 | CHAPTER V. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
879.
[At first our wisely silent Lord]
As soon as Jesus heard the word, . . . He saith, &c.
—v. 36.
At first our wisely silent Lord
Slighted the' afflicted father's prayer,
Gave him no hopes or cheering word,
As quite excluded from His care,
He seem'd to cast his suit aside,
And to another's cure applied.
Slighted the' afflicted father's prayer,
Gave him no hopes or cheering word,
As quite excluded from His care,
He seem'd to cast his suit aside,
And to another's cure applied.
But when his faith begins to fail
O'erpower'd with trials too severe,
Jesus doth by a word dispel
His sad despondency and fear,
Bids him believe from first to last,
And hold his faith and patience fast.
O'erpower'd with trials too severe,
489
His sad despondency and fear,
Bids him believe from first to last,
And hold his faith and patience fast.
Brought to the point, a sinner still,
When ready to receive his cure,
May greater shocks and conflicts feel,
May sorer agonies endure,
As press'd above what he can bear,
As faith were conquer'd by despair.
When ready to receive his cure,
May greater shocks and conflicts feel,
May sorer agonies endure,
As press'd above what he can bear,
As faith were conquer'd by despair.
But then in his extreme distress
The long entreated God will hear,
The sinner's staggering faith increase,
Reveal His great salvation near,
Make all His power and mercy known,
And save his soul by grace alone.
The long entreated God will hear,
The sinner's staggering faith increase,
Reveal His great salvation near,
Make all His power and mercy known,
And save his soul by grace alone.
| CHAPTER V. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |