The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Which of the petty kings of earth
Can boast a guard like ours,
Encircled from the second birth
With all the heavenly powers?
Myriads of bright cherubic bands
Sent by the King of kings,
Rejoice to bear us in their hands,
And shade us with their wings.

With them we march securely on
Throughout Immanuel's ground,
And not an uncommission'd stone
Our sacred feet shall wound.
No enemy shall our souls ensnare,
No casual evil grieve;
Nor can we lose a single hair,
Without a Father's leave.

Angels, where'er we go, attend
Our steps, whate'er betide,
With watchful care their charge attend,
And evil turn aside:
A sudden thought to' escape the blow,
A ready help we find:
And to their secret presence owe
The presence of our mind.

119

Their instrumental aid unknown,
They day and night supply;
And free from fear, we lay us down,
Though Satan's host be nigh.
Our lives the holy angels keep
From every hostile power;
And unconcern'd we sweetly sleep,
As Adam in his bower.

Jehovah's charioteers surround
The ministerial choir;
Encamp where'er His heirs are found,
And form our wall of fire.
Ten thousand offices unseen
For us they gladly do,
Deliver in the lions' den,
And safe escort us through.

But thronging round, with busiest love,
They guard the dying breast;
The lurking fiend far off remove,
And sing our souls to rest:
And when our spirits we resign,
On outstretch'd wings they bear,
And lodge us in the arms Divine,
And leave for ever there.

University of Virginia Library

3259.

[Which of the petty kings of earth]