The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Thee, Jesus, Thee our hearts adore!
Bound as a criminal profane,
Given up into the judge's power,
Thou brav'st the punishment of man;
Haled to the Lord's tremendous bar,
The Governor of earth and sky,
Worthy to be condemn'd we are,
Worthy the second death to die.

But loosed by Thy captivity
Thy meritorious bonds we bless,
Rejoice, while led away with Thee
To life and endless happiness:
Deliver'd from the Judge Divine
With all Thy family above,
With all Thy saints on earth we join
The triumph of redeeming love.

714. [My sins I may with horror own]

Judas . . . repented himself, and brought again, &c. —xxvii. 3.

My sins I may with horror own,
Break off, and the occasion shun,
My helpless case lament,
Restore my sinful ill-got gain,
Yet never feel that godly pain,
Or savingly repent.

In vain with guilty, slavish fear
I see the righteous Judge appear,
And shrink His wrath to bear:
Unless I in His mercy hope,
Dread of His wrath will shut me up
In damnable despair.

417

But when I all my sins confess,
My only refuge in distress
Is a most gracious God,
Who will not suffer me to die,
When self-condemn'd to Christ I fly,
And plead His speaking blood.

Father, I now the' atonement plead:
Through Him who suffer'd in my stead,
And did my guilt remove
Bold to Thy throne of grace I come,
And thus escape the traitor's doom,
And thus obtain Thy love.

715. [Such, miser, is thy end, or worse]

He cast down the pieces of silver in the, &c. —xxvii. 5.

Such, miser, is thy end, or worse,
Who wealth unjustly dost obtain,
By conscience gnaw'd with late remorse,
At death thou wouldst repent in vain,
In vain wouldst benefit the poor
By what thou canst no longer keep:
Self-murder'd soul, thy doom deplore,
And plunged in hell for ever weep!

716. [The conscience of chief-priests admire!]

The chief priests took the silver pieces, and, &c. —xxvii. 6.

The conscience of chief-priests admire!
So carefully a gnat they strain!
The price of blood, the traitor's hire
Their sacred offerings would profane:
But guiltless blood they boldly spill,
And no remorse the ruffians feel.

The children with their sires compare:
How closely in their steps they tread!
For small indifferent things they care,
For superstitious trifles plead,

418

But take the ancient murderer's part,
And hate their brethren in their heart.

With envious, fierce, vindictive pride,
Saviour, Thy servants they defame;
Cast out our names unheard, untried,
Resolved, impatient to condemn,
And in our innocence to' oppress
The truth with all its witnesses.

717. [Lo! the Son of Man appears]

Jesus stood before the governor. —xxvii. 11.

Lo! the Son of Man appears,
To bonds and death pursued,
In a wicked judge reveres
The' authority of God!
Subject to His foes' command,
Mark that humble Prisoner there!
All mankind shall shortly stand,
And tremble at His bar!

718. [Witness to the truth He bears]

Witness to the truth He bears
Which sets His prisoners free,
Simply to the world declares
His own Divinity:
This His good confession was,
That we His kingdom might confess,
All the virtue of His cross,
And all the strength of grace.

719. [When maliciously they seek]

When He was accused of the chief priests, &c. —xxvii. 12.

When maliciously they seek
Occasion to accuse,
Urged by clamorous foes to speak,
We lawfully refuse:

419

Innocence with generous scorn
May envious accusation slight,
Silence is the just return
To impotent despite.

720. [Speechless the Saviour stood]

Speechless the Saviour stood
Beneath my guilty load,
He answer'd not, for I
Have nothing to reply:
But when condemn'd and dumb
I before God become,
His mouth is open'd then for me,
His blood proclaims the sinner free.

721. [Yes; their slanderous lies I hear]

Hearest Thou not how many things they, &c. —xxvii. 13.

Yes; their slanderous lies I hear,
As one that hears them not,
Silent at the bar appear
Where truth is never sought:
Let them every evil say,
Against the servants testify:
Judged in man's unrighteous day,
I as my Lord reply.

722. [Jesus answer'd not a word]

He answered him to never a word. —xxvii. 14.

Jesus answer'd not a word
To furious calumny:
But the silence of my Lord
Distinctly speaks to me:
Taught by this I now forbear
My eagerness of self-defence,
Leave to God the cause and care
Of blacken'd innocence.

723. [Happy soul who Jesus knows]

The governor marvelled greatly. —xxvii. 14.

Happy soul who Jesus knows
By silence to proclaim!

420

Nothing more confounds his foes
Or glorifies the Lamb:
Speechless when we stand, alike
Unmoved by man's reproach or praise,
More than miracle we strike
And all the world amaze.

724. [The magistrate is oft inclined]

Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that, &c. —xxvii. 17.

The magistrate is oft inclined
Jesus's faithful flock to spare;
More mercy from the world we find
Than men of sacred character:
Pity for innocence oppress'd
May move a moral heathen's breast.

But those who bear the Christian's name,
And boast their form devoid of power,
They hate the followers of the Lamb,
(As wolves the harmless sheep devour,)
Christians they never can forgive,
Or let the true religion live.

725. [Pastors corrupt their flocks induce]

The chief priests and elders persuaded the, &c. —xxvii. 20.

Pastors corrupt their flocks induce
Sin before Jesus to prefer,
The world before their God to choose,
Riches before a life of prayer,
Pleasure to ask and sensual joy,
And the true life of Christ destroy.

726. [I too have oft preferr'd]

The governor . . . said, . . . Whether of the twain, &c. —xxvii. 21.

I too have oft preferr'd
To Christ my sin abhorr'd,

421

A robber and a murderer spared,
And crucified my Lord:
I spared the lust that stole
My heart, O God, from Thee,
The lust that would destroy my soul
To all eternity.

That just and holy One
Who suffer'd in my place
I would not for my Saviour own,
And kill'd His life of grace.
But Christ I now receive,
Myself not Him deny:
Henceforth in me let Jesus live,
And let Barabbas die.

727. [With Christ what shall I do?]

What shall I do then with Jesus which is, &c. —xxvii. 22.

With Christ what shall I do?
What use of Jesus make?
For wisdom, strength, and justice too,
And holiness I take:
My Advocate and Peace,
My Life which never dies,
My Hope, and Refuge in distress,
My Leader to the skies.

I take Him for my Lord,
My only God above,
To be with confidence adored,
And served with humble love:
In all things I employ
My Prophet, King, and Priest:
I take Him for my present Joy,
And my eternal Rest.

422

728. [With Christ what shall I do?]

With Christ what shall I do?
The Prince of life and peace
I will not crucify anew,
But yield to His release:
I will in Him believe,
By sin so long oppress'd,
Into mine arms of faith receive,
And cherish in my breast.

My Friend, my bosom Friend,
He never shall depart,
But stay and love me to the end,
And keep my faithful heart:
To Him I still will sue
For grace and purity,
And let Him reign, and let Him do
Whate'er He will with me.

729. [Why, what evil hath He done]

They cried out the more, saying, Let Him, &c. —xxvii. 23.

Why, what evil hath He done,
Asks the heathen judge in vain?
Crucify, for crimes unknown,
Crucify, they urge again!
No, there can be no reprieve;
Only blood will satisfy:
That our guilty souls may live,
Innocence itself must die.

730. [With full indignation fired]

With full indignation fired
Now my hateful sins I see,
Sins that Jesus' death required,
Sins that nail'd Him to the tree:

423

All the sins which I have done
Call'd and clamour'd for His blood:
Dying, by His blood alone
God could quench the wrath of God.

Shall I suffer them to live
Jesus' murderers abhorr'd?
No; to daily death I give
Sins that crucified my Lord:
Let the fleshly Adam bleed,
Nature, self, its life resign,
Till I rise entirely dead,
Fill'd with purest life Divine.

731. [Horrible wish! Thy murderers dare]

Then answered all the people, and said, &c. —xxvii. 25.

Horrible wish! Thy murderers dare
The blessing to a curse pervert:
We turn the curse into a prayer;
To cleanse our lives, and purge our heart,
In all its hallowing, blissful powers
Thy blood be, Lord, on us and ours!

On me, Thou bleeding Lamb, on me
Be pour'd the consecrating stream,
From all, from all iniquity
My life, my nature to redeem,
To fill with purity Divine,
And sign my soul for ever Thine.

732. [Me, the true Barabbas, me]

Then released he Barabbas unto them. —xxvii. 26.

Me, the true Barabbas, me,
Me, and every soul of man
Jesus bought, and set us free,
For a world of sinners slain:

424

Gladly I the grace receive,
I who shed my Saviour's blood,
Live, a pardon'd murderer, live
Ransom'd by the death of God.

733. [Scourged by wicked, cruel men]

When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered, &c. —xxvii. 26.

Scourged by wicked, cruel men,
When Thine only Son I see,
Father, shall I dare complain
Chasten'd for my sins by Thee?
Chasten'd for my good alone
To Thy gracious will I yield:
But let Jesus' blood atone,
Let me by His stripes be heal'd.

734. [Our meek, pacific Prince adore]

Then the soldiers . . . took Jesus. —xxvii. 27.

Our meek, pacific Prince adore,
Abandon'd to the soldiers' power,
A Lamb with leopards join'd;
That outraged by the men of war,
His church their violences may bear,
And peace in Jesus find.

735. [Jesus with eyes of faith I see]

They stripped Him, and put on Him a, &c. —xxvii. 28.

Jesus with eyes of faith I see,
Stripp'd of His seamless coat for me,
Exposed to shame and scorn,
That I may cast my sordid dress
And with His purest righteousness
My naked soul adorn.

736. [Still let the world with haughty pride]

They put a crown of thorns upon His head, &c. —xxvii. 29.

Still let the world with haughty pride
His suffering majesty deride,
And scoff His Spirit's power:

425

I glory with the Jews unseen
To serve a Lord refused by men
An humbled King to' adore.

I worship whom the world despise,
His scorn and ignominy prize,
His scarlet robe put on,
And crown'd with thorns my bleeding King
To His, to my great Father bring,
And claim a glorious crown.

Jesus, Thy patient power I feel:
Insulted in Thy members still,
A King of sorrows Thou:
With love's unfeign'd sincerity,
I bow mine inmost soul to Thee,
And shall for ever bow.

737. [Sight incomprehensible]

They spit upon Him, and took the reed, &c. —xxvii. 30.

Sight incomprehensible,
Which sense will ne'er conceive!
His mysterious grief who feel
They only can believe:
Humbled at His feet we pray:
Or lost in awe that dares not move,
Silent adoration pay,
Unutterable love!

738. [Kings of earth, from Christ alone]

Kings of earth, from Christ alone
Your royal power proceeds:
Taught by Him, with reverence own
Your sceptres are but reeds:
Use them for your heavenly King,
To' advance on earth His reigning power,
All into subjection bring
To Him your hearts adore.

426

Dare ye spurn the just command
Of your incarnate God?
Soon that reed in Jesus' hand
Shall prove an iron rod:
Him your sovereign Lord confess,
And Jesus shall His servants own,
Wave the sceptre of His grace,
And call you to His throne.

739. [Still we see our Lord below]

After that they had mocked Him, they . . . led, &c. —xxvii. 31.

Still we see our Lord below
Mock'd by hypocrites profane,
Mock'd with forms and empty show,
Mock'd with acts of worship vain:
Twice a week they bow the knee,
Zealous in religion's cause;
Then away to Calvary!
Then they nail Him to His cross!

740. [Followers of the silent Lamb]

Followers of the silent Lamb,
Keep we still our Lord in view,
Charged with His reproach and shame
Him to Calvary pursue:
Saviour, let Thy Spirit lead,
Let Thy cross the power supply:
Then in all Thy steps we tread,
Then we come with Thee to die!

741. [Soon as we truly willing are]

Simon . . . they compelled to bear His cross. —xxvii. 32.

Soon as we truly willing are
To serve the Saviour's cause,
Forced by an adverse world,
We bear the scandal of Thy cross:
At first we bear it through constraint,
Till sprinkled with Thy blood

427

No more we shrink, no more we faint,
But bless the welcome load.

742. [Worldly consolations see!]

They gave Him vinegar to drink mingled, &c. —xxvii. 34.

Worldly consolations see!
Mix'd with gall the wine they give!
But who dies the death for me,
Will not the support receive;
Will not lose one moment's pain;
Bears the full unlessen'd load,
Bears the rage of fiends and men,
Bears the utmost wrath of God!

743. [Men would charm it or remove]

Men would charm it or remove,
To their pain insensible:
Saints who Jesus' sufferings love,
All their own consent to feel,
Calmly fill their measure up,
Sure that all their griefs are His,
Drink His passion's deepest cup,
Die with Him in perfect peace.

744. [Happy might I station'd be]

And sitting down they watched Him there. —xxvii. 36.

Happy might I station'd be
Near the ignominious tree!
Lamb of God my suit admit,
Place me at Thy wounded feet:
Here I would through life abide,
Watching with the Crucified,
Fix'd in silent wonder gaze
On Thy marr'd yet heavenly face:

Humbly at Thy cross adore,
Feel its crucifying power,
Catch the sanctifying blood,
Die with an expiring God!

428

Give me thus Thy death to see,
Till my soul is all like Thee,
Meet to live the life above,
Swallow'd up in praise and love.

745. [Thee Jesus, Thee Thy foes confess]

They set up over His head His accusation, &c. —xxvii. 37.

Thee Jesus, Thee Thy foes confess,
Lord of lords and Prince of peace,
Beyond their own design:
King of the inward Jews Thou art;
Set up Thy kingdom in my heart,
And all my heart is Thine.

Thy right acquired by mortal pain
Over this poor worm maintain,
And challenge for Thine own,
And reign o'er every child of grace,
And fix in all the ransom'd race
Thine everlasting throne.

746. [Number'd with the transgressors, Thee]

Then were there two thieves crucified with, &c. —xxvii. 38.

Number'd with the transgressors, Thee,
Betwixt the felons crucified,
Coming again we soon shall see
The good and evil to divide,
To' assign their states unchangeable
In joys of heaven, or pains of hell.

I see Thee now to sinners join'd,
That sinners may Thy life partake,
That I may Thy salvation find,
And pardon'd for Thy passion's sake,
Be number'd with Thy saints above,
To' adore the depths of dying love.

429

747. [Man mocks a Saviour, and High-priest]

They that passed by reviled Him, &c. —xxvii. 39, 40.

Man mocks a Saviour, and High-priest
Who comes the temple to destroy,
His power that rescues the distress'd,
Who will not for Himself employ,
A Son of God the world deride,
A Man exposed and crucified.

But we our great High-priest admire,
Himself the temple fill'd with God,
The God who doth for man expire,
Who buys and saves us through His blood,
And bids us on His cross ascend
To reign with our immortal Friend.

748. [Himself He will not save, that we]

Himself He cannot save. —xxvii. 42.

Himself He will not save, that we
His saving grace may taste and see:
He dies, that His worst foes may find
His death the life of all mankind.

Himself, and us, He cannot save,
And therefore sinks into our grave,
A voluntary Victim dies,
That we may to His glory rise.

749. [Darkness the whole earth o'erspreads]

There was darkness over all the land. —xxvii. 45.

Darkness the whole earth o'erspreads,
And fills with sad affright,
While the' eclipse of death invades
That uncreated Light:
But that Sun shall soon appear,
All the gloom of hell disperse,
All the frown of heaven, and cheer
Our brighten'd universe.

430

750. [O Jesus, let Thy dying cry]

Jesus cried. —xxvii. 46.

O Jesus, let Thy dying cry
Pierce to the bottom of my heart,
Its evils cure, its wants supply,
And bid its unbelief depart,
Slay the dire root and seed of sin,
Prepare for Thee the holiest place;
Then, then essential Love, come in,
And fill Thy house with endless praise.

751. [Who comprehends the reason why]

My God, My God, why hast Thou, &c. —xxvii. 46.

Who comprehends the reason why,
Must God's whole mystery explain,
Must know how all in Adam die,
That all may live in Christ again;
Must God's eternal purpose see,
(A secret to His host above,)
And sound the depths of Deity,
The wisdom, righteousness, and love.

Hast Thou forgot, Thou Man of woe,
The end of all Thy sorrows here,
For whom Thou didst Thy heaven forego,
For whom in mortal flesh appear?
Didst Thou not thirst to drink the cup,
To' accomplish Thy great sacrifice,
And yield Thy spotless spirit up,
And draw us after to the skies?

'Tis not for sin which Thou hast done,
Thine angry Father hides His face,
But on Thine innocence is shown
The vengeance due to Adam's race;

431

Thou all our sin and curse hast took,
That we may bless'd and holy be;
Thou by Thy Father art forsook,
That God may ne'er abandon me.

752. [Jesus, was ever love like Thine!]

Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud, &c. —xxvii. 50.

Jesus, was ever love like Thine!
Thy life a scene of wonder is,
Thy death itself is all Divine,
While, pleased Thy spirit to dismiss,
Thou dost out of the flesh retire,
And, like the Prince of Life expire!

Thy death supports the dying saint:
Thy death my sovereign comfort be!
While feeble flesh and nature faint,
Arm with Thy mortal agony,
And fill, while soul and body part,
With life, immortal life, my heart.

O let Thy death's mysterious power
With all its sacred weight descend,
To consecrate my final hour,
To bless me with Thy peaceful end;
And breathed into the hands Divine
My spirit be received with Thine!

753. [Beneath my sins He bow'd His head]

Beneath my sins He bow'd His head,
My sins and those of all mankind!
His soul a victim in our stead
Into His Father's hands resign'd!
The' immortal God He breathed His last!
The sight all earth and heaven amazed;
Their silent harps aside they cast,
And angels trembled as they gazed.

432

754. [Rent by Thy expiring groan]

The veil of the temple was rent in twain. —xxvii. 51.

Rent by Thy expiring groan
The temple's veil I see,
Rent the flesh Thou didst put on,
Eternal God, for me:
Viewing now the heavens thrown wide,
I to my Father's house repair,
Boldly enter through Thy side,
And claim a mansion there.

755. [Saviour, let Thy dying love]

The earth did quake, and the rocks rent. —xxvii. 51.

Saviour, let Thy dying love
Its virtue still exert,
Earth to its foundations move,
And break the rocky heart:
Sinners by Thy passion shake,
The most obdurate spirits rent,
By Thy death the dead awake,
And bid the world repent.

756. [Earth explains the plaintive cry]

The graves were opened; and many, &c. —xxvii. 52, 53.

Earth explains the plaintive cry,
While to its centre shook,
Nature's works inform us why
Thou wast of God forsook:
Now the wondrous cause we trace,
Thy love in its effects we find,
Joyfully Thy death confess
The life of all mankind.

By Thy death the living way
Is open'd to the skies,
Judgments horribly display
The death that never dies!

433

Earth with conscious dread is fill'd!
But lo! the riven rocks proclaim
Penitential grace reveal'd
Through Thy almighty name.

Lo, the open'd graves declare
Thy death destroys our sin,
Doth on twice-dead souls confer
The life of God within:
Lo, the saints by rising show
That all may feel Thy quickening power,
May Thy resurrection know,
And wake to sleep no more.

Rising saints forsake the tomb,
To us, they testify
We our bodies shall resume,
And mount above the sky;
We shall leave the sepulchre
In that Jerusalem above,
Glad before Thy face to' appear,
And sing Thy dying love.

757. [Who knowingly the truth oppose]

Now when the centurion, and they that, &c. —xxvii. 54.

Who knowingly the truth oppose,
More distant from salvation stand,
More unconvincible than those
Blind instruments of their command,
That serve their execrable will,
And all their bloody mind fulfil.

The first effects of dying love
Wrought on the Pagan soldiers see!
Their hearts with conscious awe approve,
And own the suffering Deity,

434

To Jews a bless'd example give,
And bid the heathen world believe.

758. [Left to themselves the strong give place]

And many women were there beholding. —xxvii. 55.

Left to themselves the strong give place,
The weak are fortified by grace:
The men forsake their Lord and fly,
The women stand and see Him die!
His death its sovereign power imparts
With bolder faith to female hearts,
And bids the feebler vessels prove
The utmost strength of bleeding love.

759. [Christ and His truth when all desert]

He went to Pilate, and begged the body, &c. —xxvii. 58.

Christ and His truth when all desert
'T is then our time to take His part,
Ourselves with boldness to declare,
And show, that we His followers are,
Resolved to suffer by His side,
And die with Jesus crucified.

760. [Fain would I my affection show]

There was Mary Magdalene, and the other, &c. —xxvii. 61.

Fain would I my affection show,
Keep the sepulchre in view,
Nor ever hence remove:
Through life my whole employment be
To muse on Jesus' love for me,
On Jesus' dying love.

The friendship of my heavenly Friend
Death itself can never end:
The love on me bestow'd
Establish'd by His death I feel,
Confirm'd by His own Spirit's seal,
And cemented with blood.

435

Station'd by my Redeemer's grave,
Waiting for His power to save,
Adhering to His word,
I prove my firm fidelity,
Conceal'd with Him I cannot see,
And buried with my Lord.

To all who watch His sepulchre,
Jesus shall again appear,
His faithful followers own;
The Head shall bid the members rise,
And draw us after to the skies,
And seat us on His throne.

761. [How vain the care of Jesus' foes]

Command therefore that the sepulchre be, &c. —xxvii. 64.

How vain the care of Jesus' foes
The truth to bury and suppress!
The avenues of faith they close,
And thus confirm the witnesses,
By hindering serve our God's design,
And prove the prophecy Divine.

Can all the art of devilish man,
The stone, the soldiers, and the seal
Eternal life in death detain,
When Jesus bursts the gates of hell,
And bids at last the dead arise,
And meet their sentence in the skies?

	CHAPTER XXVII. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXVII.

713.

[Thee, Jesus, Thee our hearts adore!]

714.

[My sins I may with horror own]

715.

[Such, miser, is thy end, or worse]

716.

[The conscience of chief-priests admire!]

717.

[Lo! the Son of Man appears]

718.

[Witness to the truth He bears]

719.

[When maliciously they seek]

720.

[Speechless the Saviour stood]

721.

[Yes; their slanderous lies I hear]

722.

[Jesus answer'd not a word]

723.

[Happy soul who Jesus knows]

724.

[The magistrate is oft inclined]

725.

[Pastors corrupt their flocks induce]

726.

[I too have oft preferr'd]

727.

[With Christ what shall I do?]

728.

[With Christ what shall I do?]

729.

[Why, what evil hath He done]

730.

[With full indignation fired]

731.

[Horrible wish! Thy murderers dare]

732.

[Me, the true Barabbas, me]

733.

[Scourged by wicked, cruel men]

734.

[Our meek, pacific Prince adore]

735.

[Jesus with eyes of faith I see]

736.

[Still let the world with haughty pride]

737.

[Sight incomprehensible]

738.

[Kings of earth, from Christ alone]

739.

[Still we see our Lord below]

740.

[Followers of the silent Lamb]

741.

[Soon as we truly willing are]

742.

[Worldly consolations see!]

743.

[Men would charm it or remove]

744.

[Happy might I station'd be]

745.

[Thee Jesus, Thee Thy foes confess]

746.

[Number'd with the transgressors, Thee]

747.

[Man mocks a Saviour, and High-priest]

748.

[Himself He will not save, that we]

749.

[Darkness the whole earth o'erspreads]

750.

[O Jesus, let Thy dying cry]

751.

[Who comprehends the reason why]