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| X. |
 | XI. |
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| IX. |
| X. | CHAPTER X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
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| 2008. |
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| XIII. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
 | CHAPTER X. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
CHAPTER X.
1935.
[A pastor good in God's esteem]
He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd, &c.
—x. 2.
A pastor good in God's esteem,
Who enters in by Christ the Door,
Inwardly call'd and moved by Him,
Obeys the Spirit's secret power,
And for his awful charge design'd
By Heaven, he casts the world behind.
Who enters in by Christ the Door,
Inwardly call'd and moved by Him,
Obeys the Spirit's secret power,
And for his awful charge design'd
By Heaven, he casts the world behind.
He only at God's glory aims,
And lives to serve the Saviour's will;
The love of souls his heart inflames,
He tends the sheep with fervent zeal;
Himself to this one thing applies,
And gives his life in sacrifice.
And lives to serve the Saviour's will;
The love of souls his heart inflames,
He tends the sheep with fervent zeal;
Himself to this one thing applies,
And gives his life in sacrifice.
455
1936.
[To him the Doorkeeper above]
To him the porter openeth.
—x. 3.
To him the Doorkeeper above,
The Father manifests His Son,
Opens the treasures of His love,
Makes His mysterious wisdom known,
The pastor into Christ receives,
And the true Door of utterance gives.
The Father manifests His Son,
Opens the treasures of His love,
Makes His mysterious wisdom known,
The pastor into Christ receives,
And the true Door of utterance gives.
God only can His Son reveal,
And Jesu's ministers ordain,
Jehovah must their mission seal,
Or man lays on his hands in vain,
Thou, Father, Thou that Porter art;
Display my Saviour in my heart.
And Jesu's ministers ordain,
Jehovah must their mission seal,
Or man lays on his hands in vain,
Thou, Father, Thou that Porter art;
Display my Saviour in my heart.
1937.
[His voice the sheep rejoice to hear]
And the sheep hear his voice.
—x. 3.
His voice the sheep rejoice to hear,
Nor fear in following that, to stray,
They know their Saviour's minister,
And man for Jesu's sake obey,
His word as God's, not his, receive,
The gospel hear, the gospel live.
1938.
[Inspired with goodness from above]
And he calleth his own sheep by name, &c.
—x. 3.
Inspired with goodness from above
His sheep he doth for Jesus claim,
He visits all with tenderest love,
He knows, and calls them all by name;
Each precious soul he counts his own,
His friend, his brother, and his son.
His sheep he doth for Jesus claim,
He visits all with tenderest love,
He knows, and calls them all by name;
Each precious soul he counts his own,
His friend, his brother, and his son.
His own, and not another's sheep,
Watchful by day and night he tends,
Entrusted by his Lord to keep
From ravening wolves, and roaring fiends,
He knows their wants, their burdens bears,
And all their griefs and sorrows shares.
Watchful by day and night he tends,
Entrusted by his Lord to keep
From ravening wolves, and roaring fiends,
456
And all their griefs and sorrows shares.
Out of an evil world of woe,
Out of its pomps and pleasures vain,
Out of their fond pursuits below,
Out of the base desires of men,
Out of themselves to Christ he leads,
And Christ supplies his people's needs.
Out of its pomps and pleasures vain,
Out of their fond pursuits below,
Out of the base desires of men,
Out of themselves to Christ he leads,
And Christ supplies his people's needs.
1939.
[In all the paths of righteousness]
When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth, &c.
—x. 4.
In all the paths of righteousness,
Of silent peace and joy unknown,
The first to practise what he sees,
A faithful guide he leads them on,
A shining light before them goes,
In every point their duty shows.
Of silent peace and joy unknown,
The first to practise what he sees,
A faithful guide he leads them on,
A shining light before them goes,
In every point their duty shows.
The wisdom and the power of God
In hearing him, they hear and feel,
Admire the grace on man bestow'd,
(A man who speaks and lives so well,)
And while his life confirms his word
Pursue the follower of their Lord.
In hearing him, they hear and feel,
Admire the grace on man bestow'd,
(A man who speaks and lives so well,)
And while his life confirms his word
Pursue the follower of their Lord.
1940.
[A stranger to the truth of grace]
A stranger will they not follow, but will flee, &c.
—x. 5.
A stranger to the truth of grace
They from their genuine shepherd know,
Abhor his doctrines and his ways,
After his life refuse to go,
And trembling at delusion nigh,
As from a thief and robber fly.
1941.
[Strangers both to themselves and Thee]
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they, &c.
—x. 6.
Strangers both to themselves and Thee,
The robbers of Thy church remain,
They will not understand and see
The difference so severely plain,
Themselves the thieves they will not own,
Or at Thy feet for mercy groan.
The robbers of Thy church remain,
457
The difference so severely plain,
Themselves the thieves they will not own,
Or at Thy feet for mercy groan.
Open, O Lord, their blinded eyes,
Blinded by the infernal god,
Or in Thy people's cause arise,
Whom Thou hast purchased with Thy blood,
Redeem the sheep to hirelings sold,
And chase the thief out of Thy fold.
Blinded by the infernal god,
Or in Thy people's cause arise,
Whom Thou hast purchased with Thy blood,
Redeem the sheep to hirelings sold,
And chase the thief out of Thy fold.
1942.
[Thee Jesus, Thee I fall before]
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door, &c.
—x. 7.
Thee Jesus, Thee I fall before
Who only art the church's Door,
With importunity;
I knock, and never will depart,
Open, O Lord, Thy loving heart,
And take me into Thee.
Who only art the church's Door,
With importunity;
I knock, and never will depart,
Open, O Lord, Thy loving heart,
And take me into Thee.
If Thou the grace of faith bestow,
Thyself I by Thy Spirit know
My true eternal rest,
Entrance into Thy church I find,
Through Thee to all Thy people join'd,
And shelter'd in Thy breast.
Thyself I by Thy Spirit know
My true eternal rest,
Entrance into Thy church I find,
Through Thee to all Thy people join'd,
And shelter'd in Thy breast.
1943.
[Invaders of the ministry]
All that ever came before Me are thieves and, &c.
—x. 8.
Invaders of the ministry
Who ran before, unsent by Thee,
The God they never knew,
Who profit and preferments gain;
They spoil the helpless souls of men,
They rob and murder too.
Who ran before, unsent by Thee,
The God they never knew,
Who profit and preferments gain;
They spoil the helpless souls of men,
They rob and murder too.
458
But them the flock will never hear,
Will never follow or revere
The covetous and proud
As pastors after Thine own heart,
Who take the dire destroyer's part,
And slay the saints of God.
Will never follow or revere
The covetous and proud
As pastors after Thine own heart,
Who take the dire destroyer's part,
And slay the saints of God.
1944.
[Lord, I believe, and enter in]
I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he, &c.
—x. 9.
Lord, I believe, and enter in,
Saved, in a moment saved from sin,
Its guilt and tyranny;
Beyond the murdering shepherd's power,
Where neither men nor fiends devour,
I dwell secure in Thee.
Saved, in a moment saved from sin,
Its guilt and tyranny;
Beyond the murdering shepherd's power,
Where neither men nor fiends devour,
I dwell secure in Thee.
Through Thee and Thine atoning blood
I come with free access to God,
His dear adopted son:
Thy blood shall all my wants supply,
And bear me up beyond the sky
To that eternal throne.
I come with free access to God,
His dear adopted son:
Thy blood shall all my wants supply,
And bear me up beyond the sky
To that eternal throne.
Pasture I find in every place,
I feed upon the word of grace
To all believers given;
And fill'd with love shall soon confess
Thou art the Gate of holiness,
Thou art the Gate of heaven.
I feed upon the word of grace
To all believers given;
And fill'd with love shall soon confess
Thou art the Gate of holiness,
Thou art the Gate of heaven.
1945.
[That the doubly dead might live]
I am come that they might have life, and that, &c.
—x. 10.
That the doubly dead might live,
Lord Thou wast on earth reveal'd,
That we might Thy mind retrieve,
By Thy promised Spirit seal'd,
Pardon'd, perfectly renew'd,
Saved with all the life of God.
Lord Thou wast on earth reveal'd,
That we might Thy mind retrieve,
By Thy promised Spirit seal'd,
459
Saved with all the life of God.
Answer then Thy bless'd design,
Bring to me the life of grace,
Bring me larger life Divine,
Fill my soul with holiness,
Fit me for the life above,
All Thy life of heavenly love.
Bring to me the life of grace,
Bring me larger life Divine,
Fill my soul with holiness,
Fit me for the life above,
All Thy life of heavenly love.
1946.
[The Shepherd good indeed Thou art]
I am the good Shepherd.
—x. 11.
The Shepherd good indeed Thou art,
I feel Thy goodness at my heart;
No goodness out of Christ I see;
Goodness itself has died for me!
1947.
[The man whom covetous desire]
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, &c.
—x. 12.
The man whom covetous desire
Impels to minister for hire
We mercenary call:
But oh what title shall we give
A wretch who dares the hire receive,
And never works at all?
1948.
[The Shepherd good, Thou dost approve]
I am the good Shepherd, and know My, &c.
—x. 14, 15.
The Shepherd good, Thou dost approve
With kind regard, and cordial love,
The sheep redeem'd below,
The sheep with firm fidelity
Cleave to their Shepherd good, and Thee
With pure affection know.
With kind regard, and cordial love,
The sheep redeem'd below,
The sheep with firm fidelity
Cleave to their Shepherd good, and Thee
With pure affection know.
Jehovah, with Jehovah one,
Thou know'st Him, Lord, as Thou art known,
And (O! how can it be?)
That union inexpressible
Thou dost with Thy great Father feel
Thy members feel with Thee.
Thou know'st Him, Lord, as Thou art known,
And (O! how can it be?)
460
Thou dost with Thy great Father feel
Thy members feel with Thee.
For this Thou dost Thy life lay down,
That gather'd by Thy death alone
The sheep no more may rove,
But all Thy heavenly nature find,
To Thee inexplicably join'd,
And simplified by love.
That gather'd by Thy death alone
The sheep no more may rove,
But all Thy heavenly nature find,
To Thee inexplicably join'd,
And simplified by love.
1949.
[Millions of sheep so dearly bought]
And other sheep I have, which are not of this, &c.
—x. 16.
Millions of sheep so dearly bought,
Immortal souls redeem'd of old,
Jesus, Thou hast already brought,
And added to the Christian fold:
Whole nations have Thy call obey'd,
Gentiles and Jews Thy gospel known,
And join'd to Thee their common Head,
Thy church throughout the earth is one.
Immortal souls redeem'd of old,
Jesus, Thou hast already brought,
And added to the Christian fold:
Whole nations have Thy call obey'd,
Gentiles and Jews Thy gospel known,
And join'd to Thee their common Head,
Thy church throughout the earth is one.
One God the children all confess,
One Head the members all adore,
One Spirit of faith and holiness,
Who fills them with His love and power;
One flock, one body, and one bride,
So closely join'd in mind and heart,
That neither earth nor hell divide,
That neither life nor death can part.
One Head the members all adore,
One Spirit of faith and holiness,
Who fills them with His love and power;
One flock, one body, and one bride,
So closely join'd in mind and heart,
That neither earth nor hell divide,
That neither life nor death can part.
Yet millions still uncall'd remain
Wide wandering in the wilderness,
Thee, Saviour, let Thy love constrain
To bring in every sheep that strays:
O let them hear and flock to Thee
From north and south and east and west,
Together all Thy glory see,
And in their Shepherd's bosom rest.
Wide wandering in the wilderness,
Thee, Saviour, let Thy love constrain
To bring in every sheep that strays:
461
From north and south and east and west,
Together all Thy glory see,
And in their Shepherd's bosom rest.
The secret whisper of Thy love,
The small still voice shall bring them home,
Though far as hell from heaven they rove
From God, they to Thy church shall come.
For Thy own gracious promise sake
Thou wilt incline their hearts to' obey,
One undivided people make,
And give us all one perfect way.
The small still voice shall bring them home,
Though far as hell from heaven they rove
From God, they to Thy church shall come.
For Thy own gracious promise sake
Thou wilt incline their hearts to' obey,
One undivided people make,
And give us all one perfect way.
Then jarring sentiments shall cease,
And discord's voice be heard no more,
While in the truth of holiness
Thy church with one consent adore,
Flesh of Thy flesh, bone of Thy bone,
The members each to each shall join,
Cemented by Thy blood alone,
And one with unity Divine.
And discord's voice be heard no more,
While in the truth of holiness
Thy church with one consent adore,
Flesh of Thy flesh, bone of Thy bone,
The members each to each shall join,
Cemented by Thy blood alone,
And one with unity Divine.
1950.
[Submissive to Thy Father's will]
Therefore doth My Father love Me, because, &c.
—x. 17, 18.
Submissive to Thy Father's will,
Jesus Thou didst Thy life lay down,
Didst of Thine own accord fulfil
The strange design of love unknown;
Obedient to His love's decree
Thou didst the general ransom pay:
Thy deed was absolute and free,
And yet Thou couldst not disobey.
Jesus Thou didst Thy life lay down,
Didst of Thine own accord fulfil
The strange design of love unknown;
Obedient to His love's decree
Thou didst the general ransom pay:
Thy deed was absolute and free,
And yet Thou couldst not disobey.
Love only did my Lord constrain
Thy life so freely to resign,
A sacrifice for guilty man,
A grateful sacrifice Divine:
Love would not let my Saviour rest,
Sole cause of the stupendous deed,
It drew Thee from Thy Father's breast,
It made the Man of sorrows bleed.
Thy life so freely to resign,
462
A grateful sacrifice Divine:
Love would not let my Saviour rest,
Sole cause of the stupendous deed,
It drew Thee from Thy Father's breast,
It made the Man of sorrows bleed.
Deserving in Thy proper right
Thou hence obtain'st Thy Father's love,
And raised by Thy own Spirit's might,
Appear'st our Advocate above;
Great Patron of the ransom'd race,
Well-pleased He always is with Thee:
And Thou hast merited His grace,
And Thou hast bought His love for me.
Thou hence obtain'st Thy Father's love,
And raised by Thy own Spirit's might,
Appear'st our Advocate above;
Great Patron of the ransom'd race,
Well-pleased He always is with Thee:
And Thou hast merited His grace,
And Thou hast bought His love for me.
1951.
[The wisdom of our God made man]
Many of them said, He hath a devil, and is, &c.
—x. 20.
The wisdom of our God made man,
Jesus was vilified, blasphemed,
Heard with aversion and disdain,
A madman and demoniac deem'd!
Thou zealous follower of thy Lord
The crown of all thy labours see,
Expect from man the same reward,
And bow thy head on Calvary.
1952.
[Nature impatient of delay]
How long dost Thou make us to doubt? &c.
—x. 24.
Nature impatient of delay,
Would force the Lord to show His power:
“Now, now, we cry, Thyself display,
Now, now, for we can wait no more,
Thy mysteries all at once explain,
For God is bound to wait on man!”
Would force the Lord to show His power:
“Now, now, we cry, Thyself display,
Now, now, for we can wait no more,
Thy mysteries all at once explain,
For God is bound to wait on man!”
But a believing child of grace
Tarries the leisure of his Lord,
Waits upon Him who hides His face,
Continues patient in the word,
Manner and time to Jesus leaves,
And what his Saviour wills receives.
Tarries the leisure of his Lord,
463
Continues patient in the word,
Manner and time to Jesus leaves,
And what his Saviour wills receives.
1953.
[Who in the steps of Jesus treads]
The works that I do in My Father's name, &c.
—x. 25.
Who in the steps of Jesus treads
The surest testimony gives,
He speaks less by his words than deeds,
The truth's authentic witness lives:
And lo! throughout his life is show'd
The wisdom and the power of God!
1954.
[The sheep with meek docility]
Ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, &c.
—x. 26.
The sheep with meek docility
Expect the Shepherd's voice to hear,
Jesus by faith they cleave to Thee;
Obedience is their character,
Obedience doth their faith approve,
And tender fear, and humble love.
Expect the Shepherd's voice to hear,
Jesus by faith they cleave to Thee;
Obedience is their character,
Obedience doth their faith approve,
And tender fear, and humble love.
Saviour, on me the faith bestow
Which joins a sinner to the sheep:
And when Thy pardoning voice I know,
To Thee and Thine united keep,
Till in that awful day I stand,
Among the sheep at Thy right hand.
Which joins a sinner to the sheep:
And when Thy pardoning voice I know,
To Thee and Thine united keep,
Till in that awful day I stand,
Among the sheep at Thy right hand.
1955.
[The sheep with true simplicity]
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, &c.
—x. 27.
The sheep with true simplicity
Attend, and taste and keep Thy word,
They lead the life approved by Thee,
Follow their active suffering Lord,
Copy Thy life of love and pain,
And labour all Thy mind to gain.
Attend, and taste and keep Thy word,
They lead the life approved by Thee,
Follow their active suffering Lord,
Copy Thy life of love and pain,
And labour all Thy mind to gain.
464
They prove Thine acceptable will,
Thine image more and more put on,
Their vileness more and more they feel,
Their race assign'd with patience run,
Thy followers to the end endure,
And make their own election sure.
Thine image more and more put on,
Their vileness more and more they feel,
Their race assign'd with patience run,
Thy followers to the end endure,
And make their own election sure.
1956.
[The faith Thou dost even now bestow]
I give unto them eternal life; and they shall, &c.
—x. 28.
The faith Thou dost even now bestow,
Even now the life eternal give,
And Thee their Lord who truly know
The hidden life of glory live;
Their souls are in those hands of Thine,
Kept by the power of love Divine.
Even now the life eternal give,
And Thee their Lord who truly know
The hidden life of glory live;
Their souls are in those hands of Thine,
Kept by the power of love Divine.
Obsequious to Thy dear commands
With Thee alone who safely dwell,
Sin shall not pluck out of Thy hands,
Nor all the force of earth or hell;
And if the Truth can never lie,
Believing souls can never die.
With Thee alone who safely dwell,
Sin shall not pluck out of Thy hands,
Nor all the force of earth or hell;
And if the Truth can never lie,
Believing souls can never die.
1957.
[Jesus answer'd them, to show]
Jesus answered them, Many good works have, &c.
—x. 32.
Jesus answer'd them, to show
We should at times reply
To the persecuting foe,
Our actions justify;
Bold before the world confess
The crime of publishing the word,
Advocates for truth express
The tempers of our Lord.
1958.
[Will the foes of Jesus own]
For a good work we stone Thee not; but for, &c.
—x. 33.
Will the foes of Jesus own
They hate us for His sake?
465
And righteous vengeance take;
“Wretches who the Spirit feel
Pretend to know their sins forgiven,
Say that now in God they dwell
And live the life of heaven!”
1959.
[Christ the character express]
Say ye of Him, whom the Father hath sanctified, &c.
—x. 36.
Christ the character express
Of God's substantial power,
Image of His holiness
Jehovah we adore!
Him His Father sanctified
Before the worlds or time begun,
Placed for ever at His side
His co-eternal Son.
Of God's substantial power,
Image of His holiness
Jehovah we adore!
Him His Father sanctified
Before the worlds or time begun,
Placed for ever at His side
His co-eternal Son.
Fulness of His sanctity
The only God supreme,
Being's Source, I AM is He
Who did our world redeem;
When in Christ the Father came
To consecrate this human shrine,
Dwelt in that corporeal frame
The plenitude Divine.
The only God supreme,
Being's Source, I AM is He
Who did our world redeem;
When in Christ the Father came
To consecrate this human shrine,
Dwelt in that corporeal frame
The plenitude Divine.
One, I and My Father are!
One God in persons three
By the Spirit we declare
The triune Deity:
Blasphemy denies in vain,
The glories of Jehovah's Son:
One with God Thou must remain
Through endless ages One.
One God in persons three
By the Spirit we declare
The triune Deity:
Blasphemy denies in vain,
The glories of Jehovah's Son:
One with God Thou must remain
Through endless ages One.
466
1960.
[Re-begotten from above]
Though ye believe not Me, believe the works.
—x. 38.
Re-begotten from above
In Christ, and creatures new,
Sinners, by our works we prove
That our report is true,
Witness what we surely know,
That men may still the Spirit receive;
Let our words for nothing go,
Ye must our lives believe.
1961.
[Jesu's real witnesses]
That ye may know, and believe, that the Father, &c.
—x. 38.
Jesu's real witnesses
We live for this alone,
That ye may with us confess
The Father in the Son,
That ye may believe aright,
And fill'd with God rejoice to prove
All the length, and breadth, and height,
And depth of Jesus' love.
1962.
[Voice of all the prophets old]
John did no miracle: but all things that, &c.
—x. 41, 42.
Voice of all the prophets old,
Their End the Baptist show'd,
Pointing out whom they foretold
The heavenly Lamb of God:
Jesus His forerunner's word
By words, by wonders, verified,
Lived our gracious faithful Lord,
Confirm'd the truth, and died.
Their End the Baptist show'd,
Pointing out whom they foretold
The heavenly Lamb of God:
Jesus His forerunner's word
By words, by wonders, verified,
Lived our gracious faithful Lord,
Confirm'd the truth, and died.
Searching Lord, if Thou art He
Who should our souls restore,
Clearly we Thy Godhead see,
And Thine eternal power;
Ancient prophecies compare
With those stupendous works of Thine,
Thus convinced to all declare
Thou art that Man Divine!
Who should our souls restore,
Clearly we Thy Godhead see,
And Thine eternal power;
467
With those stupendous works of Thine,
Thus convinced to all declare
Thou art that Man Divine!
1963.
[Still in spite of earth and hell]
And many believed on Him there.
—x. 42.
Still in spite of earth and hell,
Sinners their Lord embrace;
In their inmost souls they feel
The miracle of grace;
End of every outward sign,
Jesus, Thou dost the faith impart;
Then I know that Thou art mine,
Jehovah in my heart!
| CHAPTER X. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |