 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | XII. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| 2619. |
| 2620. |
| 2621. |
| 2622. |
| 2623. |
| 2624. |
| 2625. |
| 2626. |
| 2627. |
| 2628. |
| 2629. |
| 2630. |
| 2631. |
| 2632. |
| 2633. |
| 2634. |
| 2635. |
| 2636. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XIII. |
 | CHAPTER VIII. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
414
CHAPTER VIII.
1833.
[Let us to the mount retreat]
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And, &c.
—viii. 1, 2.
Let us to the mount retreat,
And rest with Christ awhile,
Rest from persecution's heat,
And evangelic toil;
Patient grace by prayer obtain
For labouring on with strength renew'd,
Then go forth to fight again,
And work the works of God.
1834.
[Answering to their pastor's zeal]
And all the people came unto Him; and He, &c.
—viii. 2.
Answering to their pastor's zeal,
The sheep betimes appear,
Eager and impatient still,
They flock the word to hear,
Listen, while the rich despise,
The great neglect, the learn'd dispute,
Priests against the truth arise,
And zealots persecute.
1835.
[Rejoicing in iniquity]
The scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him, &c.
—viii. 3.
Rejoicing in iniquity
The messengers of Satan see,
The servants of his will
Who watches us by day and night,
And seeks with unrelenting spite
To tempt, surprise, and kill.
The messengers of Satan see,
The servants of his will
Who watches us by day and night,
And seeks with unrelenting spite
To tempt, surprise, and kill.
But Jesus came the world to save,
Poor guilty souls who nothing have
In their defence to plead,
Who wait the sentence to receive,
Outcasts of men, that these may live,
He suffer'd in their stead.
Poor guilty souls who nothing have
In their defence to plead,
415
Outcasts of men, that these may live,
He suffer'd in their stead.
1836.
[They drag her out to public view]
They . . . set her in the midst.
—viii. 3.
They drag her out to public view,
Zealots who mercy never knew,
Who all remorse disown:
Drag her to death with hands unclean,
And fierce against another's sin,
Insult before they stone!
1837.
[Thou say'st, the law is good and just]
But what sayest Thou?
—viii. 5.
Thou say'st, the law is good and just:
Yet if I in Thy mercy trust,
The law condemns in vain:
Thou say'st I to Thy wounds may flee,
And find my life restored in Thee,
And never sin again.
1838.
[He must unjust or cruel seem]
This they said tempting Him, that they, &c.
—viii. 6.
He must unjust or cruel seem,
The sinner or the law condemn,
Mercy or truth offend,
His zeal, or His compassion show:
Absolve her? He is virtue's foe,
And sin's acknowledged friend.
The sinner or the law condemn,
Mercy or truth offend,
His zeal, or His compassion show:
Absolve her? He is virtue's foe,
And sin's acknowledged friend.
The serpent speaks in guileful men,
He tempts us first to sin, and then
Accuses those that yield:
But Jesus he in vain assay'd,
That Bruiser of the serpent's head
His blunted tools repell'd.
He tempts us first to sin, and then
Accuses those that yield:
But Jesus he in vain assay'd,
That Bruiser of the serpent's head
His blunted tools repell'd.
416
1839.
[Hark how the hellish bloodhounds cry!]
But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger, &c.
—viii. 6.
Hark how the hellish bloodhounds cry!
As Love Himself would doom to die
A speechless criminal!
Their clamour fierce He will not hear
Who still inclines his open ear
To misery's softest call.
1840.
[What wisdom in our heavenly Lord!]
He that is without sin among you, let him, &c.
—viii. 7.
What wisdom in our heavenly Lord!
His power accompanies His word,
And keen conviction darts,
Righteous, and merciful, and meek,
He sends the hypocrites to seek
An answer in their hearts.
His power accompanies His word,
And keen conviction darts,
Righteous, and merciful, and meek,
He sends the hypocrites to seek
An answer in their hearts.
He teaches us to cast aside
The cruel zeal of virtuous pride,
And first inquire within,
(Before we dare an harlot stone,)
Impeccable am I alone,
And never born in sin?
The cruel zeal of virtuous pride,
And first inquire within,
(Before we dare an harlot stone,)
Impeccable am I alone,
And never born in sin?
1841.
[Content to blast their wicked aim]
And again He stooped down, and wrote on the, &c.
—viii. 8.
Content to blast their wicked aim
He stoops again, and spares their shame,
The secret in their breast
Discover'd by His piercing word,
He leaves; the troubled sea is stirr'd;
Let conscience do the rest!
1842.
[Conscience, thou voice of God in man]
And they which heard it . . . went out.
—viii. 9.
Conscience, thou voice of God in man,
Accused by thee, we strive in vain
Thy clamours to suppress:
A thousand witnesses thou art;
And God is greater than our heart,
And all its evils sees.
Accused by thee, we strive in vain
Thy clamours to suppress:
417
And God is greater than our heart,
And all its evils sees.
Thy voice outspeaks, and strikes us dumb,
When greater sinners we presume
With rigour to condemn,
It makes us hide our guilty head,
Who vilest profligates upbraid,
And judge ourselves in them.
When greater sinners we presume
With rigour to condemn,
It makes us hide our guilty head,
Who vilest profligates upbraid,
And judge ourselves in them.
1843.
[The gospel stands in Moses' place]
And Jesus was left alone, and the woman, &c.
—viii. 9.
The gospel stands in Moses' place:
The foes of Jesus and His grace
Are scatter'd by a word,
The' accusers all are fled and gone,
Misery with mercy left alone,
The sinner with her Lord.
The foes of Jesus and His grace
Are scatter'd by a word,
The' accusers all are fled and gone,
Misery with mercy left alone,
The sinner with her Lord.
If left alone with Thee I am,
Though cover'd o'er with guilt and shame,
I nothing have to fear;
My Saviour in my Judge I meet,
And wait a sinner at Thy feet,
Thy pardoning voice to hear.
Though cover'd o'er with guilt and shame,
I nothing have to fear;
My Saviour in my Judge I meet,
And wait a sinner at Thy feet,
Thy pardoning voice to hear.
1844.
[He rises in the power of love]
When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and, &c.
—viii. 10.
He rises in the power of love,
Lifts Himself up, His grace to prove,
And silent victory!
Be comforted, thou trembling soul,
Thy fears and sorrows to control,
He turns His eyes on thee.
Lifts Himself up, His grace to prove,
And silent victory!
Be comforted, thou trembling soul,
Thy fears and sorrows to control,
He turns His eyes on thee.
418
“Where are the men that call'd so loud
For justice and the sinner's blood,
Thy chaste accusers where?”
(Jesus triumphantly demands,
And neither earth nor hell withstands
When mercy means to spare.)
For justice and the sinner's blood,
Thy chaste accusers where?”
(Jesus triumphantly demands,
And neither earth nor hell withstands
When mercy means to spare.)
“Not one among them all, not one,
To cast the first vindictive stone!
On thine iniquity.
Can none inflict the judgment due?
Are Pharisees adulterers too,
And Scribes as weak as thee?”
To cast the first vindictive stone!
On thine iniquity.
Can none inflict the judgment due?
Are Pharisees adulterers too,
And Scribes as weak as thee?”
1845.
[And what though every man condemn]
She said, No man, Lord.
—viii. 11.
And what though every man condemn,
And every fiend conspire with them
Hellish with human pride
To doom a sinner in distress,
The Judge (if thou thy guilt confess)
The Judge is on thy side.
1846.
[Thine Advocate in Jesus see!]
And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I, &c.
—viii. 11.
Thine Advocate in Jesus see!
'Tis He that speaks the word, 'tis He,
That takes the prisoner's part:
Not to condemn the world He came;
Believing now in Jesus' name,
Even now absolved thou art.
'Tis He that speaks the word, 'tis He,
That takes the prisoner's part:
Not to condemn the world He came;
Believing now in Jesus' name,
Even now absolved thou art.
Who shall accuse the' elect of God,
Protected by the' atoning blood?
'Tis God that justifies,
That bids thee go and sin no more,
Go in thy Saviour's peace and power,
And trace Him to the skies.
Protected by the' atoning blood?
'Tis God that justifies,
419
Go in thy Saviour's peace and power,
And trace Him to the skies.
1847.
[Me, me command to sin no more]
Go, and sin no more.
—viii. 11.
Me, me command to sin no more;
Saviour from all iniquity,
Thy kingdom in my soul restore,
And bid me then come up to Thee.
1848.
[Jesus, I believe in Thee]
He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness.
—viii. 12.
Jesus, I believe in Thee,
Yet my way I cannot see,
Yet I cannot see Thy face,
Dark, and dead, and comfortless:
But if blind I follow on,
Trusting in Thy word alone,
I cannot long in darkness stay,
The darkness must be chased away,
And turn'd into the perfect day.
1849.
[O for that cheering light]
He that followeth Me shall . . . have the light, &c.
—viii. 12.
O for that cheering light,
That Light of life within,
Which scatters all the shades of night,
The hellish gloom of sin!
Jesus Thyself impart,
Light of the world, remove
This unbelief, and fill my heart
With all the life of love.
That Light of life within,
Which scatters all the shades of night,
The hellish gloom of sin!
Jesus Thyself impart,
Light of the world, remove
This unbelief, and fill my heart
With all the life of love.
Resolved, I follow Thee,
Till Thou Thy love reveal
In feeble faith's obscurity,
My deadly darkness feel;
Believing against hope,
The promise I embrace,
And I shall soon be lifted up,
And I shall see Thy face.
Till Thou Thy love reveal
420
My deadly darkness feel;
Believing against hope,
The promise I embrace,
And I shall soon be lifted up,
And I shall see Thy face.
1850.
[Eternal thanks to Thee]
Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record, &c.
—viii. 14.
Eternal thanks to Thee,
Thou self-discover'd Light,
Through whom we Thy credentials see
And learn to judge aright:
Thee Jesus we receive
Our Saviour from above,
The wonders of Thy life believe,
The wonders of Thy love.
Thou self-discover'd Light,
Through whom we Thy credentials see
And learn to judge aright:
Thee Jesus we receive
Our Saviour from above,
The wonders of Thy life believe,
The wonders of Thy love.
Thou cam'st from God, we know,
And dost with sinners stay,
That we may in Thy footsteps go,
Nor miss the heavenly way:
Thou dost Thy church attend,
Our Comforter and Guide,
To keep us, and, when time shall end
To carry home Thy bride.
And dost with sinners stay,
That we may in Thy footsteps go,
Nor miss the heavenly way:
Thou dost Thy church attend,
Our Comforter and Guide,
To keep us, and, when time shall end
To carry home Thy bride.
1851.
[Thou canst not Lord subsist alone]
And yet if I judge, My judgment is true, &c.
—viii. 16.
Thou canst not Lord subsist alone,
As different or distinct from Him,
With God inseparably one,
The same eternal God supreme:
Thy judgments are Thy Father's too,
His judgments and decrees are Thine,
421
And works of righteousness Divine.
1852.
[Jesus by His mere word, alone]
I am one that bear witness of Myself, and, &c.
—viii. 18.
Jesus by His mere word, alone
True witness of Himself could bear;
Yet God did first attest His Son,
And by a voice from heaven declare;
The Father sent His Well-beloved,
By mighty signs His mission seal'd:
And Jesu's heavenly tempers proved,
His soul with all the Godhead fill'd.
True witness of Himself could bear;
Yet God did first attest His Son,
And by a voice from heaven declare;
The Father sent His Well-beloved,
By mighty signs His mission seal'd:
And Jesu's heavenly tempers proved,
His soul with all the Godhead fill'd.
'Tis thus a follower of the Lamb
Doth real testimony give,
By works, not words, His grace proclaim,
And show the world how Christians live:
'Tis thus the sons of God evince
Their birth illustrious from above,
From outward and from inward sins
Redeem'd by meek and lowly love.
Doth real testimony give,
By works, not words, His grace proclaim,
And show the world how Christians live:
'Tis thus the sons of God evince
Their birth illustrious from above,
From outward and from inward sins
Redeem'd by meek and lowly love.
1853.
[They who never knew the Son]
Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye, &c.
—viii. 19.
They who never knew the Son
Through His own Spirit's light,
Never have the Father known
Or worshipp'd God aright;
Only Jesus can declare
The great eternal Deity:
Atheists, Lord, they surely are,
That disbelieve in Thee.
Through His own Spirit's light,
Never have the Father known
Or worshipp'd God aright;
Only Jesus can declare
The great eternal Deity:
Atheists, Lord, they surely are,
That disbelieve in Thee.
But Thy true disciples pray
To us the Father show,
Thou His majesty display
Which none besides can know:
Thou His glorious Image art,
Himself descended from above:
Finding Thee within our heart
We know that God is love.
To us the Father show,
422
Which none besides can know:
Thou His glorious Image art,
Himself descended from above:
Finding Thee within our heart
We know that God is love.
1854.
[Who his mind on God hath stay'd]
No man laid hands on Him; for His hour, &c.
—viii. 20.
Who his mind on God hath stay'd,
Is kept in perfect peace,
Neither troubled nor afraid
He lives his Lord to please;
Careless of approaching ill,
Himself to Jesu's work he gives,
Lives to answer all His will,
In snares and deaths he lives!
1855.
[Woe to the men whom Jesus leaves]
I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and, &c.
—viii. 21.
Woe to the men whom Jesus leaves,
Who force their Saviour to depart!
Up to their own desires He gives,
Their own obduracy of heart:
They seek Him then, but seek too late,
Who long refused His love to feel,
They sink beneath His judgments' weight,
They sink with all their sins to hell.
Who force their Saviour to depart!
Up to their own desires He gives,
Their own obduracy of heart:
They seek Him then, but seek too late,
Who long refused His love to feel,
They sink beneath His judgments' weight,
They sink with all their sins to hell.
Thou didst foretell the fearful doom
Of that self-reprobated race,
That we in this our day may come
And humbly seek, and find Thy grace:
Entering into Thy love's design,
We give Thee Lord, our broken heart:
Us to Thyself so closely join
That neither life nor death may part.
Of that self-reprobated race,
That we in this our day may come
And humbly seek, and find Thy grace:
Entering into Thy love's design,
We give Thee Lord, our broken heart:
Us to Thyself so closely join
That neither life nor death may part.
423
1856.
[As members of that heavenly Man]
Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye, &c.
—viii. 23.
As members of that heavenly Man
Christians indeed are from above,
Not of this world of shadows vain,
We our celestial country love:
Let worldlings love the things below,
A noble good to us is given,
That all our spotless lives may show
The spirit, and the taste of heaven.
1857.
[I would believe that Thou art He]
If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die, &c.
—viii. 24.
I would believe that Thou art He
Who came from heaven to die for me:
Saviour of men, the power supply,
Nor leave me in my sins to die:
A sinner on Thy mercy cast,
I mourn for my offences past;
O for Thy own dear sake forgive,
And saved by faith my soul shall live.
Who came from heaven to die for me:
Saviour of men, the power supply,
Nor leave me in my sins to die:
A sinner on Thy mercy cast,
I mourn for my offences past;
O for Thy own dear sake forgive,
And saved by faith my soul shall live.
If now Thy previous grace I feel,
Which melts my stubbornness of will,
If crush'd by unbelief I groan,
And languish for a God unknown,
One ray of light and comfort dart,
One spark of faith into my heart,
And let me feel Thy sprinkled blood,
And see Thee now my Lord, my God!
Which melts my stubbornness of will,
If crush'd by unbelief I groan,
And languish for a God unknown,
One ray of light and comfort dart,
One spark of faith into my heart,
And let me feel Thy sprinkled blood,
And see Thee now my Lord, my God!
1858.
[Thee, Jesus, Thee the' eternal Lord]
Then said they unto Him, Who art Thou? &c.
—viii. 25.
Thee, Jesus, Thee the' eternal Lord,
Jehovah's uncreated Son,
Jehovah's unbeginning Word,
The first great Cause of all, we own
Thee by Thy works and doctrines find
The Light and Life of all mankind.
Jehovah's uncreated Son,
Jehovah's unbeginning Word,
The first great Cause of all, we own
424
The Light and Life of all mankind.
In works, in deeds Thou dost declare
Thy own Divine almighty power,
Yet harden'd infidels forbear
Thy sovereign Deity to' adore,
They will not know Thee who Thou art,
Or feel Thee living in their heart.
Thy own Divine almighty power,
Yet harden'd infidels forbear
Thy sovereign Deity to' adore,
They will not know Thee who Thou art,
Or feel Thee living in their heart.
A life Thou hast which ne'er begun,
Which no decay or end shall know,
A life Thou didst assume, lay down,
To save this wretched world below:
And through Thy loss the sons of men
May all Thy life eternal gain.
Which no decay or end shall know,
A life Thou didst assume, lay down,
To save this wretched world below:
And through Thy loss the sons of men
May all Thy life eternal gain.
1859.
[Jesus who dost alone contain]
I have many things to say and to judge of, &c.
—viii. 26.
Jesus who dost alone contain
The blessings of eternity,
Thou know'st the ill that is in man,
Thine only eye his heart can see;
Yet wilt Thou not the whole declare,
Or show us more than we can bear.
The blessings of eternity,
Thou know'st the ill that is in man,
Thine only eye his heart can see;
Yet wilt Thou not the whole declare,
Or show us more than we can bear.
Instructed by Thy tenderest love
O that Thy ministers may know,
The covering when they must remove
And when Thy moderation show,
Suppress what should not be reveal'd,
And leave the heart with Thee conceal'd.
O that Thy ministers may know,
The covering when they must remove
And when Thy moderation show,
Suppress what should not be reveal'd,
And leave the heart with Thee conceal'd.
1860.
[Fountain of truth for ever full]
Fountain of truth for ever full,
Hail Thou great Father of our Lord!
Thy bosom was His heavenly school:
He heard, not yet the' incarnate Word:
From all eternity He knew
That Thou art wise, and good, and true.
Hail Thou great Father of our Lord!
Thy bosom was His heavenly school:
He heard, not yet the' incarnate Word:
425
That Thou art wise, and good, and true.
With Thee substantially the same,
With Thee inexplicably one,
He only doth declare Thy name,
He makes to man Thy nature known,
And taught by Him, we sweetly prove
Thy truth, Thy wisdom, and Thy love.
With Thee inexplicably one,
He only doth declare Thy name,
He makes to man Thy nature known,
And taught by Him, we sweetly prove
Thy truth, Thy wisdom, and Thy love.
1861.
[What multitudes who never know]
When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, &c.
—viii. 28.
What multitudes who never know,
Till they have crucified, their God!
He then doth His compassion show,
And draw, and wash them in His blood,
Into His cross's school receive
And teach them fully to believe.
Till they have crucified, their God!
He then doth His compassion show,
And draw, and wash them in His blood,
Into His cross's school receive
And teach them fully to believe.
Thy murderers, now we learn of Thee
That Thou art the supreme I AM,
Equal to God in majesty,
With God eternally the same,
Thy passions and Thy actions shine
With worth and dignity Divine.
That Thou art the supreme I AM,
Equal to God in majesty,
With God eternally the same,
Thy passions and Thy actions shine
With worth and dignity Divine.
Essential Truth, Thy words are His
And following them we cannot stray,
They point us to celestial bliss,
Fresh life into our souls convey;
Till saved and sanctified in one,
They speak us up into Thy throne.
And following them we cannot stray,
They point us to celestial bliss,
Fresh life into our souls convey;
Till saved and sanctified in one,
They speak us up into Thy throne.
1862.
[The Sender (for it cannot be)]
And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father, &c.
—viii. 29.
The Sender (for it cannot be)
Is never separate from the Sent
Who join'd to His Divinity
Our flesh, His sacred instrument,
The Father leaves Him not alone,
But lives eternal in His Son.
Is never separate from the Sent
426
Our flesh, His sacred instrument,
The Father leaves Him not alone,
But lives eternal in His Son.
Obedient to His Father's will,
The Son for us obtain'd the grace
All His commandments to fulfil,
To' abide in all His righteous ways;
To walk in all well-pleasing here,
And pure before His face to' appear.
The Son for us obtain'd the grace
All His commandments to fulfil,
To' abide in all His righteous ways;
To walk in all well-pleasing here,
And pure before His face to' appear.
1863.
[Continuing in the outward word]
If ye continue in My word, then are ye My, &c.
—viii. 31.
Continuing in the outward word,
I read, and hear, believe and do:
But give me Thy good Spirit, Lord,
To' approve me Thy disciple true:
Thou art the truth that makes us free,
Abide, eternal Word, in me.
1864.
[O the vanity of man!]
We . . . were never in bondage to any man: how, &c.
—viii. 33.
O the vanity of man!
Fast bound in misery,
Gall'd with Satan's iron chain,
He boasts that he is free;
Still enthrall'd in heart and mind,
He needs not be by Christ restored,
Bold and ignorant and blind
Rejects his pardoning Lord.
Fast bound in misery,
Gall'd with Satan's iron chain,
He boasts that he is free;
Still enthrall'd in heart and mind,
He needs not be by Christ restored,
Bold and ignorant and blind
Rejects his pardoning Lord.
Jesus full of truth and grace,
To me my bondage show,
That I gladly may embrace
The gift Thou wouldst bestow,
Find redemption in Thy blood,
The joy of Thy disciples prove,
Live with all the sons of God
The life of perfect love.
To me my bondage show,
That I gladly may embrace
The gift Thou wouldst bestow,
427
The joy of Thy disciples prove,
Live with all the sons of God
The life of perfect love.
1865.
[Slaves we all by nature are]
Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
—viii. 34.
Slaves we all by nature are,
To every vice inclined,
Foil'd and prisoners took in war,
Our conqueror's yoke we find:
We to sin ourselves have sold
And basely bow'd to passion's sway:
By a thousand lusts controll'd,
We dare not disobey.
To every vice inclined,
Foil'd and prisoners took in war,
Our conqueror's yoke we find:
We to sin ourselves have sold
And basely bow'd to passion's sway:
By a thousand lusts controll'd,
We dare not disobey.
By the guilt and tyranny
Of cruel sin oppress'd,
Lord, we will not come to Thee
For freedom and for rest:
Break this adamantine chain,
Who only canst the soul release,
Change the stubborn will of man
And bid us go in peace.
Of cruel sin oppress'd,
Lord, we will not come to Thee
For freedom and for rest:
Break this adamantine chain,
Who only canst the soul release,
Change the stubborn will of man
And bid us go in peace.
1866.
[Soon out of the house of God]
The servant abideth not in the house for ever, &c.
—viii. 35.
Soon out of the house of God
The slave of sin is cast,
Cast into a fiery flood,
And pains that always last;
But the child of faith and love
His full recompence shall gain,
In his Father's house above
Eternally remain.
1867.
[Thee, Redeemer of mankind]
If the Son . . . shall make you free, ye shall be, &c.
—viii. 36.
Thee, Redeemer of mankind,
Jehovah's favourite Son,
Let a wretched captive find,
Who for deliverance groan:
Real liberty from sin,
The true substantial freedom give,
Give Thy Spirit, and within
My heart for ever live.
Jehovah's favourite Son,
428
Who for deliverance groan:
Real liberty from sin,
The true substantial freedom give,
Give Thy Spirit, and within
My heart for ever live.
Then, my God, and not till then,
I shall indeed be free,
Free from the desires of men,
From all iniquity;
Free from every thought of ill,
Free to rejoice and always love,
Free to do Thy perfect will
As angels do above.
I shall indeed be free,
Free from the desires of men,
From all iniquity;
Free from every thought of ill,
Free to rejoice and always love,
Free to do Thy perfect will
As angels do above.
1868.
[God and His hellish enemy]
I speak that which I have seen with My Father, &c.
—viii. 38.
God and His hellish enemy
Divide the human throng:
Sinner, thy true condition see,
Thou must to one belong:
God, if His pleasure thou fulfil,
Thee for His child shall own,
But if thou dost the devil's will,
Thou art the devil's son.
1869.
[Not by the Christian name alone]
If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do, &c.
—viii. 39.
Not by the Christian name alone
The Christian man is show'd,
Words cannot evidence a son
Of Abraham and of God;
No confident assertions vain,
No single act can prove
That I am truly born again,
And God sincerely love.
The Christian man is show'd,
Words cannot evidence a son
Of Abraham and of God;
No confident assertions vain,
No single act can prove
That I am truly born again,
And God sincerely love.
429
I must in Abraham's footsteps stay,
Pursue him to the skies,
My household teach the heavenly way,
My Isaac sacrifice;
My life must speak the faith within,
In even tenour flow,
Demonstrate I am saved from sin,
And God my Father know.
Pursue him to the skies,
My household teach the heavenly way,
My Isaac sacrifice;
My life must speak the faith within,
In even tenour flow,
Demonstrate I am saved from sin,
And God my Father know.
1870.
[Who in the faith of Abraham tread]
Ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you, &c.
—viii. 40.
Who in the faith of Abraham tread,
Obediently receive
The truth that doth from God proceed,
And lovingly believe:
But his pretended children still
Reject the truth abhorr'd,
Malign the witnesses, and kill
And drive them to their Lord.
1871.
[The children of that wicked one]
We have one Father, even God.
—viii. 41.
The children of that wicked one
Conceal their sin and shame,
With daring pride the God unknown
They for their Father claim;
Their guilt disdaining to confess
They make their misery sure,
And while they cherish their disease
Can never find a cure.
Conceal their sin and shame,
With daring pride the God unknown
They for their Father claim;
Their guilt disdaining to confess
They make their misery sure,
And while they cherish their disease
Can never find a cure.
Sinner the painful truth admit
By hell no more beguiled,
And prostrate own at Jesu's feet
Thou art the devil's child;
Devilish thy works, and life, and heart;
But ransom'd by His blood
Believe that thou His purchase art,
And thou art born of God.
By hell no more beguiled,
And prostrate own at Jesu's feet
Thou art the devil's child;
Devilish thy works, and life, and heart;
But ransom'd by His blood
430
And thou art born of God.
1872.
[Children of God by faith we owe]
If God were your Father, ye would love Me, &c.
—viii. 42.
Children of God by faith we owe
Our hearts and lips O Christ to Thee:
Thou didst proceed from God we know
His Son from all eternity,
Thou cam'st His heavenly Messenger,
And didst in mortal flesh appear.
Our hearts and lips O Christ to Thee:
Thou didst proceed from God we know
His Son from all eternity,
Thou cam'st His heavenly Messenger,
And didst in mortal flesh appear.
Wherefore we thankfully believe,
Enter into Thy strange design,
To Thee Thy praise and glory give,
Thou great Philanthropist Divine:
With warmest gratitude approve,
And our almighty Lover love.
Enter into Thy strange design,
To Thee Thy praise and glory give,
Thou great Philanthropist Divine:
With warmest gratitude approve,
And our almighty Lover love.
1873.
[Strangers to your redeeming Lord]
Why do ye not understand My speech?
—viii. 43.
Strangers to your redeeming Lord
Self-harden'd from His righteous fear,
Ye cannot understand His word,
For dead in sin ye will not hear:
His knowledge He withholds from none,
The bar is all in you alone.
Self-harden'd from His righteous fear,
Ye cannot understand His word,
For dead in sin ye will not hear:
His knowledge He withholds from none,
The bar is all in you alone.
By blinding passions prepossess'd,
Through grace consent to let them go
And ye may be in Jesus bless'd,
And ye His saving truths shall know,
Taste the good word to sinners given,
And praise your Teacher sent from heaven.
Through grace consent to let them go
And ye may be in Jesus bless'd,
And ye His saving truths shall know,
Taste the good word to sinners given,
And praise your Teacher sent from heaven.
431
1874.
[A child of hell with Satan joins]
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts, &c.
—viii. 44.
A child of hell with Satan joins,
His ready instrument of ill,
Enters into the fiend's designs;
(Who comes to steal, deceive, and kill;)
Envious against the truth he fights
Which would his direful deeds bewray,
And like his murdering sire, delights
The souls of innocents to slay.
1875.
[The' original of evil see]
He is a liar, and the father of it.
—viii. 44.
The' original of evil see,
Of all deceit and wickedness!
Satan the homicide is he,
Deceiver of our helpless race;
To plunge us in eternal woe
He preaches still his ancient lie,
Sin on; and if to hell ye go,
Ye shall not there for ever die.
1876.
[Corrupt alike in heart and mind]
Because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not.
—viii. 45.
Corrupt alike in heart and mind,
Till re-begotten from above,
To falsehood as to sin inclined,
We neither truth nor virtue love;
Wisdom Himself averse we hear,
Abhorring good to evil cleave,
To truth Divine, a lie prefer,
And Satan before Christ believe.
1877.
[Convinced of sin I cannot be]
Which of you convinceth Me of sin?
—viii. 46.
Convinced of sin I cannot be,
Thou seest it, Lord, and Thou alone;
Born, wholly born in sin, to Thee
My heart's iniquity I own:
432
And safe conceal my life above,
The world no sin in me shall find,
Kept by the power of perfect love.
1878.
[The truth Thou say'st, the Truth Thou art]
If I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?
—viii. 46.
The truth Thou say'st, the Truth Thou art:
Why do I not believe in Thee?
Do I not, Lord, desire to part
With all my sin and misery?
Some secret ill, some bar unknown,
Some idol must obstruct my will:
O speak and take away the stone,
And pardon on my conscience seal.
1879.
[The sons of God with faith sincere]
He that is of God heareth God's words, &c.
—viii. 47.
The sons of God with faith sincere,
Attend and know their Father's word,
The sheep their heavenly Shepherd hear
And glad confess, It is the Lord!
But ah, the unbelieving crowd
His word, His truth, His doctrine slight,
And deaf to all the calls of God,
Rush blindfold to eternal night.
1880.
[They brand Him whom they will not know]
Say we not well that Thou art a Samaritan, &c.
—viii. 48.
They brand Him whom they will not know
(God in His miracles confess'd)
Their church's and their nation's foe
By a proud lying spirit possess'd!
Blasphemers of the Lord Most-High
They no remorse or scruple feel,
But uttering the infernal lie
Applaud themselves for speaking well.
433
1881.
[With meekness and majestic grace]
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I, &c.
—viii. 49.
With meekness and majestic grace
Jesus their hellish charge denies:
His word to the blaspheming race
Becomes the Lord of earth and skies!
Silent so oft He answers here,
His Father's greatness to maintain,
Stamp'd with Jehovah's character,
And God's Ambassador to man!
Jesus their hellish charge denies:
His word to the blaspheming race
Becomes the Lord of earth and skies!
Silent so oft He answers here,
His Father's greatness to maintain,
Stamp'd with Jehovah's character,
And God's Ambassador to man!
His minister the world should bear,
Their general calumnies despise:
But when to fix the charge they dare,
Tax'd with the thing his soul defies
The man whom Christ did truly send
Must then throw off the crime abhorr'd,
And while he doth himself defend
He guards the honour of his Lord.
Their general calumnies despise:
But when to fix the charge they dare,
Tax'd with the thing his soul defies
The man whom Christ did truly send
Must then throw off the crime abhorr'd,
And while he doth himself defend
He guards the honour of his Lord.
1882.
[A messenger required to speak]
I seek not Mine own glory: there is One, &c.
—viii. 50.
A messenger required to speak,
The bounds of his defence will know,
Nor ever his own glory seek,
Or fiercely judge his bitterest foe;
Content the slanders to repel
He speaks of Jesu's mind possess'd,
With wisdom mild and temper'd zeal,
And leaves his life to do the rest.
1883.
[Justly doth our humble Lord]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man, &c.
—viii. 51.
Justly doth our humble Lord
His doctrine magnify:
He that keeps the Saviour's word,
Shall not for ever die:
434
The true eternal life above;
Thus through faith we persevere
In pure obedient love.
1884.
[No: with God they greatly live]
Then said the Jews . . . Abraham is dead, and, &c.
—viii. 52.
No: with God they greatly live,
A life on earth unknown,
Now the glorious end receive
Of faith in Abraham's Son;
Prophets, patriarchs fulfill'd
The' anticipated word of grace,
Saw their Lord in part reveal'd,
And now they see His face.
1885.
[If the Son of God forbear]
Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, &c.
—viii. 54.
If the Son of God forbear,
The Lord and God most-high,
Which of us shall ever dare
Himself to glorify?
Prostrate at Thy throne of grace,
Thy creatures, Lord, we humbly own,
Sinful worms of earth to raise
Belongs to Thee alone.
1886.
[In figures, types, and promises]
Your father Abraham rejoiced to see, &c.
—viii. 56.
In figures, types, and promises
Our father Abraham saw His day,
His seed which should the nations bless,
Bear all the curse of sin away,
A universal Saviour rise,
And bring us back our paradise.
Our father Abraham saw His day,
His seed which should the nations bless,
Bear all the curse of sin away,
A universal Saviour rise,
And bring us back our paradise.
O that the joy which then o'erflow'd
The patriarch's heart were fix'd in mine!
While gazing on the' incarnate God,
O'erpower'd with ecstacies Divine,
With all His weight of blessings bless'd,
I sink on my Redeemer's breast.
The patriarch's heart were fix'd in mine!
435
O'erpower'd with ecstacies Divine,
With all His weight of blessings bless'd,
I sink on my Redeemer's breast.
Thy day is come but never pass'd:
Jesus, I long Thy day to see:
Vouchsafe my favour'd soul a taste
Of that supreme felicity,
That rapture which Thy presence gives,
And every saint through faith receives.
Jesus, I long Thy day to see:
Vouchsafe my favour'd soul a taste
Of that supreme felicity,
That rapture which Thy presence gives,
And every saint through faith receives.
Before mine eyes of faith appear
In all Thy charms of heavenly grace,
Or rather let me view Thee here,
A Lamb expiring in my place,
Pour out my soul in tears of love,
And die to share Thy joy above.
In all Thy charms of heavenly grace,
Or rather let me view Thee here,
A Lamb expiring in my place,
Pour out my soul in tears of love,
And die to share Thy joy above.
1887.
[Broken the Man of griefs appears]
Thou art not yet fifty years old.
—viii. 57.
Broken the Man of griefs appears,
The Man of griefs He stands confess'd
Not by the weight of numerous years,
But by our numerous sins oppress'd,
Faded in youth, grown old so soon,
He shows His sun must set at noon.
1888.
[“When Abraham was not born, I AM]
Before Abraham was, I am.
—viii. 58.
“When
Abraham was not born, I AM,
I AM from all eternity!”
Jehovah sounds in Jesu's name,
God over all we worship Thee;
Sole, self-existing God Thou art,
Adored in every faithful heart.
I AM from all eternity!”
Jehovah sounds in Jesu's name,
God over all we worship Thee;
Sole, self-existing God Thou art,
Adored in every faithful heart.
436
Not a new-made dependent God,
But sovereign, absolute, most-high,
Thou cam'st to save us by Thy blood,
Thou cam'st for sinful man to die,
That all mankind might live forgiven
Through Thee, the only God in heaven.
But sovereign, absolute, most-high,
Thou cam'st to save us by Thy blood,
Thou cam'st for sinful man to die,
That all mankind might live forgiven
Through Thee, the only God in heaven.
1889.
[Thou dost Thy Godhead testify]
Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the, &c.
—viii. 59.
Thou dost Thy Godhead testify,
Thine own eternal power maintain,
Nor for the truth refuse to die,
But sav'st Thyself for sharper pain,
Waiting to suffer in our stead,
And in Thy Father's time to bleed.
Thine own eternal power maintain,
Nor for the truth refuse to die,
But sav'st Thyself for sharper pain,
Waiting to suffer in our stead,
And in Thy Father's time to bleed.
Thou dost out of the temple go,
Not to a single sect confined;
Thy blood in freer streams must flow
A sacrifice for all mankind,
That all mankind by faith may see
The one eternal God in Thee.
Not to a single sect confined;
Thy blood in freer streams must flow
A sacrifice for all mankind,
That all mankind by faith may see
The one eternal God in Thee.
| CHAPTER VIII. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |