X. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
CHAPTER X.
232.
[Jesus in every age the same]
When He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, &c.
—x. 1.
Jesus in every age the same,
Thou only dost Thy servants send,
To preach repentance in Thy name,
And peace with God till time shall end:
Thou dost their high commission give
The demons out of souls to chase,
Spiritual maladies relieve,
And minister Thy healing grace.
Thou only dost Thy servants send,
To preach repentance in Thy name,
And peace with God till time shall end:
Thou dost their high commission give
The demons out of souls to chase,
Spiritual maladies relieve,
And minister Thy healing grace.
Thy virtue, O almighty Lord,
Ejects the stubborn spirit unclean,
Thou healest by Thy pardoning word
Habits of most inveterate sin:
And who Thy pardoning word dispense
Are still invested with Thy power,
Kept by Thy love's omnipotence,
And saved, till sin shall be no more.
Ejects the stubborn spirit unclean,
Thou healest by Thy pardoning word
Habits of most inveterate sin:
And who Thy pardoning word dispense
Are still invested with Thy power,
Kept by Thy love's omnipotence,
And saved, till sin shall be no more.
232
233.
[Not one of all the rich or great]
The names of the twelve apostles are these, &c.
—x. 2.
Not one of all the rich or great,
The learn'd, the noble, or the wise,
Is chose to bear the sacred weight,
And help a fallen world to rise;
Not one the glorious charge shall share,
Or fill an apostolic chair.
The learn'd, the noble, or the wise,
Is chose to bear the sacred weight,
And help a fallen world to rise;
Not one the glorious charge shall share,
Or fill an apostolic chair.
'Tis thus our heavenly Master slights
The things most highly prized by men,
His church's independent rights,
His servants' dignity unseen,
His powers He shows divinely given,
His kingdom not of earth but heaven.
The things most highly prized by men,
His church's independent rights,
His servants' dignity unseen,
His powers He shows divinely given,
His kingdom not of earth but heaven.
'Tis thus He blasts the pride of Rome,
Baffles their Antichristian plea,
Who pomp, and power, and state assume,
Who make the world and church agree,
His Spirit's with the civil sword,
And blend the' apostle with the Lord.
Baffles their Antichristian plea,
Who pomp, and power, and state assume,
Who make the world and church agree,
His Spirit's with the civil sword,
And blend the' apostle with the Lord.
234.
[Those who seem at first rejected]
Go not into the way of the Gentiles.
—x. 5.
Those who seem at first rejected,
Vilest of the sinful race,
Gentiles in due time elected
Magnify the God of grace;
The glad tidings of salvation
Open profligates believe,
All the fruits of Jesus' passion
All the life of God receive.
235.
[Preach the heavenly kingdom near]
Preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
—x. 7.
Preach the heavenly kingdom near,
The sure foundation lay,
Christ shall in the clouds appear,
And earth shall pass away:
First He comes to save mankind,
His Spirit's power He first imparts;
Sinners, turn, believe, and find
The kingdom in your hearts.
The sure foundation lay,
Christ shall in the clouds appear,
And earth shall pass away:
233
His Spirit's power He first imparts;
Sinners, turn, believe, and find
The kingdom in your hearts.
Ready is it to take place,
And now enrich the poor:
Heaven begun in gospel-grace
Is to believers sure:
God comes down on earth to reign,
With dazzling majesty confess'd:
Every happy pardon'd man
Contains Him in his breast.
And now enrich the poor:
Heaven begun in gospel-grace
Is to believers sure:
God comes down on earth to reign,
With dazzling majesty confess'd:
Every happy pardon'd man
Contains Him in his breast.
236.
[Still Thy genuine gospel, Lord]
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, &c.
—x. 8.
Still Thy genuine gospel, Lord,
With signs and wonders seal,
Let Thine efficacious word
Distemper'd spirits heal;
Let it minister Thy grace
To make the inbred lepers clean,
Fiends out of their souls to chase,
And raise the dead in sin.
237.
[Our life, and grace, and ministry]
Freely ye have received, freely give.
—x. 8.
Our life, and grace, and ministry
We freely did receive,
And freely to Thy church and Thee
Our gifts and life we give:
Bishop of souls, we wait the day
Which shall reward our toil;
Appear, Thy servants to o'erpay
With one eternal smile.
234
238.
[The' ambassador of Jesus see]
Provide neither gold, nor silver . . . nor, &c.
—x. 9, 10.
The' ambassador of Jesus see
Who publish'd first the gospel-word!
His equipage is poverty,
His fund the promise of his Lord:
The gifts which freely he receives,
Freely he gives for Jesus' sake,
And to succeeding labourers leaves
A pattern few have hearts to take.
239.
[He tramples on his Lord's command]
He tramples on his Lord's command,His dread authority defies,
Who heaps up treasure as the sand,
Himself and house to aggrandize:
But naked as he enter'd in,
Out of the world he soon shall go,
Receive the wages of his sin,
And find the traitor's place below.
240.
[Who labours in the church of God]
The workman is worthy of his meat.
—x. 10.
Who labours in the church of God,
(Not who in sloth and pleasures lives,)
He justly challenges his food,
His food by right Divine receives;
And Jesus' ministers require
The labourer's, not the glutton's, hire.
(Not who in sloth and pleasures lives,)
He justly challenges his food,
His food by right Divine receives;
And Jesus' ministers require
The labourer's, not the glutton's, hire.
Superfluous luxury they hate,
Inured to toil they suffer on,
On Jesus in His members wait,
Their servants for His sake alone;
And while they in His work abide,
They trust their Master to provide.
Inured to toil they suffer on,
On Jesus in His members wait,
Their servants for His sake alone;
And while they in His work abide,
They trust their Master to provide.
235
241.
[The character a servant bears]
Whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire, &c.
—x. 11.
The character a servant bears
He for his Master's sake maintains,
Regardless how on earth he fares,
If placed as Providence ordains:
From house to house he never roves,
Urged by a light voluptuous mind,
But sent by Him whose work he loves,
He runs, and leaves himself behind.
242.
[Peace to the house I enter now!]
When ye come into an house, salute it, &c.
—x. 12.
Peace to the house I enter now!
If sent with Thy commission, Thou
Shalt answer Lord for me,
Peace to the son of peace impart,
Set up Thy kingdom in his heart
Through faith which is in Thee.
If sent with Thy commission, Thou
Shalt answer Lord for me,
Peace to the son of peace impart,
Set up Thy kingdom in his heart
Through faith which is in Thee.
In bliss assured and pardon seal'd,
Now let him find the word fulfill'd,
Of present heaven possess'd;
Thyself in him and his reveal,
Thyself in every bosom dwell,
Our everlasting Guest.
Now let him find the word fulfill'd,
Of present heaven possess'd;
Thyself in him and his reveal,
Thyself in every bosom dwell,
Our everlasting Guest.
243.
[Can a minister complain]
If it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.
—x. 13.
Can a minister complain,
Can he ever want success?
If by each repulse he gain
Peace, confirm'd abundant peace;
If the peace which sinners spurn,
Heavenly, inconceivable,
Into his own breast return,
There with Christ for ever dwell?
Can he ever want success?
If by each repulse he gain
Peace, confirm'd abundant peace;
If the peace which sinners spurn,
Heavenly, inconceivable,
Into his own breast return,
There with Christ for ever dwell?
236
Profit every way we find,
We, from whom our gracious Lord
Only asks a willing mind
Simply to declare His word:
Jesus, if employ'd by Thee,
Thou shalt teach us what to say,
Bid us prove our ministry,
Give both will and power to' obey.
We, from whom our gracious Lord
Only asks a willing mind
Simply to declare His word:
Jesus, if employ'd by Thee,
Thou shalt teach us what to say,
Bid us prove our ministry,
Give both will and power to' obey.
244.
[If such the punishment of those]
It shall be more tolerable for . . . Sodom and, &c.
—x. 15.
If such the punishment of those
The ministers who barely slight,
Woe to the men who dare oppose
The truth, and with its Author fight,
The servants slay, the Lord blaspheme!
No hell is hot enough for them.
245.
[Who arm'd with Christ's commission goes]
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst, &c.
—x. 16.
Who arm'd with Christ's commission goes,
The world's fierce enmity to prove,
Will nothing to their rage oppose,
But meekness, innocence, and love:
'Tis thus we make the gospel known,
The wonders wrought by Jesus' name,
And force the wolves themselves to own,
“A Christian is a patient lamb.”
246.
[Saviour, my double want I feel]
Be ye . . . wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
—x. 16.
Saviour, my double want I feel,
By fear, by innocence betray'd,
By prudence false, and blindfold zeal;
In pity hasten to my aid,
With wisdom pure of worldly art,
With harmless, undesigning love
Meeken, yet fortify, my heart,
And blend the serpent with the dove.
237
247.
[Not through an all-suspecting fear]
Beware of men!
—x. 17.
Not through an all-suspecting fear
Would we in deserts hide,
Nor yet unguardedly sincere
In faithless man confide:
Arm'd with Thy wise benevolent mind
Our course we safely run,
Honour and love the ransom'd kind,
But trust in God alone.
248.
[Faith sends me, Jesus, in Thy name]
Ye shall be brought before governors and kings, &c.
—x. 18.
Faith sends me, Jesus, in Thy name
To testify the truth Divine,
The great salvation to proclaim,
And tells my heart the cause is Thine;
Faith bids me look on earthly kings
As feeble worms too mean to fear,
And all Thy power and wisdom brings
Into Thy dauntless confessor.
249.
[Whoe'er to Thee, O Christ, belong]
When they deliver you up, take no thought how, &c.
—x. 19.
Whoe'er to Thee, O Christ, belong,
And nothing but Thy glory seek,
Thy Spirit rules their mind and tongue,
And gives them what and how to speak:
Thy witness need not fear surprise,
He never can be off his guard,
Who on Thy faithful word relies
Which always keeps his heart prepared.
250.
[Welcome my Saviour's word to me]
He that endureth to the end shall be saved.
—x. 22.
Welcome my Saviour's word to me,
The cross and crown annex'd I see,
And suffer on, till pain is pass'd
With life, and I am saved at last:
238
Arise, My love, and come away,
Look up, for thou shalt weep no more,
Safe-landed on the heavenly shore.
251.
[Master, I would no longer be]
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master.
—x. 25.
Master, I would no longer be
Loved by a world that hated Thee,
But patient in Thy footsteps go,
Entreated like my Lord below:
I would (but Thou must give the power)
With meekness meet the fiery hour,
The shame despise, the cross abide;
For Thou wast scourged, and crucified!
252.
[Every deed, and word, and thought]
There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed.
—x. 26.
Every deed, and word, and thought
Shall be into judgment brought:
Wherefore then should we conceal
What the day will soon reveal?
Let us in our Father's sight
Walk as children of the light,
Now prevent the general doom,
Triumph when the Judge is come.
253.
[No shy reserve, or close disguise]
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light.
—x. 27.
No shy reserve, or close disguise,
No dark, mysterious secrecy,
No art to blind Thy people's eyes,
Becomes a preacher sent by Thee:
We tell on the housetop whate'er
Thy Spirit and word to us have show'd,
And bold throughout the world declare
The utmost counsel of our God.
239
254.
[Saviour, speak into my heart]
Fear not them which kill the body, but are not, &c.
—x. 28.
Saviour, speak into my heart
Sacred intrepidity:
They that soul and body part
Can they part my soul from Thee?
Men and fiends my soul defies,
Join'd to God it never dies.
255.
[Who would not dread the frown of Him]
Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul, &c.
—x. 28.
Who would not dread the frown of Him
Whose anger burns unquenchable,
Whose breath like a sulphureous stream,
Kindles, and blows the flames of hell!
Our God is a consuming fire,
And fastening on the sinful soul,
Destroys what never can expire
Long as eternal ages roll.
256.
[Father, how wide Thy glories shine]
The very hairs of your head are all numbered.
—x. 30.
Father, how wide Thy glories shine,
God of the universe, and mine!
Thy goodness watches o'er the whole,
As all mankind were but one soul,
Yet keeps my every sacred hair,
As I remain'd Thy single care.
257.
[What tongue the greatness can explain]
Ye are of more value than many sparrows.
—x. 31.
What tongue the greatness can explain,
Or estimate the soul of man?
Its worth is only known to God,
Who purchased it with all His blood.
258.
[Thy confessor in deed and word]
Whosoever . . . shall confess Me before men, &c.
—x. 32.
Thy confessor in deed and word,
Before the sons of men,
240
I would Thy cause maintain:
And if my Lord I thus confess,
Thou wilt Thy servant own,
Present before Thy Father's face,
And place me on Thy throne.
259.
[Ah, wretched souls, who urged by shame]
Whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will, &c.
—x. 33.
Ah, wretched souls, who urged by shame
Desert your Master's cause,
Before the world deny His name,
And stumble at His cross!
Disown'd before the heavenly host,
Ye shall receive your hire,
Out from His glorious presence thrust
Into eternal fire.
260.
[Not to indulge our sloth and ease]
Think not that I am come to send peace on, &c.
—x. 34.
Not to indulge our sloth and ease,
Not to confirm our worldly peace,
Didst Thou on earth appear,
But that we might Thy kingdom know,
And find, cut off from all below,
The Lord our portion here.
Not to confirm our worldly peace,
Didst Thou on earth appear,
But that we might Thy kingdom know,
And find, cut off from all below,
The Lord our portion here.
Thou kindly camest to stand between,
To separate us from sinful men,
Us from our selves to part,
That rescued by Thy Spirit's power
Thy saints may cleave to earth no more,
But give Thee all their heart.
To separate us from sinful men,
Us from our selves to part,
That rescued by Thy Spirit's power
Thy saints may cleave to earth no more,
But give Thee all their heart.
261.
[Now, Lord, apply the powerful word]
I came not to send peace, but a sword.
—x. 34.
Now, Lord, apply the powerful word,
Use upon us Thy Spirit's sword,
Who dare abide Thy day;
241
Cut off our selfishness and pride,
Our sins for ever slay.
262.
[The father hates his gracious child]
I am come to set a man at variance against his, &c.
—x. 35.
The father hates his gracious child,
Himself unsaved, unreconciled,
Through Thy atoning blood;
The graceless son his father scorns,
If first the pious parent turns,
And meets a pardoning God.
Himself unsaved, unreconciled,
Through Thy atoning blood;
The graceless son his father scorns,
If first the pious parent turns,
And meets a pardoning God.
Thy handmaid in the softer kind
Can no remorse or pity find,
If Thou hast set her free;
The mother never can forgive
The daughter who presumes to live
Devoted all to Thee.
Can no remorse or pity find,
If Thou hast set her free;
The mother never can forgive
The daughter who presumes to live
Devoted all to Thee.
The daughter gay both hates and fears
The mother who to Thee adheres,
With Thee in spirit one;
And none their dearest friends can bear
Who God to friends and life prefer,
Who seek Thy love alone.
The mother who to Thee adheres,
With Thee in spirit one;
And none their dearest friends can bear
Who God to friends and life prefer,
Who seek Thy love alone.
263.
[If Christ on me His grace bestows]
A man's foes shall be they of his own household.
—x. 36.
If Christ on me His grace bestows,
I must expect my household-foes
To vex me for His sake:
Will they receive or credit mine,
While all the blessed words Divine
They cast behind their back?
I must expect my household-foes
To vex me for His sake:
Will they receive or credit mine,
While all the blessed words Divine
They cast behind their back?
I look for enmity and war,
Jesus, from those who Thee abhor,
And fly the irksome light:
Averse alike to Thine and Thee,
With us they never can agree
Who with our Saviour fight.
Jesus, from those who Thee abhor,
And fly the irksome light:
242
With us they never can agree
Who with our Saviour fight.
264.
[Jesus competitors disdains]
He that loveth father or mother more than Me, &c.
—x. 37, 38.
Jesus competitors disdains:
Where'er the love of Jesus reigns,
It takes up all the heart:
Or if my friends, by nature dear,
I dotingly to Christ prefer,
I bid my Lord depart.
Where'er the love of Jesus reigns,
It takes up all the heart:
Or if my friends, by nature dear,
I dotingly to Christ prefer,
I bid my Lord depart.
A father if I more esteem,
Or happier in a child than Him,
Neglect the joy of grace,
My own unworthiness I show
And force my God to let me go
An outcast from His face.
Or happier in a child than Him,
Neglect the joy of grace,
My own unworthiness I show
And force my God to let me go
An outcast from His face.
Ah, Lord, preserve my soul from sin,
Nor let the pleasing bane steal in,
The soul-ensnaring ill;
I nothing can deserve from Thee,
Yet still impart Thyself to me,
And count me worthy still.
Nor let the pleasing bane steal in,
The soul-ensnaring ill;
I nothing can deserve from Thee,
Yet still impart Thyself to me,
And count me worthy still.
O might I daily in Thy cause
Take up, and bear Thy hallow'd cross
By Thine example led,
The pain endure, the shame despise,
Till ripe for heavenly joy I rise
To triumph with my Head.
Take up, and bear Thy hallow'd cross
By Thine example led,
The pain endure, the shame despise,
Till ripe for heavenly joy I rise
To triumph with my Head.
265.
[O could I so perfidious be]
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he, &c.
—x. 39.
O could I so perfidious be,
Jesus, by once denying Thee,
My wretched life to save,
My life, which so preserved I find,
I soon should lose, by Thee consign'd
To that infernal grave.
Jesus, by once denying Thee,
My wretched life to save,
243
I soon should lose, by Thee consign'd
To that infernal grave.
But if I cheerfully forego
For Thy dear sake my life below,
My life conceal'd above
Shall I not find it, Lord, again,
And full felicity obtain
In Thine eternal love?
For Thy dear sake my life below,
My life conceal'd above
Shall I not find it, Lord, again,
And full felicity obtain
In Thine eternal love?
Thy faithful promise I receive,
And only for Thy glory live,
Till Thou my life require:
And if my heart Thy Spirit fill,
I gladly suffer all Thy will,
And on Thy cross expire.
And only for Thy glory live,
Till Thou my life require:
And if my heart Thy Spirit fill,
I gladly suffer all Thy will,
And on Thy cross expire.
266.
[Who to His Saviour's messengers]
He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he, &c.
—x. 40.
Who to His Saviour's messengers
An hospitable welcome gives,
Receives, not angels unawares,
But Christ and God Himself receives:
Come then, and bring the Crucified,
Come all who preach His pardoning word,
My house, my arms I open wide,
My heart to entertain your Lord.
267.
[Through zeal for piety sincere]
He that receiveth a righteous man in the name, &c.
—x. 41.
Through zeal for piety sincere
I would receive, esteem, embrace
Thine every pious worshipper,
Who follows after righteousness:
Jesus, I make Thy brethren mine,
And serve in love's simplicity,
244
I hear “Ye did it unto Me!”
268.
[How small the gift it matters not]
Whosoever shall give unto one of these little, &c.
—x. 42.
How small the gift it matters not
Given for the sake of Christ the Lord,
It cannot be by Christ forgot,
Or lose its infinite reward.
A cup of water shall procure
(Bestow'd for Jesu's sake alone)
Rivers of life, and raptures pure,
Which flow perennial from His throne.
| CHAPTER X. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |