 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
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FUNERAL HYMNS. [SECOND SERIES.]
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HYMN I.
[Come let us join our friends above]
Come let us join our friends above
That have obtain'd the prize,
And on the eagle wings of love
To joy celestial rise;
Let all the saints terrestrial sing
With those to glory gone,
For all the servants of our King
In earth and heaven are one.
That have obtain'd the prize,
And on the eagle wings of love
To joy celestial rise;
Let all the saints terrestrial sing
With those to glory gone,
For all the servants of our King
In earth and heaven are one.
One family we dwell in Him,
One church above, beneath,
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death:
One army of the living God,
To His command we bow:
Part of His host hath cross'd the flood,
And part is crossing now.
One church above, beneath,
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream of death:
One army of the living God,
To His command we bow:
Part of His host hath cross'd the flood,
And part is crossing now.
Ten thousand to their endless home
This solemn moment fly,
And we are to the margin come,
And we expect to die:
His militant, embodied host,
With wishful looks we stand,
And long to see that happy coast,
And reach that heavenly land.
This solemn moment fly,
And we are to the margin come,
And we expect to die:
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With wishful looks we stand,
And long to see that happy coast,
And reach that heavenly land.
Our old companions in distress
We haste again to see,
And eager long for our release
And full felicity:
Even now by faith we join our hands
With those that went before,
And greet the blood-besprinkled bands
On the eternal shore.
We haste again to see,
And eager long for our release
And full felicity:
Even now by faith we join our hands
With those that went before,
And greet the blood-besprinkled bands
On the eternal shore.
Our spirits too shall quickly join,
Like theirs, with glory crown'd,
And shout to see our Captain's sign,
To hear His trumpet sound:
O that we now might grasp our Guide!
O that the word were given!
Come, Lord of Hosts, the waves divide,
And land us all in heaven.
Like theirs, with glory crown'd,
And shout to see our Captain's sign,
To hear His trumpet sound:
O that we now might grasp our Guide!
O that the word were given!
Come, Lord of Hosts, the waves divide,
And land us all in heaven.
HYMN II.
[How happy every child of grace]
How happy every child of grace
Who knows his sins forgiven!
This earth, he cries, is not my place,
I seek my place in heaven:
A country far from mortal sight;
Yet, O! by faith I see
The land of rest, the saints' delight,
The heaven prepared for me.
Who knows his sins forgiven!
This earth, he cries, is not my place,
I seek my place in heaven:
A country far from mortal sight;
Yet, O! by faith I see
The land of rest, the saints' delight,
The heaven prepared for me.
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A stranger in the world below,
I calmly sojourn here,
Nor can its happiness or woe
Provoke my hope or fear:
Its evils in a moment end,
Its joys as soon are past;
But, O! the bliss to which I tend
Eternally shall last.
I calmly sojourn here,
Nor can its happiness or woe
Provoke my hope or fear:
Its evils in a moment end,
Its joys as soon are past;
But, O! the bliss to which I tend
Eternally shall last.
To that Jerusalem above
With singing I repair,
While in the flesh, my hope and love,
My heart and soul are there:
There my exalted Saviour stands,
My merciful High-Priest,
And still extends His wounded hands
To take me to His breast.
With singing I repair,
While in the flesh, my hope and love,
My heart and soul are there:
There my exalted Saviour stands,
My merciful High-Priest,
And still extends His wounded hands
To take me to His breast.
What is there here to court my stay,
To hold me back from home,
While angels beckon me away,
And Jesus bids me come?
Shall I regret my parted friends
Still in the vale confined?
Nay, but whene'er my soul ascends,
They will not stay behind.
To hold me back from home,
While angels beckon me away,
And Jesus bids me come?
Shall I regret my parted friends
Still in the vale confined?
Nay, but whene'er my soul ascends,
They will not stay behind.
The race we all are running now,
And if I first attain,
They too their willing head shall bow,
They too the prize shall gain:
Now on the brink of death we stand,
And if I pass before,
They all shall soon escape to land,
And hail me on the shore.
And if I first attain,
They too their willing head shall bow,
They too the prize shall gain:
Now on the brink of death we stand,
And if I pass before,
They all shall soon escape to land,
And hail me on the shore.
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Then let me suddenly remove,
That hidden life to share;
I shall not lose my friends above,
But more enjoy them there.
There we in Jesus' praise shall join,
His boundless love proclaim,
And solemnize in songs Divine
The marriage of the Lamb.
That hidden life to share;
I shall not lose my friends above,
But more enjoy them there.
There we in Jesus' praise shall join,
His boundless love proclaim,
And solemnize in songs Divine
The marriage of the Lamb.
O what a blessed hope is ours!
While here on earth we stay
We more than taste the heavenly powers,
And antedate that day:
We feel The Resurrection near,
Our life in Christ conceal'd,
And with His glorious presence here
Our earthen vessels fill'd.
While here on earth we stay
We more than taste the heavenly powers,
And antedate that day:
We feel The Resurrection near,
Our life in Christ conceal'd,
And with His glorious presence here
Our earthen vessels fill'd.
O would He more of heaven bestow,
And let the vessel break,
And let our ransom'd spirits go
To grasp the God we seek:
In rapturous awe on Him to gaze
Who bought the sight for me,
And shout and wonder at His grace
Through all eternity.
And let the vessel break,
And let our ransom'd spirits go
To grasp the God we seek:
In rapturous awe on Him to gaze
Who bought the sight for me,
And shout and wonder at His grace
Through all eternity.
HYMN III.
[And let this feeble body fail]
And let this feeble body fail,
And let it droop, or die,
My soul shall quit the mournful vale,
And soar to worlds on high:
Shall join the disembodied saints,
And find its long-sought rest,
(That only bliss for which it pants,)
In my Redeemer's breast.
And let it droop, or die,
My soul shall quit the mournful vale,
And soar to worlds on high:
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And find its long-sought rest,
(That only bliss for which it pants,)
In my Redeemer's breast.
In hope of that immortal crown,
I now the cross sustain,
And gladly wander up and down,
And smile at toil and pain:
I suffer out my threescore years,
Till my Deliverer come,
And wipe away His servant's tears,
And take His exile home.
I now the cross sustain,
And gladly wander up and down,
And smile at toil and pain:
I suffer out my threescore years,
Till my Deliverer come,
And wipe away His servant's tears,
And take His exile home.
Surely He will not long delay;
I hear His Spirit cry,
“Arise, My love, make haste away,
Go, get thee up, and die.
O'er death, who now has lost his sting,
I give the victory,
And with Me My reward I bring,
I bring My heaven for thee.”
I hear His Spirit cry,
“Arise, My love, make haste away,
Go, get thee up, and die.
O'er death, who now has lost his sting,
I give the victory,
And with Me My reward I bring,
I bring My heaven for thee.”
Lord, I the welcome word receive,
Thee on the mount adore,
For Thy dear sake content to live
Some painful moments more:
I live in holy grief and joy,
On Pisgah's top I stand,
And life's important point employ,
To view the promised land.
Thee on the mount adore,
For Thy dear sake content to live
Some painful moments more:
I live in holy grief and joy,
On Pisgah's top I stand,
And life's important point employ,
To view the promised land.
O what hath Jesus bought for me!
Before my ravish'd eyes
Rivers of life Divine I see,
And trees of paradise:
They flourish in perpetual bloom,
Fruit every month they give;
And to the healing leaves who come,
Eternally shall live.
Before my ravish'd eyes
Rivers of life Divine I see,
And trees of paradise:
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Fruit every month they give;
And to the healing leaves who come,
Eternally shall live.
I see a world of spirits bright,
Who reap the pleasures there;
They all are robed in purest white,
And conquering palms they bear:
Adorn'd by their Redeemer's grace
They close pursue the Lamb,
And every shining front displays
The' unutterable Name.
Who reap the pleasures there;
They all are robed in purest white,
And conquering palms they bear:
Adorn'd by their Redeemer's grace
They close pursue the Lamb,
And every shining front displays
The' unutterable Name.
They drink the deifying stream,
They pluck the' ambrosial fruit,
And each records the praise of Him
Who tuned his golden lute:
At once they strike the' harmonious wire,
And hymn the great Three-One:
He hears; He smiles: and all the choir
Fall down before His throne.
They pluck the' ambrosial fruit,
And each records the praise of Him
Who tuned his golden lute:
At once they strike the' harmonious wire,
And hymn the great Three-One:
He hears; He smiles: and all the choir
Fall down before His throne.
O what a heaven of heavens is this,
This swoon of silent love!
How poor the world's sublimest bliss
Compared with joys above!
With joys above may I be blest,
And earthly bliss I scorn;
Or sing triumphantly distress'd
Till I to God return.
This swoon of silent love!
How poor the world's sublimest bliss
Compared with joys above!
With joys above may I be blest,
And earthly bliss I scorn;
Or sing triumphantly distress'd
Till I to God return.
O what are all my sufferings here,
If, Lord, Thou count me meet
With that enraptured host to' appear,
And worship at Thy feet!
Give joy or grief, give ease or pain,
Take life or friends away,
I come, to find them all again
In that eternal day.
If, Lord, Thou count me meet
With that enraptured host to' appear,
And worship at Thy feet!
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Take life or friends away,
I come, to find them all again
In that eternal day.
HYMN IV. FOR A BACKSLIDER (MR. J. H.) NEAR DEATH.
Bowels of compassion, sound
In answer to our cry,
Let Thy balmy grace abound,
Before our brother die!
Bleeding Lamb, Thy blood impart
To sign a burden'd soul's release;
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
In answer to our cry,
Let Thy balmy grace abound,
Before our brother die!
Bleeding Lamb, Thy blood impart
To sign a burden'd soul's release;
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
Sinner's Advocate, appear,
In all Thy wounds confess'd,
Now his fainting spirit cheer,
And calm his troubled breast:
Jesu, show Thine healing art,
And give his tortured conscience ease,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
In all Thy wounds confess'd,
Now his fainting spirit cheer,
And calm his troubled breast:
Jesu, show Thine healing art,
And give his tortured conscience ease,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
Do not, Lord, for ever chide
With one who was Thy son:
Mercy cries, “Be pacified,
For all that he hath done:”
Though he did from Thee depart,
With pity see his last distress,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
With one who was Thy son:
Mercy cries, “Be pacified,
For all that he hath done:”
Though he did from Thee depart,
With pity see his last distress,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
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If Thou all his ways hast seen,
Since first from Thee he ran,
If Thy hand hath kept him in,
And fenced him round with pain;
If Thy rod hath made him smart,
And still corrects his frowardness;
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
Since first from Thee he ran,
If Thy hand hath kept him in,
And fenced him round with pain;
If Thy rod hath made him smart,
And still corrects his frowardness;
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
Let the punishment suffice
He hath already borne,
Now to bless his closing eyes,
Thou lovely Lamb, return;
Ere the soul and body part,
Again Thy lawful captive seize,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
He hath already borne,
Now to bless his closing eyes,
Thou lovely Lamb, return;
Ere the soul and body part,
Again Thy lawful captive seize,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
Lord, we will not cease to pray,
We will not let Thee go,
Till Thou take his sins away,
And wash him white as snow;
Bless him, ere he hence depart,
With pardon and salvation bless,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
We will not let Thee go,
Till Thou take his sins away,
And wash him white as snow;
Bless him, ere he hence depart,
With pardon and salvation bless,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
In this acceptable hour
Thy pardoning grace reveal,
If the prayer of faith hath power
A sin-sick soul to heal:
If the same Thou always art,
Make all Thy gracious fulness his,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
Thy pardoning grace reveal,
If the prayer of faith hath power
A sin-sick soul to heal:
If the same Thou always art,
Make all Thy gracious fulness his,
Whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.
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Son of God, come down, come down,
And tell him all Thy name,
That we all around Thy throne
Thy glories may proclaim;
That we never more may part,
Partakers of Thy heavenly bliss,
Whisper love to every heart,
And bid us die in peace.
And tell him all Thy name,
That we all around Thy throne
Thy glories may proclaim;
That we never more may part,
Partakers of Thy heavenly bliss,
Whisper love to every heart,
And bid us die in peace.
ON THE DEATH OF MR. JOHN HUTCHINSON, JULY 23, 1754.
HYMN V.
[Glory, and thanks, and praise]
Glory, and thanks, and praise
To Him who reigns above,
The God of unexampled grace,
Of unexhausted love;
Whose Spirit often grieved
Hath all long-suffering shown,
And now to paradise received
His poor rebellious son.
To Him who reigns above,
The God of unexampled grace,
Of unexhausted love;
Whose Spirit often grieved
Hath all long-suffering shown,
And now to paradise received
His poor rebellious son.
His son (and mine) is fled
Beyond the reach of sin,
The everlasting doors display'd
Admit the wanderer in:
Shout, all ye heavenly choir,
The doubtful conflict past,
My son is scarcely saved by fire
But he is saved at last.
Beyond the reach of sin,
The everlasting doors display'd
Admit the wanderer in:
Shout, all ye heavenly choir,
The doubtful conflict past,
My son is scarcely saved by fire
But he is saved at last.
'Scaped from a life of pain,
Disburden'd of his load;
The struggling soul hath burst its chain
Of peevish flesh and blood:
Safe to the haven brought,
Where storms can never come,
And every folly, every fault,
Is buried in his tomb.
Disburden'd of his load;
The struggling soul hath burst its chain
Of peevish flesh and blood:
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Where storms can never come,
And every folly, every fault,
Is buried in his tomb.
The pain, whose lingering strife
And frequent impulse tore
The wasted seats of irksome life,
Shall never vex him more:
Nor love's severe excess,
Nor anger's furious start,
Can his indignant spirit oppress,
Or rend his frantic heart.
And frequent impulse tore
The wasted seats of irksome life,
Shall never vex him more:
Nor love's severe excess,
Nor anger's furious start,
Can his indignant spirit oppress,
Or rend his frantic heart.
The tyrannizing power
Of his own wayward will,
The buffetings of sin are o'er,
The stubborn pulse is still;
Jesus hath heard our prayer,
And caught him to His breast,
And lull'd the self-tormentor there
To everlasting rest.
Of his own wayward will,
The buffetings of sin are o'er,
The stubborn pulse is still;
Jesus hath heard our prayer,
And caught him to His breast,
And lull'd the self-tormentor there
To everlasting rest.
Omnipotent to save,
Thou didst Thine arm reveal,
And on the margin of the grave
All his backslidings heal:
“Thou didst Thy blood impart,
To sign his soul's release,
And whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.”
Thou didst Thine arm reveal,
And on the margin of the grave
All his backslidings heal:
“Thou didst Thy blood impart,
To sign his soul's release,
And whisper love into his heart,
And bid him die in peace.”
Our hearts with hopes and fears,
Dying, he chills, and warms,
The sad desponding sinner cheers,
The confident alarms:
Left to the tempter's power,
He cries to all “Beware,”
But pardon'd at his latest hour,
Prohibits our despair.
Dying, he chills, and warms,
The sad desponding sinner cheers,
The confident alarms:
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He cries to all “Beware,”
But pardon'd at his latest hour,
Prohibits our despair.
Instructed from above,
Let us the warning take,
Nor ever, Lord, abuse Thy love,
Or Thee or Thine forsake:
Ah! rather now receive
The purchase of Thy blood,
Than let us live to tempt or grieve
The patience of our God.
Let us the warning take,
Nor ever, Lord, abuse Thy love,
Or Thee or Thine forsake:
Ah! rather now receive
The purchase of Thy blood,
Than let us live to tempt or grieve
The patience of our God.
In self-mistrusting fear
Thy mercy we implore,
To keep us, till our conflicts here
Triumphantly are o'er:
Ah! make us better, Lord,
And take us at the best,
Meet to receive our full reward
In love's eternal feast.
Thy mercy we implore,
To keep us, till our conflicts here
Triumphantly are o'er:
Ah! make us better, Lord,
And take us at the best,
Meet to receive our full reward
In love's eternal feast.
HYMN VI. ANOTHER.
[Why should my tears for ever flow]
Why should my tears for ever flow,
Why should I wail the close of woe,
The end of misery?
His real life doth still remain,
Nothing is dead but grief and pain,
But that which wish'd to die.
Why should I wail the close of woe,
The end of misery?
His real life doth still remain,
Nothing is dead but grief and pain,
But that which wish'd to die.
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My Hutchinson himself survives;
He lives, to God he greatly lives!
The' imperishable part
Is rapt beyond our world of care;
Yet now by faithful love I bear
His image on my heart.
He lives, to God he greatly lives!
The' imperishable part
Is rapt beyond our world of care;
Yet now by faithful love I bear
His image on my heart.
I see the generous friend sincere!
His voice still vibrates in my ear,
The voice of truth and love!
It calls me to put off my clay,
It bids me soar with him away
To fairer worlds above.
His voice still vibrates in my ear,
The voice of truth and love!
It calls me to put off my clay,
It bids me soar with him away
To fairer worlds above.
Not even in death his friendship dies:
With grateful pity and surprise
I ask, How can it be?
Loosen'd from all he leaves behind,
Yet still—unutterably kind—
Yet still—he cleaves to me.
With grateful pity and surprise
I ask, How can it be?
Loosen'd from all he leaves behind,
Yet still—unutterably kind—
Yet still—he cleaves to me.
On me he rests his dying head,
And catching grasps a broken reed,
But will not let me part,
Till Jesus visits him again,
By nobler love dissolves the chain,
And vindicates his heart.
And catching grasps a broken reed,
But will not let me part,
Till Jesus visits him again,
By nobler love dissolves the chain,
And vindicates his heart.
Soon as the heavenly Guest arrives,
No more he fondly pants and strives
To' entwist his soul with mine:
He shakes me off—and then his clay,
He gives me up—and dies away
Into the arms Divine.
No more he fondly pants and strives
To' entwist his soul with mine:
He shakes me off—and then his clay,
He gives me up—and dies away
Into the arms Divine.
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Departed hence in perfect peace,
He loves me now without excess,
Or passionate alloy;
Serene, he waits my spirit's flight,
To range with his the plains of light,
And climb the mount of joy.
He loves me now without excess,
Or passionate alloy;
Serene, he waits my spirit's flight,
To range with his the plains of light,
And climb the mount of joy.
Reposed in those Elysian seats,
Where Jonathan his David meets,
Our souls shall soon embrace,
The utmost power of friendship prove,
Commenced on earth, matured above,
In ecstasies of praise.
Where Jonathan his David meets,
Our souls shall soon embrace,
The utmost power of friendship prove,
Commenced on earth, matured above,
In ecstasies of praise.
How shall we sing and triumph there,
Our dangers and escapes compare,
Our days of flesh and woe!
How comprehend the plan Divine,
And sweetly in His praises join
Through whom we met below.
Our dangers and escapes compare,
Our days of flesh and woe!
How comprehend the plan Divine,
And sweetly in His praises join
Through whom we met below.
Through whom in paradise we meet,
Great Author of our joy complete,
Thee, Jesus, we proclaim,
While all the saints stand listening round,
And all the realms of bliss resound
Salvation to the Lamb.
Great Author of our joy complete,
Thee, Jesus, we proclaim,
While all the saints stand listening round,
And all the realms of bliss resound
Salvation to the Lamb.
The Lamb hath brought us through the fire;
The Lamb shall raise our raptures higher,
When all from earth are driven,
Our glorious Head shall cleave the skies,
And bid His church triumphant rise
From paradise to heaven.
The Lamb shall raise our raptures higher,
When all from earth are driven,
Our glorious Head shall cleave the skies,
And bid His church triumphant rise
From paradise to heaven.
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HYMN VII. ON THE DEATH OF ---.
Go, blessed spirit, from earth set free!
Thou shalt not leave us long behind!
Who calmly hastening after thee,
And copying out thy Saviour's mind,
Like thee with swift obedience move,
To seize the crown of perfect love.
Thou shalt not leave us long behind!
Who calmly hastening after thee,
And copying out thy Saviour's mind,
Like thee with swift obedience move,
To seize the crown of perfect love.
Thou couldst not rest among the dead,
In chains of education bound,
But following Truth, where'er it led,
And listening to the gospel sound,
Thy simple heart obey'd His call,
And found the God who died for all.
In chains of education bound,
But following Truth, where'er it led,
And listening to the gospel sound,
Thy simple heart obey'd His call,
And found the God who died for all.
A witness of His boundless love,
Which wills that every soul should live,
Thou didst the general blessing prove,
The universal grace receive,
The rapturous sense of sin forgiven,
The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.
Which wills that every soul should live,
Thou didst the general blessing prove,
The universal grace receive,
The rapturous sense of sin forgiven,
The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.
By that unerring Spirit led,
Thou didst the Christian rite require:
The Spirit show'd thy farther need
Of water, though baptized with fire;
He drew thee to the hallow'd stream,
Though all thy soul was plunged in Him.
Thou didst the Christian rite require:
The Spirit show'd thy farther need
Of water, though baptized with fire;
He drew thee to the hallow'd stream,
Though all thy soul was plunged in Him.
Who could forbid the outward sign,
When God had given the inward grace?
Obedient to the word Divine,
Glad to fulfil all righteousness,
Thou found'st thy Lord again reveal'd,
And gloriedst in thy pardon seal'd.
When God had given the inward grace?
Obedient to the word Divine,
Glad to fulfil all righteousness,
Thou found'st thy Lord again reveal'd,
And gloriedst in thy pardon seal'd.
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Didst thou not walk with Christ in white?
Didst thou not keep thy garments pure?
The virtue of that heavenly rite,
The Spirit, made thy goings sure,
And hid thee in the Saviour's breast,
And fitted for eternal rest.
Didst thou not keep thy garments pure?
The virtue of that heavenly rite,
The Spirit, made thy goings sure,
And hid thee in the Saviour's breast,
And fitted for eternal rest.
Soon as the warning angel came,
Thy convoy to that world unknown,
Thy soul, a follower of the Lamb,
Rejoiced to lay its burden down,
To pay Him back His dying love,
And do His will like those above.
Thy convoy to that world unknown,
Thy soul, a follower of the Lamb,
Rejoiced to lay its burden down,
To pay Him back His dying love,
And do His will like those above.
No earthly wish detains thee here,
Nor friends by more than flesh allied,
Dearer than life, yet not so dear
As Him who calls thee to His side,
And claims thy spotless spirit for His,
And crowns thee with immortal bliss.
Nor friends by more than flesh allied,
Dearer than life, yet not so dear
As Him who calls thee to His side,
And claims thy spotless spirit for His,
And crowns thee with immortal bliss.
Bless'd be the love that led thee on,
And saved throughout from first to last!
Saviour, on Thy dear love alone
In life and death our souls we cast,
Till ripe for heaven we take our flight,
And clasp again our friends in light.
And saved throughout from first to last!
Saviour, on Thy dear love alone
In life and death our souls we cast,
Till ripe for heaven we take our flight,
And clasp again our friends in light.
HYMN VIII. ON THE DEATH OF MRS. MERCY THORNTON, MARCH 1, 1757.
The' Almighty will be done,
Who justly claims His own!
Sister, daughter, friend, farewell!
Caught up to thy great reward,
To the bliss ineffable,
To the bosom of thy Lord.
Who justly claims His own!
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Caught up to thy great reward,
To the bliss ineffable,
To the bosom of thy Lord.
Beyond our vale of woe,
Detach'd from all below,
Long thy gracious soul aspired
After His beloved embrace,
Restlessly its God required,
Gasp'd to see His glorious face.
Detach'd from all below,
Long thy gracious soul aspired
After His beloved embrace,
Restlessly its God required,
Gasp'd to see His glorious face.
No new-made Deity
He show'd Himself to thee:
Jesus, Jah, Jehovah, came,
Pleased His nature to impart,
Told thee His mysterious name,
Breathed His Spirit into thy heart.
He show'd Himself to thee:
Jesus, Jah, Jehovah, came,
Pleased His nature to impart,
Told thee His mysterious name,
Breathed His Spirit into thy heart.
Through His own Spirit's power,
Thou didst thy Lord adore,
With unborrow'd glories bright,
Dwelling in an earthly clod,
God of God, and Light of light,
Christ the One eternal God.
Thou didst thy Lord adore,
With unborrow'd glories bright,
Dwelling in an earthly clod,
God of God, and Light of light,
Christ the One eternal God.
God over all supreme,
Almighty to redeem,
The first self-existing Cause,
Him thou didst divinely know,
Daily triumph in His cross,
Humbly in His footsteps go.
Almighty to redeem,
The first self-existing Cause,
Him thou didst divinely know,
Daily triumph in His cross,
Humbly in His footsteps go.
Thy meat was to fulfil
Thy heavenly Father's will:
Sent to do His will alone,
O! how swiftly didst thou move,
Eager, yet composed, to run
All the course of patient love!
Thy heavenly Father's will:
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O! how swiftly didst thou move,
Eager, yet composed, to run
All the course of patient love!
In meek and quiet peace,
Thou didst thy soul possess;
Far from every wild extreme
Thy substantial piety:
Never could the world blaspheme,
Never scoff the truth for thee.
Thou didst thy soul possess;
Far from every wild extreme
Thy substantial piety:
Never could the world blaspheme,
Never scoff the truth for thee.
Close follower of the Lamb,
Whose love the world o'ercame,
Them thou didst, like Him, oppose,
Conquering all their ill with good,
Melting down the Saviour's foes,
Foes that trampled on His blood.
Whose love the world o'ercame,
Them thou didst, like Him, oppose,
Conquering all their ill with good,
Melting down the Saviour's foes,
Foes that trampled on His blood.
The men who dare disown
God's co-eternal Son,
Meet and ready to depart,
Didst thou not their burden bear?
Grieved for them thy bleeding heart,
Sigh'd for them thy dying prayer.
God's co-eternal Son,
Meet and ready to depart,
Didst thou not their burden bear?
Grieved for them thy bleeding heart,
Sigh'd for them thy dying prayer.
That latest labour o'er,
Thy spirit strives no more:
Finish'd her great work of love,
Lo! she quits the house of clay,
Claps her wings, and soars above,
Mingles with eternal day!
Thy spirit strives no more:
Finish'd her great work of love,
Lo! she quits the house of clay,
Claps her wings, and soars above,
Mingles with eternal day!
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HYMN IX. ON THE DEATH OF MRS. MARY STOTESBURY, MARCH 17, 1759.
Friendly, faithful soul, adieu,
Join'd to those escaped before!
Thou hast gain'd the port in view,
Thou hast reach'd the happy shore:
Thee released we cannot mourn,
Lighten'd of thine earthly load,
Dead—or rather truly born,
Dead to man, thou liv'st to God.
Join'd to those escaped before!
Thou hast gain'd the port in view,
Thou hast reach'd the happy shore:
Thee released we cannot mourn,
Lighten'd of thine earthly load,
Dead—or rather truly born,
Dead to man, thou liv'st to God.
Thou art gone to thy reward,
Follow'd by thy works of love,
By the servants of thy Lord,
All whose hearts are fix'd above;
Us, who saw thy walk below,
Us, who seek thy place on high,
Study in thy steps to go,
Long, like thee, to live and die.
Follow'd by thy works of love,
By the servants of thy Lord,
All whose hearts are fix'd above;
Us, who saw thy walk below,
Us, who seek thy place on high,
Study in thy steps to go,
Long, like thee, to live and die.
Calmly didst thou run thy race,
Steadily thine end pursue:
All the fruits of righteousness
Proved thy faith divinely true:
Happy thou for Christ prepared,
Found, when all thy work was past,
Watching to receive thy Lord,
Blameless, and in peace at last.
Steadily thine end pursue:
All the fruits of righteousness
Proved thy faith divinely true:
Happy thou for Christ prepared,
Found, when all thy work was past,
Watching to receive thy Lord,
Blameless, and in peace at last.
Fruit of Jesus' lips and prayer,
Peace thy parting soul attends,
All thy dying words declare
Life begun that never ends,
“Bless'd be God, for ever bless'd,
God of my salvation still!
I am enter'd into rest,
Pardon on my heart I feel.
Peace thy parting soul attends,
All thy dying words declare
Life begun that never ends,
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God of my salvation still!
I am enter'd into rest,
Pardon on my heart I feel.
“What a gracious God is ours!
How almighty to redeem!
Blessings on His own He showers,
Grace alone proceeds from Him;
He can only good ordain:
This in life and death I prove,
Happy I, though full of pain,
Fuller still of joy and love.
How almighty to redeem!
Blessings on His own He showers,
Grace alone proceeds from Him;
He can only good ordain:
This in life and death I prove,
Happy I, though full of pain,
Fuller still of joy and love.
“Him for everything I praise,
Every benefit Divine,
Chiefly for His pardoning grace;
Life, eternal life is mine!
Yes, I know, the heavenly Lamb,
Whom I gladly die to see,
He hath register'd my name,
Fitted up the house for me.
Every benefit Divine,
Chiefly for His pardoning grace;
Life, eternal life is mine!
Yes, I know, the heavenly Lamb,
Whom I gladly die to see,
He hath register'd my name,
Fitted up the house for me.
“Thither on that 'pointed morn,
By His Spirit signified,
I shall to my Lord return,
I His pure unspotted bride:
Lo! the Bridegroom from above
Comes my spirit to receive!
Lo! I die, to meet my Love,
Die, eternally to live.”
By His Spirit signified,
I shall to my Lord return,
I His pure unspotted bride:
Lo! the Bridegroom from above
Comes my spirit to receive!
Lo! I die, to meet my Love,
Die, eternally to live.”
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ON THE DEATH OF W. H---LL, AGED FOURTEEN.
HYMN X.
[PART I.]
[Where is the fair Elysian flower]
Where is the fair Elysian flower,
The blooming youth that charm'd our eyes?
Cut down, and wither'd in an hour!
But now transplanted to the skies,
He triumphs o'er the mouldering tomb,
He blossoms in eternal bloom.
The blooming youth that charm'd our eyes?
Cut down, and wither'd in an hour!
But now transplanted to the skies,
He triumphs o'er the mouldering tomb,
He blossoms in eternal bloom.
Nor did he perish immature,
Who starting won the short-lived race:
Unspotted from the world and pure,
And saved, and sanctified by grace,
The child fulfils his hundred years,
And ripe before his God appears.
Who starting won the short-lived race:
Unspotted from the world and pure,
And saved, and sanctified by grace,
The child fulfils his hundred years,
And ripe before his God appears.
Witness his one extreme desire,
To live, if spared, for God alone;
But rather with the tuneful choir,
To join the souls around the throne:
He grasps on earth the prize above,
And all his soul is prayer and love.
To live, if spared, for God alone;
But rather with the tuneful choir,
To join the souls around the throne:
He grasps on earth the prize above,
And all his soul is prayer and love.
When reason fled the rack of pain,
Love still defied the torturer's power,
Love, deathless love, doth still remain,
And consecrates his dying hour,
And wafts him to his native place,
And crowns his brow with golden rays.
Love still defied the torturer's power,
Love, deathless love, doth still remain,
And consecrates his dying hour,
And wafts him to his native place,
And crowns his brow with golden rays.
Ascending to that world of light,
He quits our dreary vale of death,
But drops his mantle in his flight,
His blessing on his friends beneath;
Thrice happy, if his virtue's heirs,
If given to his dying prayers!
He quits our dreary vale of death,
But drops his mantle in his flight,
His blessing on his friends beneath;
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If given to his dying prayers!
Happy whoe'er his wants supplied,
Or served an heir of glory here;
Happy the souls to thine allied,
That saw their shining pattern near;
Happy the mates thou leav'st below,
If wise, with thee, their God to know.
Or served an heir of glory here;
Happy the souls to thine allied,
That saw their shining pattern near;
Happy the mates thou leav'st below,
If wise, with thee, their God to know.
But chiefly bless'd the womb that bare,
The paps that nursed a child like thee,
A child of providence and prayer,
Ordain'd his Father's face to see,
To' enjoy His love, to chant His praise
In rapturous, everlasting lays.
The paps that nursed a child like thee,
A child of providence and prayer,
Ordain'd his Father's face to see,
To' enjoy His love, to chant His praise
In rapturous, everlasting lays.
'Tis done, the soul is enter'd there,
Where kindred saints and angels join:
We cast away our mournful care,
We bow and bless the will Divine:
Let God resume whom God had given,
And take us after him to heaven.
Where kindred saints and angels join:
We cast away our mournful care,
We bow and bless the will Divine:
Let God resume whom God had given,
And take us after him to heaven.
HYMN XI.
PART II.
[Rest, happy saint, with God secure]
Rest, happy saint, with God secure,
Lodged in the bosom of the Lamb,
Thy joy is full, thy state is sure,
Through all eternity the same;
The heavenly doors have shut thee in,
The mighty gulf is fix'd between.
Lodged in the bosom of the Lamb,
Thy joy is full, thy state is sure,
Through all eternity the same;
The heavenly doors have shut thee in,
The mighty gulf is fix'd between.
Thy God forbade the son to bear
The father's wickedness below:
And O! thou canst not suffer there
His foul reproach, his guilty woe,
His fearful doom thou canst not feel,
Or fall, like him, from heaven to hell.
The father's wickedness below:
And O! thou canst not suffer there
His foul reproach, his guilty woe,
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Or fall, like him, from heaven to hell.
That tender sense of infant grace,
(Extinct in him,) which dwelt in thee,
Nor sin, nor Satan, can efface:
From pain and grief for ever free,
Thou canst not now his fall deplore,
Or pray for one that prays no more.
(Extinct in him,) which dwelt in thee,
Nor sin, nor Satan, can efface:
From pain and grief for ever free,
Thou canst not now his fall deplore,
Or pray for one that prays no more.
Yet may thy last expiring prayer
For a lost parent's soul prevail,
And move the God of love to spare,
To' arrest him at the mouth of hell:
O God of love, Thine ear incline,
And save a soul that once was Thine.
For a lost parent's soul prevail,
And move the God of love to spare,
To' arrest him at the mouth of hell:
O God of love, Thine ear incline,
And save a soul that once was Thine.
Thou didst his heaven-born spirit draw,
Thou didst his childlike heart inspire,
And fill with love's profoundest awe;
Though now inflamed with hellish fire,
He dares Thy favourite Son blaspheme,
And hates the God that died for him.
Thou didst his childlike heart inspire,
And fill with love's profoundest awe;
Though now inflamed with hellish fire,
He dares Thy favourite Son blaspheme,
And hates the God that died for him.
Commission'd by the dying God,
Bless'd with a powerful ministry,
The world he pointed to Thy blood,
And turn'd whole multitudes to Thee;
Others he saved, himself a prey
To hell, an hopeless castaway.
Bless'd with a powerful ministry,
The world he pointed to Thy blood,
And turn'd whole multitudes to Thee;
Others he saved, himself a prey
To hell, an hopeless castaway.
Murderer of souls, Thou know'st, he lives,
(Poor souls for whom Thyself hast died,)
His dreadful punishment receives,
And bears the mark of sullen pride;
And furious lusts his bosom tear,
And the dire worm of sad despair.
(Poor souls for whom Thyself hast died,)
His dreadful punishment receives,
And bears the mark of sullen pride;
And furious lusts his bosom tear,
And the dire worm of sad despair.
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Condemn'd like haggard Cain to rove,
By Satan and himself pursued,
Apostate from redeeming love,
Abandon'd to the curse of God;
Thou hear'st the vagabond complain,
Loud howling, while he bites his chain.
By Satan and himself pursued,
Apostate from redeeming love,
Abandon'd to the curse of God;
Thou hear'st the vagabond complain,
Loud howling, while he bites his chain.
But O, Thou righteous God, how long
Shall Thy vindictive anger last?
Canst Thou not yet forgive the wrong,
Bid all his penal woes be past?
All power, all mercy as Thou art,
O break his adamantine heart.
Shall Thy vindictive anger last?
Canst Thou not yet forgive the wrong,
Bid all his penal woes be past?
All power, all mercy as Thou art,
O break his adamantine heart.
Before the yawning cavern close
Its mouth on its devoted prey,
Thou, who hast died to save Thy foes,
Thy death's omnipotence display;
And snatch from that eternal fire,
And let him in Thine arms expire.
Its mouth on its devoted prey,
Thou, who hast died to save Thy foes,
Thy death's omnipotence display;
And snatch from that eternal fire,
And let him in Thine arms expire.
HYMN XII. ON THE DEATH OF MISS M. L---N.
Fly, happy spirit, fly
Beyond this gloomy sky!
Thee our prayers no more detain,
Thee our grief recalls no more;
Leave awhile thy friends in pain,
Land on that eternal shore.
Beyond this gloomy sky!
Thee our prayers no more detain,
Thee our grief recalls no more;
Leave awhile thy friends in pain,
Land on that eternal shore.
'Tis done, the soul is fled,
The earthy part is dead!
Dead is that which wish'd to die,
That which gall'd the soul within,
Dead the sense of misery,
Dead the seed of death and sin.
The earthy part is dead!
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That which gall'd the soul within,
Dead the sense of misery,
Dead the seed of death and sin.
No pangs of loss or care
Shall now thy bosom tear,
Anguish and severe disease,
Agony and death are past;
Now the weary is at peace,
Peace, which shall for ever last.
Shall now thy bosom tear,
Anguish and severe disease,
Agony and death are past;
Now the weary is at peace,
Peace, which shall for ever last.
Yes, thou hast found an home
Where want can never come:
Nabal cannot drive thee thence,
From thy bosom friends disjoin:
Sure is that inheritance,
Spite of hell for ever thine.
Where want can never come:
Nabal cannot drive thee thence,
From thy bosom friends disjoin:
Sure is that inheritance,
Spite of hell for ever thine.
Exposed to want and woe
By thine own flesh below,
Will thy relatives above
Thee by their unkindness grieve?
Angels cannot scorn thy love,
God cannot His daughter leave.
By thine own flesh below,
Will thy relatives above
Thee by their unkindness grieve?
Angels cannot scorn thy love,
God cannot His daughter leave.
Thou hast, from earth convey'd,
A place to lay thy head:
Lull'd on thy Redeemer's breast,
Who cannot lament for thee,
Thee in God supremely bless'd,
Bless'd through all eternity.
A place to lay thy head:
Lull'd on thy Redeemer's breast,
Who cannot lament for thee,
Thee in God supremely bless'd,
Bless'd through all eternity.
Yet on thy virgin-bier
We drop a tender tear,
For ourselves, alas! we mourn,
Still by various sorrows pain'd,
Still by furious passions torn,
Midst the toils of hell detain'd.
We drop a tender tear,
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Still by various sorrows pain'd,
Still by furious passions torn,
Midst the toils of hell detain'd.
When, dearest soul, shall we
Escape and follow thee,
Meekly bow our dying head,
Gladly from our labour cease,
Ready for the Bridegroom made,
Ripe for everlasting bliss?
Escape and follow thee,
Meekly bow our dying head,
Gladly from our labour cease,
Ready for the Bridegroom made,
Ripe for everlasting bliss?
Bridegroom of souls, reply,
And bring redemption nigh,
Object of our glorious hope,
Come and change our faith to sight,
Come and take Thy mourners up,
Rank us with Thy saints in light.
And bring redemption nigh,
Object of our glorious hope,
Come and change our faith to sight,
Come and take Thy mourners up,
Rank us with Thy saints in light.
ON THE DEATH OF MRS. GRACE BOWEN, JANUARY 2, 1755.
HYMN XIII.
[PART I.]
[Stay, thou triumphant spirit, stay]
Stay, thou triumphant spirit, stay,
And bless me ere thou soar'st away,
Where pain can never come!
In vain my call; the soul is fled,
By Israel's flaming steeds convey'd
To her eternal home.
And bless me ere thou soar'st away,
Where pain can never come!
In vain my call; the soul is fled,
By Israel's flaming steeds convey'd
To her eternal home.
Yet lo! I now the blessing find,
The legacy she left behind,
Fruit of her latest prayer:
The answer in my heart I feel,
This fresh supply of heavenly zeal,
To live and die like her.
The legacy she left behind,
Fruit of her latest prayer:
The answer in my heart I feel,
This fresh supply of heavenly zeal,
To live and die like her.
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She lived to serve the God unknown,
And following in a land not sown,
A thorny wilderness,
Beneath the yoke of legal fear
She labour'd hard, with heart sincere,
To buy the Saviour's peace.
And following in a land not sown,
A thorny wilderness,
Beneath the yoke of legal fear
She labour'd hard, with heart sincere,
To buy the Saviour's peace.
Faithful she then in little was;
And zealous for religion's cause,
To please the Lord most high,
In serving man she humbly sought,
But blindly by her duties thought
Herself to justify.
And zealous for religion's cause,
To please the Lord most high,
In serving man she humbly sought,
But blindly by her duties thought
Herself to justify.
Yet when she heard the gospel sound,
That grace doth more than sin abound,
That pardoning grace is free,
She cast her righteous rags aside,
She closed at once with Christ, and cried,
“He bought the peace for me!”
That grace doth more than sin abound,
That pardoning grace is free,
She cast her righteous rags aside,
She closed at once with Christ, and cried,
“He bought the peace for me!”
From hence the fight of faith begun,
From hence in Jesus' steps she run,
Nor e'er disgraced the cause,
Meek follower of the patient Lamb,
She prized His honourable shame,
And gloried in His cross.
From hence in Jesus' steps she run,
Nor e'er disgraced the cause,
Meek follower of the patient Lamb,
She prized His honourable shame,
And gloried in His cross.
By all the rage of fiends and men,
(The vehement stream, the beating rain,)
Assail'd on every side,
Nor men nor fiends her firmness shock;
The house was built upon a Rock,
And every storm defied.
(The vehement stream, the beating rain,)
Assail'd on every side,
Nor men nor fiends her firmness shock;
The house was built upon a Rock,
And every storm defied.
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What tongue her hidden worth can tell,
Her active faith and fervent zeal,
And works of righteousness,
Her thirst and reverence for the word,
Her love to those who loved her Lord,
Or but desired His grace!
Her active faith and fervent zeal,
And works of righteousness,
Her thirst and reverence for the word,
Her love to those who loved her Lord,
Or but desired His grace!
She loved them both in word and deed,
O'erjoy'd an hungry Christ to feed,
To visit Him in pain;
Him in His members she relieved,
And freely as she first received,
Gave Him her all again.
O'erjoy'd an hungry Christ to feed,
To visit Him in pain;
Him in His members she relieved,
And freely as she first received,
Gave Him her all again.
How did her generous bounty deal
The widow's scanty oil and meal,
A treasure for the poor?
A treasure spent without decrease,
As miracle revived to bless
The consecrated store.
The widow's scanty oil and meal,
A treasure for the poor?
A treasure spent without decrease,
As miracle revived to bless
The consecrated store.
But who can paint the strong desire,
The holy heaven-enkindled fire
That glow'd within her breast,
To' ensure the bliss of friends and foes,
To save the precious souls of those
She ever loved the best!
The holy heaven-enkindled fire
That glow'd within her breast,
To' ensure the bliss of friends and foes,
To save the precious souls of those
She ever loved the best!
Witness, ye children of her prayers,
Ye objects of her tenderest cares,
Into her bosom given,
Did not her yearning bowels move
With more than a maternal love
To train you up for heaven?
Ye objects of her tenderest cares,
Into her bosom given,
Did not her yearning bowels move
With more than a maternal love
To train you up for heaven?
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Can you her artless warmth forget,
Her eager haste to turn your feet
Into the narrow road,
Her counsels kind, her warning fears,
Her loud protests, or silent tears,
Whene'er ye stray'd from God!
Her eager haste to turn your feet
Into the narrow road,
Her counsels kind, her warning fears,
Her loud protests, or silent tears,
Whene'er ye stray'd from God!
She took your guardian angel's part,
She watch'd the motions of your heart
To pride and pleasure prone;
For you she spent her latest breath,
And urged you both in life and death
To love the Lord alone.
She watch'd the motions of your heart
To pride and pleasure prone;
For you she spent her latest breath,
And urged you both in life and death
To love the Lord alone.
HYMN XIV.
PART II.
[O let me on the image dwell]
O let me on the image dwell,
The soul-transporting spectacle
On which even angels gaze!
An hoary saint mature for God,
And shaking off the earthy clod,
To see His open face.
The soul-transporting spectacle
On which even angels gaze!
An hoary saint mature for God,
And shaking off the earthy clod,
To see His open face.
The happiest hour is come at last,
When, all her toils and conflicts past,
She shall to God ascend,
Worn out and spent for Jesus' cause,
She now takes up her latest cross,
And bears it to the end.
When, all her toils and conflicts past,
She shall to God ascend,
Worn out and spent for Jesus' cause,
She now takes up her latest cross,
And bears it to the end.
Summon'd before the throne to' appear,
She meets the welcome messenger,
Array'd in mortal pain;
Her only fear lest flesh and blood
Should sink beneath the sacred load,
Or weakly once complain.
She meets the welcome messenger,
Array'd in mortal pain;
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Should sink beneath the sacred load,
Or weakly once complain.
But Christ, the Object of her love,
Doth with peculiar smiles approve,
And all her fears control,
With glory gilds her final scene,
And not a cloud can rise between
To hide Him from her soul.
Doth with peculiar smiles approve,
And all her fears control,
With glory gilds her final scene,
And not a cloud can rise between
To hide Him from her soul.
As a ripe shock of corn brought home,
Behold her in due season come
To claim her full reward!
Smiling and pleased in death she lies,
With eagle's eyes looks through the skies,
And sees her heavenly Lord.
Behold her in due season come
To claim her full reward!
Smiling and pleased in death she lies,
With eagle's eyes looks through the skies,
And sees her heavenly Lord.
The sight her ravish'd spirit fires,
Her panting dying breast inspires,
And fills her mouth with praise;
She owns the glorious earnest given;
The hidden life breaks out, and heaven
Resplendent in her face.
Her panting dying breast inspires,
And fills her mouth with praise;
She owns the glorious earnest given;
The hidden life breaks out, and heaven
Resplendent in her face.
Fill'd up with love and life Divine,
The house of clay, the earthly shrine,
Dissolves, and sinks to dust;
Without a groan the body dies,
Her spirit mounts above the skies,
And mingles with the just.
The house of clay, the earthly shrine,
Dissolves, and sinks to dust;
Without a groan the body dies,
Her spirit mounts above the skies,
And mingles with the just.
With mix'd concern her flight we view,
With joy the' ascending pomp pursue,
Yet for our loss distress'd:
Our bosom friend from earth is flown,
A mother of our Israel gone
To her eternal rest.
With joy the' ascending pomp pursue,
Yet for our loss distress'd:
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A mother of our Israel gone
To her eternal rest.
Yet still to us she speaks, though dead,
She bids us in her footsteps tread,
As in her Saviour's she;
And O that we, like her, may prove
Our faith unfeign'd and genuine love,
And meek humility.
She bids us in her footsteps tread,
As in her Saviour's she;
And O that we, like her, may prove
Our faith unfeign'd and genuine love,
And meek humility.
Who live her life her death shall die:
Come, Lord, our hearts to certify
That we the prize shall gain;
Soon as we lay the body down,
That we shall wear the' immortal crown,
And in Thy glory reign.
Come, Lord, our hearts to certify
That we the prize shall gain;
Soon as we lay the body down,
That we shall wear the' immortal crown,
And in Thy glory reign.
HYMN XV. ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. MR. JOHN MERITON, AUGUST 10, 1753.
And hath he bow'd his head,
And render'd up the ghost,
So quietly escaped, and fled
To that immortal host?
With them our songs we join,
And solemnly proclaim
The victory of love Divine,
The triumph of the Lamb.
And render'd up the ghost,
So quietly escaped, and fled
To that immortal host?
With them our songs we join,
And solemnly proclaim
The victory of love Divine,
The triumph of the Lamb.
The Lamb of God alone
Supplied His Spirit's might,
Through which our fellow-soldier won
The good though doubtful fight;
Through which the' afflicted man,
On sovereign mercy cast,
Rode out the storm of sin and pain,
And landed safe at last.
Supplied His Spirit's might,
Through which our fellow-soldier won
The good though doubtful fight;
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On sovereign mercy cast,
Rode out the storm of sin and pain,
And landed safe at last.
Long was he toss'd below
On life's tempestuous sea;
Born to a double share of woe,
And weight of misery,
Tortured by cruel fears,
By flattering hopes deceived,
He wander'd through the vale of tears,
And rather died than lived.
On life's tempestuous sea;
Born to a double share of woe,
And weight of misery,
Tortured by cruel fears,
By flattering hopes deceived,
He wander'd through the vale of tears,
And rather died than lived.
The soul is now at rest,
The exile roams no more,
Of his inheritance possess'd
On that celestial shore:
A lot that cannot fade,
A life that cannot die,
An house by hands immortal made,
A mansion in the sky.
The exile roams no more,
Of his inheritance possess'd
On that celestial shore:
A lot that cannot fade,
A life that cannot die,
An house by hands immortal made,
A mansion in the sky.
Jesus, take all the praise,
The praise is all Thy due;
And save us by the word of grace,
And make us conquerors too:
The word Thy servant spoke,
And found its saving power,
Let us believe, obey—and look
For death's triumphant hour.
The praise is all Thy due;
And save us by the word of grace,
And make us conquerors too:
The word Thy servant spoke,
And found its saving power,
Let us believe, obey—and look
For death's triumphant hour.
O that we then, like him,
Might quietly resign
The souls Thou suffer'dst to redeem,
Into those hands of Thine!
O that we then might prove,
Like him, the crowning grace,
And join our glittering friends above
In everlasting lays.
Might quietly resign
The souls Thou suffer'dst to redeem,
Into those hands of Thine!
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Like him, the crowning grace,
And join our glittering friends above
In everlasting lays.
HYMN XVI. ON THE DEATH OF MR. LAMPE.
'Tis done! the sovereign will's obey'd!
The soul, by angel guards convey'd,
Has took its seat on high;
The brother of my choice is gone,
To music sweeter than his own,
And concerts in the sky.
The soul, by angel guards convey'd,
Has took its seat on high;
The brother of my choice is gone,
To music sweeter than his own,
And concerts in the sky.
His spirit, mounting on the wing,
Rejoiced to hear the convoy sing,
While harping at his side:
With ease he caught their heavenly strain,
And smiled, and sung in mortal pain;
He sung, and smiled, and died.
Rejoiced to hear the convoy sing,
While harping at his side:
With ease he caught their heavenly strain,
And smiled, and sung in mortal pain;
He sung, and smiled, and died.
Enroll'd with that harmonious throng,
He hears the' unutterable song,
The' unutterable Name:
He sees the Master of the choir,
He bows, and strikes the golden lyre,
And hymns the glorious Lamb.
He hears the' unutterable song,
The' unutterable Name:
He sees the Master of the choir,
He bows, and strikes the golden lyre,
And hymns the glorious Lamb.
He hymns the glorious Lamb alone;
No more constrain'd to make his moan
In this sad wilderness,
To toil for sublunary pay,
And cast his sacred strains away,
And stoop the world to please.
No more constrain'd to make his moan
In this sad wilderness,
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And cast his sacred strains away,
And stoop the world to please.
Redeem'd from earth, the tuneful soul,
While everlasting ages roll,
His triumph shall prolong;
His noblest faculties exert,
And all the music of his heart
Shall warble on his tongue.
While everlasting ages roll,
His triumph shall prolong;
His noblest faculties exert,
And all the music of his heart
Shall warble on his tongue.
O that my mournful days were past,
O that I might o'ertake at last
My happy friend above;
With him the church triumphant join,
And celebrate in strains Divine
The majesty of love!
O that I might o'ertake at last
My happy friend above;
With him the church triumphant join,
And celebrate in strains Divine
The majesty of love!
Great God of love, prepare my heart,
And tune it now to bear a part
In heavenly melody!
“I'll strive to sing as loud as they
Who sit enthron'd in brighter day,”
And nearer the Most High.
And tune it now to bear a part
In heavenly melody!
“I'll strive to sing as loud as they
Who sit enthron'd in brighter day,”
And nearer the Most High.
O that the promised time were come,
O that we all were taken home,
Our Master's joy to share!
Draw, Lord, the living vocal stones;
Jesus, recall Thy banish'd ones,
To chant Thy praises there.
O that we all were taken home,
Our Master's joy to share!
Draw, Lord, the living vocal stones;
Jesus, recall Thy banish'd ones,
To chant Thy praises there.
Our number and our bliss complete,
And summon all the choir to meet
Thy glorious throne around;
The whole musician band bring in,
And give the signal to begin,
And let the trumpet sound.
And summon all the choir to meet
Thy glorious throne around;
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And give the signal to begin,
And let the trumpet sound.
ON THE DEATH OF MRS. ANNE WIGGINTON, APRIL 24, 1757.
HYMN XVII.
[PART I.]
[What shall we say? it is the Lord!]
What shall we say? it is the Lord!
His name be praised, His will be done!
Bereaved by His revoking word,
We meekly render Him His own,
And faultless mourn our partner fled,
Our friend removed, our Dorcas dead.
His name be praised, His will be done!
Bereaved by His revoking word,
We meekly render Him His own,
And faultless mourn our partner fled,
Our friend removed, our Dorcas dead.
A Christian good, without pretence,
A widow by her works approved,
A saint indeed is summon'd hence,
To triumph with her Best-beloved,
In whom she found acceptance here,
And show'd her faith by humble fear.
A widow by her works approved,
A saint indeed is summon'd hence,
To triumph with her Best-beloved,
In whom she found acceptance here,
And show'd her faith by humble fear.
By works of righteousness she show'd
The gracious principle within,
By reverence for the things of God,
By deadness to the world and sin,
By laying up her wealth above,
By all the toils of patient love.
The gracious principle within,
By reverence for the things of God,
By deadness to the world and sin,
By laying up her wealth above,
By all the toils of patient love.
Memorial of her faith unfeign'd,
As incense sweet, before the throne,
Did not her prayers and alms ascend,
And bring the heavenly herald down?
Did she not for the preacher call,
With news of pardoning grace for all?
As incense sweet, before the throne,
Did not her prayers and alms ascend,
And bring the heavenly herald down?
Did she not for the preacher call,
With news of pardoning grace for all?
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What though she in the desert pined,
And languish'd for the light in vain,
Her soul obedient, and resign'd,
Did darkly safe with God remain,
Who led His trembling servant on,
And bless'd her in a path unknown.
And languish'd for the light in vain,
Her soul obedient, and resign'd,
Did darkly safe with God remain,
Who led His trembling servant on,
And bless'd her in a path unknown.
Unconscious of the grace received,
She mourn'd, as destitute of grace,
A pattern to believers lived,
And labour'd on with even pace,
Possess'd of Mary's better part,
And Martha's hands, and Lydia's heart.
She mourn'd, as destitute of grace,
A pattern to believers lived,
And labour'd on with even pace,
Possess'd of Mary's better part,
And Martha's hands, and Lydia's heart.
No noisy self-deceiver she,
No boaster vain of faith untried:
Her own good deeds she could not see,
But wrought, and cast them all aside;
And when her glorious race was run,
Complain'd, “She never yet begun.”
No boaster vain of faith untried:
Her own good deeds she could not see,
But wrought, and cast them all aside;
And when her glorious race was run,
Complain'd, “She never yet begun.”
HYMN XVIII.
PART II.
[Soon as the warning angel came]
Soon as the warning angel came,
That call'd her up to worlds on high,
Meek as a death-devoted lamb,
Yet starting as unfit to die,
Her nature's frailty she confess'd,
And sunk upon her Saviour's breast.
That call'd her up to worlds on high,
Meek as a death-devoted lamb,
Yet starting as unfit to die,
Her nature's frailty she confess'd,
And sunk upon her Saviour's breast.
He own'd the soul so dearly loved,
And cutting short His work of grace,
Her sins insensibly removed,
Made meet at once to see His face,
And lo! her latest fears are o'er,
And pain and suffering is no more.
And cutting short His work of grace,
Her sins insensibly removed,
Made meet at once to see His face,
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And pain and suffering is no more.
One only labour yet remains,
Her genuine faith to justify,
One only care the spirit detains,
When wing'd, and ready for the sky:
That agony of love unknown,
That cry in death, “My son, my son!”
Her genuine faith to justify,
One only care the spirit detains,
When wing'd, and ready for the sky:
That agony of love unknown,
That cry in death, “My son, my son!”
Can she her sucking child forget,
In travail for his soul so long?
Discharging nature's double debt,
She warns him with a faltering tongue;
She wins him by her latest breath,
The mother of his soul in death.
In travail for his soul so long?
Discharging nature's double debt,
She warns him with a faltering tongue;
She wins him by her latest breath,
The mother of his soul in death.
By all the powers of love pursued,
To Christ with holy violence driven,
She claims him for the Saviour God,
She turns, and lifts his heart to heaven:
In faith's almighty arms she bears,
And crowns her counsels with her prayers.
To Christ with holy violence driven,
She claims him for the Saviour God,
She turns, and lifts his heart to heaven:
In faith's almighty arms she bears,
And crowns her counsels with her prayers.
In vain her strength and language fail,
Speechless she urges her request,
She will with the God-Man prevail:
And now of all her wish possess'd,
Smiling, she looks Him back the praise,
And heaven is open'd in her face.
Speechless she urges her request,
She will with the God-Man prevail:
And now of all her wish possess'd,
Smiling, she looks Him back the praise,
And heaven is open'd in her face.
Those heavenly smiles distinctly tell
The rapturous bliss her spirit feels,
The glorious joy unspeakable,
Which Christ to dying saints reveals:
The sight, which none can here conceive,
The sight, which none can see and live.
The rapturous bliss her spirit feels,
The glorious joy unspeakable,
Which Christ to dying saints reveals:
The sight, which none can here conceive,
The sight, which none can see and live.
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Like Moses on the mountain laid
With longing looks, and ravish'd eyes,
She sees the Saviour's arms display'd,
She sees His open face, and dies!
Drops at His kiss the mortal clod,
And plunges in the depths of God.
With longing looks, and ravish'd eyes,
She sees the Saviour's arms display'd,
She sees His open face, and dies!
Drops at His kiss the mortal clod,
And plunges in the depths of God.
HYMN XIX. A PRAYER FOR A DYING CHILD.
Father, Lord of earth and heaven,
Spare, or take what Thou hast given;
Sole Disposer of Thine own,
Let Thy sovereign will be done.
Spare, or take what Thou hast given;
Sole Disposer of Thine own,
Let Thy sovereign will be done.
When Thou didst our Isaac give,
Him we trembled to receive,
Him we call'd not ours, but Thine,
Him we promised to resign.
Him we trembled to receive,
Him we call'd not ours, but Thine,
Him we promised to resign.
Lo! we to our promise stand,
Lo! we answer Thy demand,
Will not murmur or complain,
If Thou claim Thine own again.
Lo! we answer Thy demand,
Will not murmur or complain,
If Thou claim Thine own again.
Life and death depend on Thee,
Just and good is Thy decree,
Safe in Thy decree we rest,
Sure whatever is, is best.
Just and good is Thy decree,
Safe in Thy decree we rest,
Sure whatever is, is best.
Meekly we our vow repeat,
Nature shall to grace submit,
Let him on the altar lie,
Let the victim live, or die.
Nature shall to grace submit,
Let him on the altar lie,
Let the victim live, or die.
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Yet Thou know'st what pangs of love
In a father's bosom move,
What the agony to part,
Struggling in a mother's heart.
In a father's bosom move,
What the agony to part,
Struggling in a mother's heart.
Sorely tempted and distress'd,
Can we make the fond request?
Dare we pray for a reprieve?
Need we ask that he may live?
Can we make the fond request?
Dare we pray for a reprieve?
Need we ask that he may live?
God we absolutely trust,
Wise, and merciful, and just,
All Thy works to Thee are known,
All Thy blessed will be done.
Wise, and merciful, and just,
All Thy works to Thee are known,
All Thy blessed will be done.
If his life a snare would prove,
Rob us of Thy heavenly love,
Steal our hearts from God away;
Mercy will not let him stay.
Rob us of Thy heavenly love,
Steal our hearts from God away;
Mercy will not let him stay.
If his life would matter raise
Of Thine everlasting praise,
More his Saviour glorify;
Mercy will not let him die.
Of Thine everlasting praise,
More his Saviour glorify;
Mercy will not let him die.
ON THE DEATH OF A CHILD.
[PART I.]
HYMN XX.
[Dead! dead! the child I loved so well!]
Dead! dead! the child I loved so well!
Transported to the world above!
I need no more my heart conceal:
I never dared indulge my love:
But may I not indulge my grief,
And seek in tears a sad relief?
Transported to the world above!
I need no more my heart conceal:
I never dared indulge my love:
But may I not indulge my grief,
And seek in tears a sad relief?
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Mine earthly happiness is fled,
His mother's joy, his father's hope:
O had I died in Isaac's stead!
He should have lived, my age's prop,
He should have closed his father's eyes,
And follow'd me to paradise.
His mother's joy, his father's hope:
O had I died in Isaac's stead!
He should have lived, my age's prop,
He should have closed his father's eyes,
And follow'd me to paradise.
But hath not Heaven, who first bestow'd,
A right to take His gifts away?
I bow me to the sovereign God,
Who snatch'd him from the evil day!
Yet nature will repeat her moan,
And fondly cry, “My son, my son!”
A right to take His gifts away?
I bow me to the sovereign God,
Who snatch'd him from the evil day!
Yet nature will repeat her moan,
And fondly cry, “My son, my son!”
Turn from him, turn, officious thought!
Officious thought presents again
The thousand little acts he wrought,
Which wound my heart with soothing pain:
His looks, his winning gestures rise,
His waving hands, and laughing eyes!
Officious thought presents again
The thousand little acts he wrought,
Which wound my heart with soothing pain:
His looks, his winning gestures rise,
His waving hands, and laughing eyes!
Those waving hands no more shall move,
Those laughing eyes shall smile no more:
He cannot now engage our love
With sweet insinuating power,
Our weak unguarded hearts ensnare,
And rival his Creator there.
Those laughing eyes shall smile no more:
He cannot now engage our love
With sweet insinuating power,
Our weak unguarded hearts ensnare,
And rival his Creator there.
From us, as we from him, secure,
Caught to his heavenly Father's breast,
He waits, till we the bliss ensure,
From all these stormy sorrows rest,
And see him with our angel stand,
To waft, and welcome us to land.
Caught to his heavenly Father's breast,
He waits, till we the bliss ensure,
From all these stormy sorrows rest,
And see him with our angel stand,
To waft, and welcome us to land.
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Hymn XXI.
PART II.
[Farewell, (since heaven ordains it so,)]
Farewell, (since heaven ordains it so,)
Farewell, my yearning heart's desire!
Stunn'd with the providential blow,
And scarce beginning to respire,
I own, and bow me in the dust,
My God is good, and wise, and just.
Farewell, my yearning heart's desire!
Stunn'd with the providential blow,
And scarce beginning to respire,
I own, and bow me in the dust,
My God is good, and wise, and just.
He justly claims the first-born son,
Accepts my costly sacrifice,
Dearest of all His gifts but one,
At His command the victim dies!
He but resumes what He had given,
He takes my sacrifice to heaven.
Accepts my costly sacrifice,
Dearest of all His gifts but one,
At His command the victim dies!
He but resumes what He had given,
He takes my sacrifice to heaven.
His wisdom timed the lingering stroke,
The mother first resolved to save;
The mother left, the child He took,
Nor let them share a common grave;
And still my better half survives,—
Joseph is dead, but Rachel lives.
The mother first resolved to save;
The mother left, the child He took,
Nor let them share a common grave;
And still my better half survives,—
Joseph is dead, but Rachel lives.
His goodness towards us all design'd
To save us from a world of care;
He knew His pleading Spirit's mind,
He heard in me His Spirit's prayer,
And kindly hasten'd to remove
The object of my fatal love.
To save us from a world of care;
He knew His pleading Spirit's mind,
He heard in me His Spirit's prayer,
And kindly hasten'd to remove
The object of my fatal love.
The Searcher of my heart can tell
How oft its fondness I withstood,
When forced a father's joy to feel,
I shrunk from the suspected good,
Refused the perilous delight,
And hid me from the pleasing sight.
How oft its fondness I withstood,
When forced a father's joy to feel,
I shrunk from the suspected good,
Refused the perilous delight,
And hid me from the pleasing sight.
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The labour of my aching breast,
The racking fears, to God are known;
I could not in his danger rest,
I trembled for my helpless son:
But all my fears for ever cease,
My son hath gain'd the port of peace.
The racking fears, to God are known;
I could not in his danger rest,
I trembled for my helpless son:
But all my fears for ever cease,
My son hath gain'd the port of peace.
The travail of my soul is past,
Severer than the mother's throes,
For lo! my child is born at last,
The glorious life of angels knows,
He bursts yon ambient azure shell,
He flies from us, with God to dwell.
Severer than the mother's throes,
For lo! my child is born at last,
The glorious life of angels knows,
He bursts yon ambient azure shell,
He flies from us, with God to dwell.
Look down, thou happy spirit, look down,
An eye of pitying love let fall
On us, who long to share thy crown,
Who for that spotless mantle call,
In which thou shalt for ever shine,
That robe of righteousness Divine.
An eye of pitying love let fall
On us, who long to share thy crown,
Who for that spotless mantle call,
In which thou shalt for ever shine,
That robe of righteousness Divine.
Great King of saints, to Thee alone
For mercy and for grace we pray:
Thy glorious grace hath saved the son;
The parents next to heaven convey,
Thy power and goodness to adore,
Where death and parting is no more.
For mercy and for grace we pray:
Thy glorious grace hath saved the son;
The parents next to heaven convey,
Thy power and goodness to adore,
Where death and parting is no more.
HYMN XXII.
PART III.
[Jesus, our sure support Thou art]
Jesus, our sure support Thou art,
Our only hope in deep distress;
Thy comforts calm the troubled heart,
And cheer'd by Thy victorious grace
The mourner gives her wailings o'er,
And Rachel weeps her loss no more.
Our only hope in deep distress;
Thy comforts calm the troubled heart,
And cheer'd by Thy victorious grace
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And Rachel weeps her loss no more.
O might Thy love our loss repair,
This mountain load of grief remove:
The burden we with patience bear,
But cannot rest without Thy love,
But, till we hear Thy pardoning voice,
We cannot in Thy will rejoice.
This mountain load of grief remove:
The burden we with patience bear,
But cannot rest without Thy love,
But, till we hear Thy pardoning voice,
We cannot in Thy will rejoice.
If Thou hast wrought us, Lord, to this,
If now Thy chastening hand we see,
Which strips us of our creature-bliss,
To make us seek our bliss in Thee,
On us Thy pardoning love bestow,
And bless us with that heaven below.
If now Thy chastening hand we see,
Which strips us of our creature-bliss,
To make us seek our bliss in Thee,
On us Thy pardoning love bestow,
And bless us with that heaven below.
If Thou hast torn our child away,
To make Thyself the larger room,
No longer, gracious Lord, delay,
But to Thy drooping servants come,
And take up all this aching void,
And fill our happy souls with God.
To make Thyself the larger room,
No longer, gracious Lord, delay,
But to Thy drooping servants come,
And take up all this aching void,
And fill our happy souls with God.
HYMN XXIII.
PART IV.
[Why should our hearts for ever bleed]
Why should our hearts for ever bleed,
Why should we still as hopeless mourn?
The child is safe! the child is dead!
And never shall to us return:
But we to him shall soon arise,
And clasp the saint in paradise.
Why should we still as hopeless mourn?
The child is safe! the child is dead!
And never shall to us return:
But we to him shall soon arise,
And clasp the saint in paradise.
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Who weeping build our infant's tomb,
With joy we hasten to our own:
That happiest day will quickly come,
When we shall lay our burden down,
When loosed from earth our souls shall soar,
And find, whom we shall lose no more.
With joy we hasten to our own:
That happiest day will quickly come,
When we shall lay our burden down,
When loosed from earth our souls shall soar,
And find, whom we shall lose no more.
No human heart can e'er conceive
The transports of our meeting there,
Where pure departed spirits live,
Where one we fondly deem'd our heir,
To full angelic stature grown,
Inherits an immortal crown.
The transports of our meeting there,
Where pure departed spirits live,
Where one we fondly deem'd our heir,
To full angelic stature grown,
Inherits an immortal crown.
Arrived above, the stranger stands,
Encompass'd with acclaiming choirs:
He hears, and waves his plausive hands,
Transported with the harpers' lyres,
Expands his tuneful soul to prove
The' harmonious powers of heavenly love.
Encompass'd with acclaiming choirs:
He hears, and waves his plausive hands,
Transported with the harpers' lyres,
Expands his tuneful soul to prove
The' harmonious powers of heavenly love.
And can we wish him doom'd again
To childish ignorance and fears,
Obnoxious to disease and pain,
Imprison'd in our vale of tears,
Exposed to all we dread beneath,
Passion, and sin, and second death?
To childish ignorance and fears,
Obnoxious to disease and pain,
Imprison'd in our vale of tears,
Exposed to all we dread beneath,
Passion, and sin, and second death?
Ah, no! we would not have him back,
But soon ourselves to him remove,
While meet his glory to partake,
And perfected in patient love,
We see with ravish'd hearts and eyes
The loss which brought us to the skies.
But soon ourselves to him remove,
While meet his glory to partake,
And perfected in patient love,
We see with ravish'd hearts and eyes
The loss which brought us to the skies.
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HYMN XXIV.
PART V.
[Angels rejoice! a child is born]
Angels rejoice! a child is born,
Into your happier world above!
Let poor short-sighted mortals mourn,
While on the wings of heavenly love
An everlasting spirit flies,
To claim his kindred in the skies.
Into your happier world above!
Let poor short-sighted mortals mourn,
While on the wings of heavenly love
An everlasting spirit flies,
To claim his kindred in the skies.
His few sad days of guiltless pain
Are all irrevocably gone,
Escaped from earth without a stain,
My heart's desire, my darling son,
Hath first attain'd his endless rest,
Hath reach'd his heavenly Father's breast.
Are all irrevocably gone,
Escaped from earth without a stain,
My heart's desire, my darling son,
Hath first attain'd his endless rest,
Hath reach'd his heavenly Father's breast.
And shall I for his bliss repine,
And shall I for his absence grieve?
Or rather bless the choice Divine,
With awful joy and thanks receive
The period of my countless cares,
The answer of my thousand prayers!
And shall I for his absence grieve?
Or rather bless the choice Divine,
With awful joy and thanks receive
The period of my countless cares,
The answer of my thousand prayers!
My prayers are seal'd, my child is fled,
Is safe on that eternal shore:
No longer I his dangers dread,
The poisonous world's bewitching power,
The charms of sin, the tempter's art,
The fondness of a parent's heart.
Is safe on that eternal shore:
No longer I his dangers dread,
The poisonous world's bewitching power,
The charms of sin, the tempter's art,
The fondness of a parent's heart.
No more my eyes with tears o'erflow,
No more in deep distress I pray,
“Ah! save my child from endless woe,
Ah! take him from the evil day,
Nor let the man his God deny,
Nor let him live to sin, and die.”
No more in deep distress I pray,
“Ah! save my child from endless woe,
Ah! take him from the evil day,
Nor let the man his God deny,
Nor let him live to sin, and die.”
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Who fill'd me with those jealous fears,
Who arm'd my heart with sad mistrust,
The God of love hath seen my tears,
And never can the child be lost,
Whom God hath found, and claim'd for His,
And snatch'd to everlasting bliss.
Who arm'd my heart with sad mistrust,
The God of love hath seen my tears,
And never can the child be lost,
Whom God hath found, and claim'd for His,
And snatch'd to everlasting bliss.
HYMN XXV.
PART VI.
['Tis finish'd! all his course of pain!]
'Tis finish'd! all his course of pain!
'Tis finish'd! all our task of care!
We turn us to our rest again,
In solemn praise, and humble prayer:
For lo! our awful office ends,
For lo! our sacred charge ascends!
'Tis finish'd! all our task of care!
We turn us to our rest again,
In solemn praise, and humble prayer:
For lo! our awful office ends,
For lo! our sacred charge ascends!
The child, of whom we seem bereaved,
Whom feeble flesh would still deplore,
Our heavenly Father hath received,
And kindly bids us weep no more,
But cheerfully His loan resign,
And leave him in the arms Divine.
Whom feeble flesh would still deplore,
Our heavenly Father hath received,
And kindly bids us weep no more,
But cheerfully His loan resign,
And leave him in the arms Divine.
Father, we make Thy deed our own,
Submissive to Thy wisest choice;
Though nature give a parting groan,
Our spirits shall in Thee rejoice,
And thankfully at last approve
The' appointment of eternal love.
Submissive to Thy wisest choice;
Though nature give a parting groan,
Our spirits shall in Thee rejoice,
And thankfully at last approve
The' appointment of eternal love.
'Twas love ordain'd so short a date,
So light a load of penal pain,
And hence the favourite of fate
Put on, and burst, his fleshly chain;
Received, and rendering up his breath,
Retired into the shades of death.
So light a load of penal pain,
And hence the favourite of fate
Put on, and burst, his fleshly chain;
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Retired into the shades of death.
But we by faith's illumined eye
Beyond the cloud of death behold
A Sun in yon eternal sky,
Which gilds and turns the cloud to gold;
And in that golden light I see
The child that owed his birth to me.
Beyond the cloud of death behold
A Sun in yon eternal sky,
Which gilds and turns the cloud to gold;
And in that golden light I see
The child that owed his birth to me.
In a new world of light and bliss,
An angel now our child appears;
His joy hath made our sorrow cease,
His looks have dried our selfish tears,
His looks, where heavenly glories shine,
And call us to the sight Divine.
An angel now our child appears;
His joy hath made our sorrow cease,
His looks have dried our selfish tears,
His looks, where heavenly glories shine,
And call us to the sight Divine.
Father of lights, and God of love,
Thy call we joyfully obey,
And hasten to our friends above,
Who for their old companions stay;
Till all before Thy face shall meet,
And find in Thee our heaven complete.
Thy call we joyfully obey,
And hasten to our friends above,
Who for their old companions stay;
Till all before Thy face shall meet,
And find in Thee our heaven complete.
HYMN XXVI.
PART VII.
[Blessing, and love, and thanks, and praise]
Blessing, and love, and thanks, and praise,
Wisdom, and majesty, and power,
And riches, more than earth can raise,
To God, who at the destined hour
Hath singled out our only son,
And caught an infant to His throne.
Wisdom, and majesty, and power,
And riches, more than earth can raise,
To God, who at the destined hour
Hath singled out our only son,
And caught an infant to His throne.
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The Lord our favour'd child hath bless'd
Above what we could ask, or hope;
Hath far exceeded our request,
And fill'd our largest wishes up
With more than nature dared require,
Or a fond parent's heart desire.
Above what we could ask, or hope;
Hath far exceeded our request,
And fill'd our largest wishes up
With more than nature dared require,
Or a fond parent's heart desire.
We rashly for our offspring claim
The goods which foolish mortals prize,
Beauty, and health, and power, and fame;
We wish them great, and rich, and wise,
With pleasures crown'd, and long to live
In all the bliss which earth can give.
The goods which foolish mortals prize,
Beauty, and health, and power, and fame;
We wish them great, and rich, and wise,
With pleasures crown'd, and long to live
In all the bliss which earth can give.
But see, whom God hath made His heir,
Adorn'd with each celestial grace!
His features how divinely fair,
How full of heaven his blooming face!
And what shall mar that heavenly bloom,
Where pain and death can never come?
Adorn'd with each celestial grace!
His features how divinely fair,
How full of heaven his blooming face!
And what shall mar that heavenly bloom,
Where pain and death can never come?
With glory deck'd, and clothed with power,
On kings the pitying saint looks down,
For who can tell his gracious store,
Or count the jewels of his crown?
Bright as ten thousand stars they shine,
And purchased all by blood Divine.
On kings the pitying saint looks down,
For who can tell his gracious store,
Or count the jewels of his crown?
Bright as ten thousand stars they shine,
And purchased all by blood Divine.
With pure superior wisdom fraught,
He fathoms the angelic minds,
Prevents the quickest glance of thought,
And truth by intuition finds,
He comprehends the One in Three,
He sounds the depths of Deity.
He fathoms the angelic minds,
Prevents the quickest glance of thought,
And truth by intuition finds,
He comprehends the One in Three,
He sounds the depths of Deity.
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Knowledge, and power, and glory meet
To' enhance his happiness and joy;
His joy unutterably great,
His happiness without alloy,
His pleasures spiritual and pure,
Immortal as their Source endure.
To' enhance his happiness and joy;
His joy unutterably great,
His happiness without alloy,
His pleasures spiritual and pure,
Immortal as their Source endure.
Happy, and wise, and great, and good,
In fashion like his Maker found,
With heavenly faculties endued,
With all Divine perfections crown'd,
And long as God His throne maintains,
The heir with Christ triumphant reigns.
In fashion like his Maker found,
With heavenly faculties endued,
With all Divine perfections crown'd,
And long as God His throne maintains,
The heir with Christ triumphant reigns.
HYMN XXVII.
PART VIII.
[Father, in Thee our hearts confide]
Father, in Thee our hearts confide,
And wait Thine utmost word to feel,
Have we not been by trouble tried?
Now let it answer all Thy will,
Now let it yield with vast increase
The peaceful fruit of righteousness.
And wait Thine utmost word to feel,
Have we not been by trouble tried?
Now let it answer all Thy will,
Now let it yield with vast increase
The peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Beneath Thy chastening hand we stoop,
And pour out our sad souls in prayer,
Prostrate, till mercy lift us up,
Till Thou Thy righteousness declare:
To Thee, by deep affliction driven,
We cry, to know our sins forgiven.
And pour out our sad souls in prayer,
Prostrate, till mercy lift us up,
Till Thou Thy righteousness declare:
To Thee, by deep affliction driven,
We cry, to know our sins forgiven.
Come, to Thy drooping servants come,
Thou God of reconciling grace,
Pierce through, dispel this guilty gloom,
Unveil the brightness of Thy face;
And while these clouds of grief remove,
Appear, the pardoning God of love.
Thou God of reconciling grace,
Pierce through, dispel this guilty gloom,
Unveil the brightness of Thy face;
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Appear, the pardoning God of love.
We will not let our sorrow go,
Till Thee our God we apprehend:
Ah! wouldst Thou now the grace bestow,
Into our hearts the comfort send,
The peace that pain and loss defies,
The life Divine that never dies.
Till Thee our God we apprehend:
Ah! wouldst Thou now the grace bestow,
Into our hearts the comfort send,
The peace that pain and loss defies,
The life Divine that never dies.
In us Thy pardoning love reveal,
And when we feel the blessing given,
Our tongues Thy pardoning love shall tell,
Shall spread the news through earth and heaven,
“The Lord hath caught away our son,
And given us in exchange His own.”
And when we feel the blessing given,
Our tongues Thy pardoning love shall tell,
Shall spread the news through earth and heaven,
“The Lord hath caught away our son,
And given us in exchange His own.”
ON THE DEATH OF MRS. L---, JULY 6, 1756.
HYMN XXVIII.
[PART I.]
[Ah! lovely Christlike soul, adieu!]
Ah! lovely Christlike soul, adieu!
Darling of every heart that knew
Thy short-lived excellence!
Rest in the bosom of thy God,
Who just to gazing mortals show'd,
And snatch'd the wonder hence.
Darling of every heart that knew
Thy short-lived excellence!
Rest in the bosom of thy God,
Who just to gazing mortals show'd,
And snatch'd the wonder hence.
Unworthy of her longer stay,
Forbid to plead, forbid to pray,
We mournfully resign
Our friend, so suddenly removed;
We render to her Best-beloved
The heavenly loan Divine.
Forbid to plead, forbid to pray,
We mournfully resign
Our friend, so suddenly removed;
We render to her Best-beloved
The heavenly loan Divine.
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But need we now our grief conceal,
Forced in the tenderest nerve to feel
The universal loss?
We cannot curb our swelling sighs,
Or stop the fountains of our eyes,
Remembering what she was.
Forced in the tenderest nerve to feel
The universal loss?
We cannot curb our swelling sighs,
Or stop the fountains of our eyes,
Remembering what she was.
She was (let all her worth confess,
Let all her precious memory bless,
And after her aspire!)
A burning and a shining light;
She was—to gild our land of night,
And set our world on fire.
Let all her precious memory bless,
And after her aspire!)
A burning and a shining light;
She was—to gild our land of night,
And set our world on fire.
She was (what words can never paint)
A spotless soul, a sinless saint,
In perfect love renew'd,
A mirror of the Deity,
A transcript of the One in Three,
A temple fill'd with God.
A spotless soul, a sinless saint,
In perfect love renew'd,
A mirror of the Deity,
A transcript of the One in Three,
A temple fill'd with God.
The witness of His hallowing grace,
Talk'd with her Maker face to face,
And mark'd with His new name,
His nature visibly express'd,
While all her even life confess'd
The meekness of the Lamb.
Talk'd with her Maker face to face,
And mark'd with His new name,
His nature visibly express'd,
While all her even life confess'd
The meekness of the Lamb.
Bless'd with His lowly, loving mind,
One with the Friend of human kind,
In all His steps she trod;
In doing good, and bearing ill,
Fulfill'd her heavenly Father's will,
And lived and died to God.
One with the Friend of human kind,
In all His steps she trod;
In doing good, and bearing ill,
Fulfill'd her heavenly Father's will,
And lived and died to God.
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Eager to drink His deepest cup,
She fill'd her Lord's afflictions up,
Together crucified;
To nature's will entirely dead,
She languish'd till she bow'd her head,
And with her Saviour died.
She fill'd her Lord's afflictions up,
Together crucified;
To nature's will entirely dead,
She languish'd till she bow'd her head,
And with her Saviour died.
Like Him, her thirty years and three
She finish'd on the sacred tree,
In sacrificial prayer,
Calmly without a lingering sigh
Dismiss'd her spirit to the sky,
And clasps her Jesus there!
She finish'd on the sacred tree,
In sacrificial prayer,
Calmly without a lingering sigh
Dismiss'd her spirit to the sky,
And clasps her Jesus there!
HYMN XXIX.
PART II.
[O that the child of heavenly light]
O that the child of heavenly light
Might drop her mantle in her flight,
Her lamblike spirit leave;
On us let all her graces rest,
To meeken every troubled breast,
And teach us how to grieve!
Might drop her mantle in her flight,
Her lamblike spirit leave;
On us let all her graces rest,
To meeken every troubled breast,
And teach us how to grieve!
Happy, could we the secret find,
Like her in all events resign'd
To gain by every loss;
Our sharpest agonies to' improve,
Esteem our Master's lot, and love
And glory in His cross!
Like her in all events resign'd
To gain by every loss;
Our sharpest agonies to' improve,
Esteem our Master's lot, and love
And glory in His cross!
Master, on us, even us bestow
Like precious faith Thyself to know;
Fulfil our heart's desire,
Daily in all her steps to tread,
And let us in the garden bleed,
And on the mount expire.
Like precious faith Thyself to know;
Fulfil our heart's desire,
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And let us in the garden bleed,
And on the mount expire.
Like her, who now supremely bless'd,
Enjoys an everlasting rest,
We fain on earth would be
As harmless as that gentlest dove,
As simplified by humble love,
As perfectly like Thee.
Enjoys an everlasting rest,
We fain on earth would be
As harmless as that gentlest dove,
As simplified by humble love,
As perfectly like Thee.
O were it, Lord, on us bestow'd,
The love that in her bosom glow'd,
The love invincible,
The love that turns the other cheek,
The love inviolably meek,
That bears and conquers all!
The love that in her bosom glow'd,
The love invincible,
The love that turns the other cheek,
The love inviolably meek,
That bears and conquers all!
Made ready here by patient love
For sweetest fellowship above
With our translated friend,
Give us through life her spirit to breathe,
Indulge us then to die her death,
And bless us with her end.
For sweetest fellowship above
With our translated friend,
Give us through life her spirit to breathe,
Indulge us then to die her death,
And bless us with her end.
ON THE DEATH OF MRS. MARY NAYLOR, MARCH 21, 1757.
HYMN XXX.
[PART I.]
[But is the hasty spirit fled?]
But is the hasty spirit fled?
But hath my friend inclined her head,
And laid her burden down?
Dead, dead to man, to God she lives,
And from her Saviour's hands receives
The never-fading crown.
But hath my friend inclined her head,
And laid her burden down?
Dead, dead to man, to God she lives,
And from her Saviour's hands receives
The never-fading crown.
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Away my tears, and selfish sighs!
The happy saint in paradise
Requires us not to mourn;
But rather keep her life in view,
And still her shining steps pursue,
Till all to God return.
The happy saint in paradise
Requires us not to mourn;
But rather keep her life in view,
And still her shining steps pursue,
Till all to God return.
Her life from outward evil free,
From every gross enormity
Her life of nature was:
Harmless she pass'd her time to play,
Stranger to Christ the living Way,
Regardless of His cross.
From every gross enormity
Her life of nature was:
Harmless she pass'd her time to play,
Stranger to Christ the living Way,
Regardless of His cross.
But when she heard the gospel-sound,
The seed received in the good ground,
The heart-engrafted word
Produced an hundred-fold increase,
And join'd to Jesus' witnesses,
She gloried in her Lord.
The seed received in the good ground,
The heart-engrafted word
Produced an hundred-fold increase,
And join'd to Jesus' witnesses,
She gloried in her Lord.
With joy she flew her all to sell,
Borne on the wings of rapid zeal,
Impatient of delay;
Away she cast with eager strife
Kindred and friends, and more than life,
She cast her fame away.
Borne on the wings of rapid zeal,
Impatient of delay;
Away she cast with eager strife
Kindred and friends, and more than life,
She cast her fame away.
Where Satan keeps his gaudy throne,
Firm as the righteous Lot, alone
Against the world she stood,
The cross endured, the shame despised,
And only sought, and only prized,
The praise that comes from God.
Firm as the righteous Lot, alone
Against the world she stood,
The cross endured, the shame despised,
And only sought, and only prized,
The praise that comes from God.
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When men and fiends against her rose,
Could all her fierce opprobrious foes
Her steadfast faith o'erturn?
A follower of the patient Lamb,
The hatred she with love o'ercame,
And triumph'd in the scorn.
Could all her fierce opprobrious foes
Her steadfast faith o'erturn?
A follower of the patient Lamb,
The hatred she with love o'ercame,
And triumph'd in the scorn.
Her solid piety unfeign'd
A witness from her foes obtain'd,
And forced them to confess,
“Where faith appears with virtue crown'd,
Religion pure on earth is found,
And all her paths are peace.”
A witness from her foes obtain'd,
And forced them to confess,
“Where faith appears with virtue crown'd,
Religion pure on earth is found,
And all her paths are peace.”
HYMN XXXI.
PART II.
[Long in those peaceful pleasant ways]
Long in those peaceful pleasant ways
She walk'd, she ran the Christian race,
With never-slackening care;
Studious her talents to improve,
She lived a life of faith and love,
Of holiness and prayer.
She walk'd, she ran the Christian race,
With never-slackening care;
Studious her talents to improve,
She lived a life of faith and love,
Of holiness and prayer.
The weightier matters of the law
With single eye she clearly saw,
Nor overlook'd the less:
Her tithe of mint she gladly paid,
But the main stress on mercy laid,
And truth and righteousness.
With single eye she clearly saw,
Nor overlook'd the less:
Her tithe of mint she gladly paid,
But the main stress on mercy laid,
And truth and righteousness.
The golden rule she still pursued,
And did to others as she would
Others should do to her:
Justice composed her upright soul,
Justice did all her thoughts control,
And form'd her character.
And did to others as she would
Others should do to her:
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Justice did all her thoughts control,
And form'd her character.
Her “morals, O Thou bleeding Lamb,”
Forth from that open fountain came,
That wounded side of Thine;
Thy love of equity she caught,
Thy Spirit in her spirit wrought
The righteousness Divine.
Forth from that open fountain came,
That wounded side of Thine;
Thy love of equity she caught,
Thy Spirit in her spirit wrought
The righteousness Divine.
Thenceforth an Israelite indeed,
By childlike innocency led,
And ignorant of art,
See her integrity approved
To God and man: the truth she loved,
And spoke it from her heart.
By childlike innocency led,
And ignorant of art,
See her integrity approved
To God and man: the truth she loved,
And spoke it from her heart.
To falsehood an eternal foe,
The fair pretence, the specious show,
The gross and colour'd lie;
Darkness she never put for light,
Evil for good, or wrong for right,
Or fraud for piety.
The fair pretence, the specious show,
The gross and colour'd lie;
Darkness she never put for light,
Evil for good, or wrong for right,
Or fraud for piety.
Through all her words the soul within,
The honest, artless soul, was seen,
Ingenuous, pure, and free:
Candour and love were sweetly join'd
With easy nobleness of mind,
And true simplicity.
The honest, artless soul, was seen,
Ingenuous, pure, and free:
Candour and love were sweetly join'd
With easy nobleness of mind,
And true simplicity.
Inspired with godliness sincere,
She had her conversation here;
No guile in her was found:
Cheerful and open as the light,
She dwelt in her own people's sight,
And gladden'd all around.
She had her conversation here;
No guile in her was found:
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She dwelt in her own people's sight,
And gladden'd all around.
HYMN XXXII.
PART III.
[Mercy, that heaven-descending guest]
Mercy, that heaven-descending guest,
Resided in her gentle breast,
And full possession kept;
While listening to the orphan's moan,
And echoing back the widow's groan,
She wept with them that wept.
Resided in her gentle breast,
And full possession kept;
While listening to the orphan's moan,
And echoing back the widow's groan,
She wept with them that wept.
Affliction, poverty, disease,
Drew out her soul in soft distress
The wretched to relieve:
In all the works of love employ'd,
Her sympathising soul enjoy'd
The blessedness to give.
Drew out her soul in soft distress
The wretched to relieve:
In all the works of love employ'd,
Her sympathising soul enjoy'd
The blessedness to give.
Her Saviour in His members seen,
A stranger she received Him in,
An hungry Jesus fed,
Tended her sick imprison'd Lord,
And flew in all His wants to' afford
Her ministerial aid.
A stranger she received Him in,
An hungry Jesus fed,
Tended her sick imprison'd Lord,
And flew in all His wants to' afford
Her ministerial aid.
A nursing mother to the poor,
For them she husbanded her store,
Her life, her all bestow'd:
For them she labour'd day and night,
In doing good her whole delight,
In copying after God.
For them she husbanded her store,
Her life, her all bestow'd:
For them she labour'd day and night,
In doing good her whole delight,
In copying after God.
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But did she then herself conceal
From her own flesh? or kindly feel
Their every want and woe?
'Tis Corban this, she never said,
But dealt alike her sacred bread
To feed both friend and foe.
From her own flesh? or kindly feel
Their every want and woe?
'Tis Corban this, she never said,
But dealt alike her sacred bread
To feed both friend and foe.
Free from the busy worldling's cares,
Who gathers riches—for his heirs,
Who hoards what God hath given;
Fast as the Lord her basket bless'd,
Fast as her well-got wealth increased,
She laid it up in heaven.
Who gathers riches—for his heirs,
Who hoards what God hath given;
Fast as the Lord her basket bless'd,
Fast as her well-got wealth increased,
She laid it up in heaven.
Witness ye servants of her Lord,
Ye preachers of the joyous word,
Constrain'd with her to' abide:
With Lydia's open house and heart,
Glad of her carnal things to' impart,
She all your wants supplied.
Ye preachers of the joyous word,
Constrain'd with her to' abide:
With Lydia's open house and heart,
Glad of her carnal things to' impart,
She all your wants supplied.
Surely ye judged her faithful then:
And did she not through life remain
Invariably the same?
Her even soul to heaven aspired,
The only mind of Christ desired,
The tempers of the Lamb.
And did she not through life remain
Invariably the same?
Her even soul to heaven aspired,
The only mind of Christ desired,
The tempers of the Lamb.
HYMN XXXIII.
PART IV.
[Though envy foul its poison shed]
Though envy foul its poison shed,
To blast the venerable dead,
With base reproach to load,
She did not lose her pious pains;
Her judgment with her Lord remains,
Her work is with her God.
To blast the venerable dead,
With base reproach to load,
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Her judgment with her Lord remains,
Her work is with her God.
She never left her former love,
Her zeal, or boldness to reprove
Triumphant wickedness:
Since first she knew the Crucified,
She never cast her shield aside,
Or forfeited her peace.
Her zeal, or boldness to reprove
Triumphant wickedness:
Since first she knew the Crucified,
She never cast her shield aside,
Or forfeited her peace.
Constant, unwarp'd from first to last,
She kept the faith, and held it fast,
From sin and error free,
Contending for the faith alone,
The name inscribed in the white stone,
The life of piety.
She kept the faith, and held it fast,
From sin and error free,
Contending for the faith alone,
The name inscribed in the white stone,
The life of piety.
While others spent their strength for nought,
For trifles she no longer fought,
For human rules or rites:
Her soul the Shibboleths disdain'd,
By rigid novices maintain'd,
And smooth-tongued hypocrites.
For trifles she no longer fought,
For human rules or rites:
Her soul the Shibboleths disdain'd,
By rigid novices maintain'd,
And smooth-tongued hypocrites.
With ease her quick discerning eyes
Look'd through the soft and thin disguise,
The meek and humble veil:
Beneath the superficial grace,
She knew the lurking fiend to trace,
The rage and pride of hell.
Look'd through the soft and thin disguise,
The meek and humble veil:
Beneath the superficial grace,
She knew the lurking fiend to trace,
The rage and pride of hell.
Yet neither earth nor hell could move
Her firm unconquerable love
To Jesus and His flock:
Her faith did all assaults endure,
And stood like its Foundation sure
Establish'd on a rock.
Her firm unconquerable love
To Jesus and His flock:
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And stood like its Foundation sure
Establish'd on a rock.
She loved, but lean'd no more on man,
A broken reed, an helper vain;
People and ministers
Men of like passions she beheld,
Their faults and weaknesses conceal'd,
And help'd them by her prayers.
A broken reed, an helper vain;
People and ministers
Men of like passions she beheld,
Their faults and weaknesses conceal'd,
And help'd them by her prayers.
Their Master she revered in them,
With grateful love, and high esteem,
Rejoiced their work to own;
But only Christ her Lord allow'd,
And with entire devotion bow'd
To Jesus' name alone.
With grateful love, and high esteem,
Rejoiced their work to own;
But only Christ her Lord allow'd,
And with entire devotion bow'd
To Jesus' name alone.
HYMN XXXIV.
PART V.
[Free from that partial, blind respect]
Free from that partial, blind respect,
Which marks the favourite of a sect,
Implicitly resign'd,
With others' eyes she scorn'd to see,
And stretch'd her arms of charity,
Engrasping all mankind.
Which marks the favourite of a sect,
Implicitly resign'd,
With others' eyes she scorn'd to see,
And stretch'd her arms of charity,
Engrasping all mankind.
In love and every grace she grew,
As nearer her departure drew;
The active, restless soul
From strength to greater strength went on,
Swifter and swifter still she run,
To reach the heavenly goal.
As nearer her departure drew;
The active, restless soul
From strength to greater strength went on,
Swifter and swifter still she run,
To reach the heavenly goal.
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She lived a burning shining light,
With never-fading lustre bright,
With never-cooling love:
Meet for the infinite reward,
Expecting to receive her Lord
And Bridegroom from above.
With never-fading lustre bright,
With never-cooling love:
Meet for the infinite reward,
Expecting to receive her Lord
And Bridegroom from above.
He came, and warn'd her to depart;
He knock'd at her attentive heart,
And fitted for the sky;
She open'd to her welcome Guest,
With eager instantaneous haste
She gat her up, to die.
He knock'd at her attentive heart,
And fitted for the sky;
She open'd to her welcome Guest,
With eager instantaneous haste
She gat her up, to die.
To die, her only business then,
The meed of all her toils to gain,
Made ready long before,
She flies to lay her body down,
And pain, and sin, and grief are gone,
And suffering is no more.
The meed of all her toils to gain,
Made ready long before,
She flies to lay her body down,
And pain, and sin, and grief are gone,
And suffering is no more.
“Nothing,” she cries, “can shake my peace,
My body, or my soul, distress,
Or tempt me once to fear;
My full salvation is wrought out,
I cannot mourn, I cannot doubt,
For Christ and heaven is here.
My body, or my soul, distress,
Or tempt me once to fear;
My full salvation is wrought out,
I cannot mourn, I cannot doubt,
For Christ and heaven is here.
Not in my helpless self I trust,
But on my faithful Lord and just,
In life and death depend;
Secure of everlasting bliss,
Into those gracious hands of His
My spirit I commend.”
But on my faithful Lord and just,
In life and death depend;
Secure of everlasting bliss,
Into those gracious hands of His
My spirit I commend.”
She speaks, and bows her willing head;
She sinks among the' immortal dead,
Without a lingering groan;
Meek, as the Lamb of God, departs,
And carries up our bleeding hearts
To that eternal throne.
She sinks among the' immortal dead,
Without a lingering groan;
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And carries up our bleeding hearts
To that eternal throne.
HYMN XXXV.
PART VI.
[There with the virgin-choir she sits]
There with the virgin-choir she sits,
And Jesus her appeal admits
From man's unrighteous bar:
He kept her faithful unto death,
And with a never-fading wreath
Rewards His servant there.
And Jesus her appeal admits
From man's unrighteous bar:
He kept her faithful unto death,
And with a never-fading wreath
Rewards His servant there.
Go, envious fiend, and force her down;
Go, pluck the jewels from her crown,
And lessen her reward:
Pollute by thy opprobrious praise,
Or tear her from that blissful place,
Or part her from her Lord.
Go, pluck the jewels from her crown,
And lessen her reward:
Pollute by thy opprobrious praise,
Or tear her from that blissful place,
Or part her from her Lord.
The sacrilegious hope is vain
Her spotless purity to stain,
Her heavenly joy to' impair;
The saint whom erring saints disown
Shall smile on a superior throne,
And brighter glories wear.
Her spotless purity to stain,
Her heavenly joy to' impair;
The saint whom erring saints disown
Shall smile on a superior throne,
And brighter glories wear.
Yes, happy soul, so closely press'd,
On earth, in heaven, to Jesus' breast,
With Him thou reign'st above;
Beyond our censure, or our praise,
Enthroned where purest seraphs gaze,
In all the heights of love.
On earth, in heaven, to Jesus' breast,
With Him thou reign'st above;
Beyond our censure, or our praise,
Enthroned where purest seraphs gaze,
In all the heights of love.
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How far below thy dazzling sphere
Shall all thy blushing foes appear,
If finally forgiven!
O might thy censurers—and I—
Obtain the grace like thee to die,
And kiss thy feet in heaven.
Shall all thy blushing foes appear,
If finally forgiven!
O might thy censurers—and I—
Obtain the grace like thee to die,
And kiss thy feet in heaven.
Saviour, regard my vehement prayer,
Who only canst my loss repair,
And solid comfort send;
Send down Thy likeness from above,
And in that Spirit of meekest love
O give me back my friend.
Who only canst my loss repair,
And solid comfort send;
Send down Thy likeness from above,
And in that Spirit of meekest love
O give me back my friend.
I loved her for Thy sake alone;
For on her soul Thine image shone;
Ah! wouldst Thou, Lord, impress
The heavenly character on mine,
And fill my heart with peace Divine,
And joy and righteousness.
For on her soul Thine image shone;
Ah! wouldst Thou, Lord, impress
The heavenly character on mine,
And fill my heart with peace Divine,
And joy and righteousness.
O might I of Thy follower learn
The calm and genuine unconcern
For human praise or blame,
The patient faith, the even mind,
The love unconquerably kind,
The meekness of the Lamb!
The calm and genuine unconcern
For human praise or blame,
The patient faith, the even mind,
The love unconquerably kind,
The meekness of the Lamb!
I want—to love my foes like her,
Nor shrink from Satan's messenger,
Nor turn my face aside;
But silently enjoy the loss,
The shame, the wrong, and hug the cross
With Jesus crucified.
Nor shrink from Satan's messenger,
Nor turn my face aside;
But silently enjoy the loss,
The shame, the wrong, and hug the cross
With Jesus crucified.
I want (alas! Thou know'st my heart)
As safe, and sudden, to depart,
As meet Thy face to see;
I groan my happier friend to' o'ertake,
And give my gasping spirit back,
And die like her—and Thee.
As safe, and sudden, to depart,
As meet Thy face to see;
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And give my gasping spirit back,
And die like her—and Thee.
HYMN XXXVI. ANOTHER.
[She flies! the soul as lightning flies!]
She flies! the soul as lightning flies!
She mounts exulting to the skies,
Beyond the reach of death and pain,
And never shall she sin again.
She mounts exulting to the skies,
Beyond the reach of death and pain,
And never shall she sin again.
Possess'd of that for which alone
We daily toil, and suffer on,
In exile pine, in prison sigh,
And languish till allow'd to die.
We daily toil, and suffer on,
In exile pine, in prison sigh,
And languish till allow'd to die.
In prayer and praise we lift our voice,
In joy lament, in grief rejoice:
By sinking rise, by losing gain,
And endless life by death obtain.
In joy lament, in grief rejoice:
By sinking rise, by losing gain,
And endless life by death obtain.
This dying life shall soon be past,
(A moment cannot always last,)
And He who set our partner free
Shall quickly send for you and me.
(A moment cannot always last,)
And He who set our partner free
Shall quickly send for you and me.
Even now the heavenly convoy waits;
Open, ye everlasting gates!
Redeem'd from earth, escaped from sin,
Receive the weary exiles in.
Open, ye everlasting gates!
Redeem'd from earth, escaped from sin,
Receive the weary exiles in.
We after our translated friend,
Out of the wilderness ascend,
Enter into the heavenly rest,
And meet her—on the Saviour's breast.
Out of the wilderness ascend,
Enter into the heavenly rest,
And meet her—on the Saviour's breast.
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HYMN XXXVII. ANOTHER.
[Shout, ye heirs of sure salvation]
Shout, ye heirs of sure salvation,
Love's accomplish'd sacrifice!
See our partner in temptation
On the wings of angels flies!
Join the convoy,
Swell the triumph of the skies.
Love's accomplish'd sacrifice!
See our partner in temptation
On the wings of angels flies!
Join the convoy,
Swell the triumph of the skies.
He who set His love upon her,
Doth for His beloved send,
Crowns her with immortal honour,
Glorious joys that never end:
Saints and angels
Praise our everlasting Friend.
Doth for His beloved send,
Crowns her with immortal honour,
Glorious joys that never end:
Saints and angels
Praise our everlasting Friend.
Christ, the Friend of sinners, bought her,
Her, and all our ruin'd race:
Now He up to heaven hath caught her,
Now He in her sight displays
All His goodness,
All the beauties of His face.
Her, and all our ruin'd race:
Now He up to heaven hath caught her,
Now He in her sight displays
All His goodness,
All the beauties of His face.
Token of our own translation
Her translation we receive,
Earnest of our full salvation,
While He doth His Spirit give:
Hallelujah!
We like her with God shall live.
Her translation we receive,
Earnest of our full salvation,
While He doth His Spirit give:
Hallelujah!
We like her with God shall live.
God, our soul's eternal Lover,
Calls us to His courts above;
Round us now our angels hover,
Us our guards shall soon remove,
There to banquet
On His everlasting love.
Calls us to His courts above;
Round us now our angels hover,
Us our guards shall soon remove,
There to banquet
On His everlasting love.
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Haste, ye ministerial spirits,
Thither bear us on your wings,
Where our friend her crown inherits,
Where our old companion sings,
Bows to Jesus,
King of all the heavenly kings.
Thither bear us on your wings,
Where our friend her crown inherits,
Where our old companion sings,
Bows to Jesus,
King of all the heavenly kings.
Jesus, now assume Thy power,
Alpha and Omega be,
Now let every knee adore,
Every eye Thy kingdom see,
With Thine ancients
Reign through all eternity.
Alpha and Omega be,
Now let every knee adore,
Every eye Thy kingdom see,
With Thine ancients
Reign through all eternity.
ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. MR. JAMES HERVEY, DECEMBER 25, 1758.
HYMN XXXVIII.
[PART I.]
[He's gone! the spotless soul is gone]
He's gone! the spotless soul is gone,
Triumphant to his place above;
The prison walls are broken down,
The angels speed his swift remove,
And shouting on their wings he flies,
And Hervey rests in paradise.
Triumphant to his place above;
The prison walls are broken down,
The angels speed his swift remove,
And shouting on their wings he flies,
And Hervey rests in paradise.
Through the last dreadful conflict brought,
Which shook so sore his dying breast,
Far happier for that bitter draught,
With more transcendent raptures bless'd,
He finds for every patient groan
A jewel added to his crown.
Which shook so sore his dying breast,
Far happier for that bitter draught,
With more transcendent raptures bless'd,
He finds for every patient groan
A jewel added to his crown.
Saved by the merit of his Lord,
Salvation, praise to Christ he gives,
Yet still his merciful reward
According to his works receives,
And with the seed he sow'd below,
His bliss eternally shall grow.
Salvation, praise to Christ he gives,
Yet still his merciful reward
According to his works receives,
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His bliss eternally shall grow.
Redeem'd by righteousness Divine,
In God's own portraiture complete,
With brighter rays ordain'd to shine,
He casts his crown at Jesus' feet,
And hails Him sitting on the throne,
For ever saved by grace alone.
In God's own portraiture complete,
With brighter rays ordain'd to shine,
He casts his crown at Jesus' feet,
And hails Him sitting on the throne,
For ever saved by grace alone.
HYMN XXXIX.
PART II.
[Father, to us vouchsafe the grace]
Father, to us vouchsafe the grace
Which brought our friend victorious through,
Let us his shining footsteps trace,
Let us his steadfast faith pursue,
Follow this follower of the Lamb,
And conquer all through Jesus' name.
Which brought our friend victorious through,
Let us his shining footsteps trace,
Let us his steadfast faith pursue,
Follow this follower of the Lamb,
And conquer all through Jesus' name.
Through Jesus' name, and strength, and word,
The well-fought fight our brother won;
Arm'd with the Saviour's blood and sword,
He cast the dire accuser down,
Compell'd the aliens to submit,
And trampled flesh beneath his feet.
The well-fought fight our brother won;
Arm'd with the Saviour's blood and sword,
He cast the dire accuser down,
Compell'd the aliens to submit,
And trampled flesh beneath his feet.
In vain the Gnostic tempter tried
With guile his upright heart to' ensnare;
His upright heart the fiend defied,
No room for sin, when Christ was there,
No need of fancied liberty,
When Christ had made him truly free.
With guile his upright heart to' ensnare;
His upright heart the fiend defied,
No room for sin, when Christ was there,
No need of fancied liberty,
When Christ had made him truly free.
Free from the law of sin and death,
Free from the Antinomian leaven,
He led his Master's life beneath,
And labouring for the rest of heaven,
By active love, and watchful prayer,
He show'd his heart already there.
Free from the Antinomian leaven,
He led his Master's life beneath,
And labouring for the rest of heaven,
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He show'd his heart already there.
How full of heaven his latest word,
“Thou bidd'st me now in peace depart,
For I have known my precious Lord,
Have clasp'd Thee, Saviour, in my heart,
My eyes Thy glorious joy have seen:”
He spake; he died; and enter'd in.
“Thou bidd'st me now in peace depart,
For I have known my precious Lord,
Have clasp'd Thee, Saviour, in my heart,
My eyes Thy glorious joy have seen:”
He spake; he died; and enter'd in.
O might we all, like him, believe,
And keep the faith, and win the prize!
Father, prepare, and then receive
Our hallow'd spirits to the skies,
To chant with all our friends above
Thy glorious everlasting love.
And keep the faith, and win the prize!
Father, prepare, and then receive
Our hallow'd spirits to the skies,
To chant with all our friends above
Thy glorious everlasting love.
ON THE DEATH OF MR. THOMAS WALSH, APRIL 8, 1759, AGED TWENTY-EIGHT.
HYMN XL.
[PART I.]
[God of unfathomable grace]
God of unfathomable grace,
Unsearchable to mortal sight,
Faithful and just are all Thy ways,
Whatever is from Thee, is right:
In wisdom and mysterious love,
Thou hast revoked the blessing given;
Thy will be done beneath, above,
Thy name adored in earth and heaven.
Unsearchable to mortal sight,
Faithful and just are all Thy ways,
Whatever is from Thee, is right:
In wisdom and mysterious love,
Thou hast revoked the blessing given;
Thy will be done beneath, above,
Thy name adored in earth and heaven.
A zealous instrument of good,
A vessel fit for use Divine,
Thy mercy on Thy church bestow'd,
And gave the burning light to shine:
Thy grace had first prepared his heart,
Dispell'd the Babylonish gloom,
And bid his early youth depart
The camp of antichristian Rome.
A vessel fit for use Divine,
Thy mercy on Thy church bestow'd,
And gave the burning light to shine:
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Dispell'd the Babylonish gloom,
And bid his early youth depart
The camp of antichristian Rome.
Drawn by a secret power, he flew,
(Nor stay'd to prop the papal throne,)
The truth determined to pursue,
And panting for a God unknown:
By works of legal righteousness
He blindly sought the grace to' obtain,
But could not find the paths of peace,
But labour'd through the fire in vain.
(Nor stay'd to prop the papal throne,)
The truth determined to pursue,
And panting for a God unknown:
By works of legal righteousness
He blindly sought the grace to' obtain,
But could not find the paths of peace,
But labour'd through the fire in vain.
While thus he toil'd, a sudden cry
Proclaim'd the' approaching multitude:
They told of Jesus passing by,
Of free redemption in His blood:
Upstarted like the beggar blind,
He sprang the healing touch to meet,
Cast all his filthy rags behind,
And groan'd for faith at Jesus' feet.
Proclaim'd the' approaching multitude:
They told of Jesus passing by,
Of free redemption in His blood:
Upstarted like the beggar blind,
He sprang the healing touch to meet,
Cast all his filthy rags behind,
And groan'd for faith at Jesus' feet.
The' incarnate God his sight restored,
With faith the heartfelt pardon gave,
And raised him up to preach his Lord,
So willing all mankind to save:
By Christ Himself ordain'd, and sent
An herald of redeeming grace,
Eager to the highways he went,
And fill'd the land with Jesus' praise.
With faith the heartfelt pardon gave,
And raised him up to preach his Lord,
So willing all mankind to save:
By Christ Himself ordain'd, and sent
An herald of redeeming grace,
Eager to the highways he went,
And fill'd the land with Jesus' praise.
But lo! the soul-ensnaring fiend,
Soon as the stripling's course began,
Urged him for trifles to contend,
And turn'd aside to janglings vain.
Not long: for soon his upright heart
Retrieved its momentary loss,
Resolved its utmost powers to' exert,
And only glory in the cross.
Soon as the stripling's course began,
Urged him for trifles to contend,
And turn'd aside to janglings vain.
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Retrieved its momentary loss,
Resolved its utmost powers to' exert,
And only glory in the cross.
His course impetuous who can tell?
While battling with the' infernal foe,
He puts forth all his strength and zeal,
He spends his life at every blow!
Or fierce on the Philistines flies,
Compels the captives to come in,
Spoils Satan of his lawful prize,
And tears them from the toils of sin.
While battling with the' infernal foe,
He puts forth all his strength and zeal,
He spends his life at every blow!
Or fierce on the Philistines flies,
Compels the captives to come in,
Spoils Satan of his lawful prize,
And tears them from the toils of sin.
Refreshing, soft as vernal showers,
His word on weary sinners falls,
Or like the rapid torrent pours,
While souls to Jesus' blood he calls:
With strength and utterance from above
Drives on the saints through grace forgiven,
To scale the mount of holiest love,
To seize the brightest throne in heaven.
His word on weary sinners falls,
Or like the rapid torrent pours,
While souls to Jesus' blood he calls:
With strength and utterance from above
Drives on the saints through grace forgiven,
To scale the mount of holiest love,
To seize the brightest throne in heaven.
HYMN XLI.
PART II.
[While Christ with all his heart he sought]
While Christ with all his heart he sought,
And all his gifts from Christ received,
A witness of the truths he taught,
A pattern to the flock he lived;
Them by his bright example led
The power of godliness to prove,
In word, in converse, and in deed,
In faith, in purity, and love.
And all his gifts from Christ received,
A witness of the truths he taught,
A pattern to the flock he lived;
Them by his bright example led
The power of godliness to prove,
In word, in converse, and in deed,
In faith, in purity, and love.
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Did he not labour day and night,
In ministerial works employ'd,
His sweet relief, his whole delight,
To search the oracles of God,
To listen at the Master's feet,
To catch the whispers of His grace,
And long for happiness complete,
And gasp to see His open face?
In ministerial works employ'd,
His sweet relief, his whole delight,
To search the oracles of God,
To listen at the Master's feet,
To catch the whispers of His grace,
And long for happiness complete,
And gasp to see His open face?
Did he not triumph in the cross,
Its prints as on his body show,
Lavish of life for Jesus' cause,
Whose blood so free for him did flow?
He scorn'd his feeble flesh to spare,
Regardless of its swift decline,
His single aim, his ceaseless prayer
To' attain the righteousness Divine.
Its prints as on his body show,
Lavish of life for Jesus' cause,
Whose blood so free for him did flow?
He scorn'd his feeble flesh to spare,
Regardless of its swift decline,
His single aim, his ceaseless prayer
To' attain the righteousness Divine.
Impatient to be truly great,
Ambitious of a crown above,
He coveted the highest seat,
He ask'd the grace of perfect love:
He ask'd, alas! but knew not then
The purport of his own desire,
How deep that cup of sacred pain,
How searching that baptismal fire!
Ambitious of a crown above,
He coveted the highest seat,
He ask'd the grace of perfect love:
He ask'd, alas! but knew not then
The purport of his own desire,
How deep that cup of sacred pain,
How searching that baptismal fire!
The Lord allow'd his bold request;
The servant is call'd forth to share
That anguish of a wounded breast,
Those pangs which only God could bear;
Who drank in His sad days of flesh
The potion by His Father given,
And bids His members feel afresh
The fierceness of the wrath of heaven.
The servant is call'd forth to share
That anguish of a wounded breast,
Those pangs which only God could bear;
Who drank in His sad days of flesh
The potion by His Father given,
And bids His members feel afresh
The fierceness of the wrath of heaven.
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A taste of that mysterious cup
His faithful follower now received,
And fill'd his Lord's afflictions up,
While grief beyond conception grieved:
His agonizing soul sweat blood,
With Christ he fainted on the tree,
And cried in death, “My God, my God,
Ah! why hast Thou forsaken me!”
His faithful follower now received,
And fill'd his Lord's afflictions up,
While grief beyond conception grieved:
His agonizing soul sweat blood,
With Christ he fainted on the tree,
And cried in death, “My God, my God,
Ah! why hast Thou forsaken me!”
Tried to the last, but not forsook,
But honour'd with distinguish'd grace,
Heavenward he cast a dying look,
And saw once more his Saviour's face:
“He's come! my Well-beloved,” he said,
“And I am His, and He is mine!”
He spake; he gazed; and bow'd his head,
And sunk into the arms Divine.
But honour'd with distinguish'd grace,
Heavenward he cast a dying look,
And saw once more his Saviour's face:
“He's come! my Well-beloved,” he said,
“And I am His, and He is mine!”
He spake; he gazed; and bow'd his head,
And sunk into the arms Divine.
Shout all the first-born church above
His full triumphant entrance there,
Shout all on earth, whom Jesus' love
Hath call'd His cross and crown to share:
Our calling, Lord, we calmly see,
Our burden joyfully sustain,
And die through one dark hour with Thee,
With Thee eternally to reign.
His full triumphant entrance there,
Shout all on earth, whom Jesus' love
Hath call'd His cross and crown to share:
Our calling, Lord, we calmly see,
Our burden joyfully sustain,
And die through one dark hour with Thee,
With Thee eternally to reign.
HYMN XLII. ANOTHER.
[Glory, and thanks, and love]
Glory, and thanks, and love,
And everlasting praise
Ascribe to God, who reigns above,
Supreme in power and grace;
To His co-equal Son,
The dear-bought sinners' Friend,
Jesus, who freely loves His own,
And loves them to the end.
And everlasting praise
Ascribe to God, who reigns above,
Supreme in power and grace;
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The dear-bought sinners' Friend,
Jesus, who freely loves His own,
And loves them to the end.
To God the Comforter,
The earnest and the seal,
The witness of our sonship here,
The gift unspeakable:
To the great triune God
Be ceaseless honours given,
Till Christ, descending on the cloud,
Turns all our earth to heaven.
The earnest and the seal,
The witness of our sonship here,
The gift unspeakable:
To the great triune God
Be ceaseless honours given,
Till Christ, descending on the cloud,
Turns all our earth to heaven.
He bids us now partake
Our fellow-servant's bliss,
Whose soul returns in safety back
From life's tempestuous seas,
Who driven and toss'd no more,
No more o'erwhelm'd, oppress'd,
Claps his glad wings, escaped to shore,
To the Redeemer's breast.
Our fellow-servant's bliss,
Whose soul returns in safety back
From life's tempestuous seas,
Who driven and toss'd no more,
No more o'erwhelm'd, oppress'd,
Claps his glad wings, escaped to shore,
To the Redeemer's breast.
He sees the trial past,
He leaves the storm behind.
To his triumphant Head at last
Inseparably join'd:
Shout all the hosts above,
When Jesus saith, “Well done,”
And deigns His servant's faith to' approve,
And seats him on the throne.
He leaves the storm behind.
To his triumphant Head at last
Inseparably join'd:
Shout all the hosts above,
When Jesus saith, “Well done,”
And deigns His servant's faith to' approve,
And seats him on the throne.
Thanks be to God who gave
The victory and the prize!
Join, all who own His power to save,
The triumph of the skies!
The church of the first-born,
To them by faith we come,
And conquerors of the world return
To our celestial home.
The victory and the prize!
Join, all who own His power to save,
The triumph of the skies!
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To them by faith we come,
And conquerors of the world return
To our celestial home.
We know in whom we trust,
We haste to His embrace,
Mix'd with the spirits of the just,
The perfected in grace;
Their ripest joy to share,
Exulting we ascend,
And grasp our old companions there,
And our eternal Friend.
We haste to His embrace,
Mix'd with the spirits of the just,
The perfected in grace;
Their ripest joy to share,
Exulting we ascend,
And grasp our old companions there,
And our eternal Friend.
HYMN XLIII. ANOTHER.
['Tis finish'd, 'tis past, His conflict below]
'Tis finish'd, 'tis past, His conflict below,
The sharpest and last He ever shall know!
The fiery temptation Hath spent all its fires,
The heir of salvation With triumph expires.
The sharpest and last He ever shall know!
The fiery temptation Hath spent all its fires,
The heir of salvation With triumph expires.
The buffeting fiend Who push'd him so sore,
And bruised to the end, Shall bruise him no more:
He trod on his bruiser, And more than subdued
Our hellish accuser, Through Jesus's blood.
And bruised to the end, Shall bruise him no more:
He trod on his bruiser, And more than subdued
Our hellish accuser, Through Jesus's blood.
Depress'd by the cross, He mounted the higher;
He left all his dross And tin in the fire:
He brought by his mourning The Comforter down,
And Jesus returning Presented the crown.
He left all his dross And tin in the fire:
He brought by his mourning The Comforter down,
And Jesus returning Presented the crown.
All praise to the Lord, All praise is His due:
His merciful word Is tried, and found true:
Who his dereliction On Calvary bear,
And share His affliction, His kingdom shall share.
His merciful word Is tried, and found true:
Who his dereliction On Calvary bear,
And share His affliction, His kingdom shall share.
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O Saviour, to Thee Our souls we commend!
If nail'd to the tree, We bleed to the end;
We bear the full anguish, The uttermost load;
But give us to languish And suffer like God.
If nail'd to the tree, We bleed to the end;
We bear the full anguish, The uttermost load;
But give us to languish And suffer like God.
Remember us then, And answer our call,
When turning with pain Our face to the wall;
In trouble stand by us, Till all is o'erpast,
And chasten, and try us, But save us at last.
When turning with pain Our face to the wall;
In trouble stand by us, Till all is o'erpast,
And chasten, and try us, But save us at last.
FINIS.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |