 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
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HYMNS AND POEMS,
CHIEFLY RELATING TO EVENTS IN THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE REV. CHARLES WESLEY.
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HYMN FOR THE REV. MR. WHITEFIELD AND MR. WESLEYS.
Come, Saviour, from above,
Our dear redeeming Lord,
And twist us by Thy dying love
Into a threefold cord;
Friendship that shall endure
Long as the life of God,
Indissolubly strong, and pure
As Thy cementing blood.
Our dear redeeming Lord,
And twist us by Thy dying love
Into a threefold cord;
Friendship that shall endure
Long as the life of God,
Indissolubly strong, and pure
As Thy cementing blood.
Thy love which passeth thought
In every heart reveal,
And by a common ransom bought
We one salvation feel;
We one salvation given
To desperate sinners show,
And preach the throne of God in heaven
Set up in man below.
In every heart reveal,
And by a common ransom bought
We one salvation feel;
We one salvation given
To desperate sinners show,
And preach the throne of God in heaven
Set up in man below.
For this raised up by Thee,
And on Thy message sent,
With primitive simplicity
To the highways we went;
Nor scrip nor purse we took,
But cast the world behind,
But cheerfully our all forsook,
Our all in Thee to find:
And on Thy message sent,
With primitive simplicity
To the highways we went;
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But cast the world behind,
But cheerfully our all forsook,
Our all in Thee to find:
Our sole desire and aim
Perishing souls to win,
Collect the outcasts in Thy name,
And force them to come in;
As thunder's sons to rouse
The dead that cannot die,
And fill with guests the lower house,
And fit them for the sky.
Perishing souls to win,
Collect the outcasts in Thy name,
And force them to come in;
As thunder's sons to rouse
The dead that cannot die,
And fill with guests the lower house,
And fit them for the sky.
For this we still remain,
By labours undepress'd,
And feel the love revive again
That warm'd our youthful breast:
Thou dost the zeal revive,
The first uniting grace,
And bid us to Thy glory live
Our last and happiest days.
By labours undepress'd,
And feel the love revive again
That warm'd our youthful breast:
Thou dost the zeal revive,
The first uniting grace,
And bid us to Thy glory live
Our last and happiest days.
Thy mind we surely know,
In which we now agree,
And hand in hand exulting go
To final victory:
Obedient to Thy will,
We put forth all our fire,
Our ministerial work fulfil,
And in a blaze expire.
In which we now agree,
And hand in hand exulting go
To final victory:
Obedient to Thy will,
We put forth all our fire,
Our ministerial work fulfil,
And in a blaze expire.
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COMMEMORATIVE HYMN.
PART I.
Merciful God, what hast Thou done,
What hast Thou borne, for me,
For me, Thy most rebellious son,
From earliest infancy?
The patience of Thy richest grace
Throughout my life I prove,
And measure back the endless maze
With wonder, grief, and love.
What hast Thou borne, for me,
For me, Thy most rebellious son,
From earliest infancy?
The patience of Thy richest grace
Throughout my life I prove,
And measure back the endless maze
With wonder, grief, and love.
Soon as my power of acting came,
I spake and acted sin,
But felt at once in fear and shame
The Spirit's check within:
I felt the point of anger's thorn,
With daily guilt defiled,
By passion and by conscience torn,
A wretch while yet a child.
I spake and acted sin,
But felt at once in fear and shame
The Spirit's check within:
I felt the point of anger's thorn,
With daily guilt defiled,
By passion and by conscience torn,
A wretch while yet a child.
Bolder I with my fellows grew,
Nor yet to evil ran,
But envied those who dared break through,
And copy lawless man:
From parents' eye far off removed,
I still was under Thine,
And found, for secret sin reproved,
The government Divine.
Nor yet to evil ran,
But envied those who dared break through,
And copy lawless man:
From parents' eye far off removed,
I still was under Thine,
And found, for secret sin reproved,
The government Divine.
Thou wouldst not suffer me to rest,
When deviating from right,
But visitedst my childish breast
With trouble or delight:
So often grieved, Thy Spirit strove,
And kept my soul in awe,
Or drew me, with the cords of love,
Without the fiery law.
When deviating from right,
But visitedst my childish breast
With trouble or delight:
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And kept my soul in awe,
Or drew me, with the cords of love,
Without the fiery law.
Without the law I lived awhile,
Till the commandment came,
And stirr'd me up, by virtuous toil,
To hide my vicious shame;
To' establish my own righteousness,
“Controller of the skies,”
And make with Thee my labour'd peace,
And purchase paradise.
Till the commandment came,
And stirr'd me up, by virtuous toil,
To hide my vicious shame;
To' establish my own righteousness,
“Controller of the skies,”
And make with Thee my labour'd peace,
And purchase paradise.
Thine eye beneath the fig-tree saw
My self-disguising strife,
And sent the thunders of Thy law
To slay my righteous life:
The sin-convincing Spirit blew
My leafy veil aside,
My vain self-confidence o'erthrew,
And blasted all my pride.
My self-disguising strife,
And sent the thunders of Thy law
To slay my righteous life:
The sin-convincing Spirit blew
My leafy veil aside,
My vain self-confidence o'erthrew,
And blasted all my pride.
O what a cruel war ensued,
What grief, and shame, and pain!
I only fought to be subdued,
And rose—to fall again:
A thousand vows I fondly made,
A thousand vows I broke,
O'erpower'd by sin, and captive led,
Yet not of Thee forsook.
What grief, and shame, and pain!
I only fought to be subdued,
And rose—to fall again:
A thousand vows I fondly made,
A thousand vows I broke,
O'erpower'd by sin, and captive led,
Yet not of Thee forsook.
Thy mercy bade my strugglings cease,
And, bursting then the snare,
Sent forth out of the dark abyss
The prisoner of despair:
I thank'd my God, with pardon bless'd,
Through Jesu's blood applied,
So instantaneously released,
So freely justified!
And, bursting then the snare,
Sent forth out of the dark abyss
The prisoner of despair:
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Through Jesu's blood applied,
So instantaneously released,
So freely justified!
PART II.
Here let me pause, and fix mine eye
On that mysterious grace;
Unseen, unfelt, it still was nigh
Throughout my youthful days:
Glory to God alone I give!
Instructed from above,
Father, I now with joy perceive
The wisdom of Thy love.
On that mysterious grace;
Unseen, unfelt, it still was nigh
Throughout my youthful days:
Glory to God alone I give!
Instructed from above,
Father, I now with joy perceive
The wisdom of Thy love.
How has Thy love contrived to keep
From sin's abhorr'd extreme,
Till waken'd out of nature's sleep,
And virtue's golden dream!
How strangely didst Thou hedge me in,
So prone to every vice,
And damp my eager love of sin
By sacred cowardice!
From sin's abhorr'd extreme,
Till waken'd out of nature's sleep,
And virtue's golden dream!
How strangely didst Thou hedge me in,
So prone to every vice,
And damp my eager love of sin
By sacred cowardice!
Thy mercy placed my parents good
As guardian angels near,
And with Thy flaming sword they stood,
To' inspire me with Thy fear:
The voice which cried in them, “Beware,”
I now revere as Thine;
Not kept from ill by human care,
But Providence Divine.
As guardian angels near,
And with Thy flaming sword they stood,
To' inspire me with Thy fear:
The voice which cried in them, “Beware,”
I now revere as Thine;
Not kept from ill by human care,
But Providence Divine.
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What but a miracle of grace
Could keep my soul within
The mouth of hell, the murderer's ways,
The public schools of sin;
Where troops of young corrupters tried
In wickedness to' excel,
Lewdness their vile delight, and pride
Their boasted principle?
Could keep my soul within
The mouth of hell, the murderer's ways,
The public schools of sin;
Where troops of young corrupters tried
In wickedness to' excel,
Lewdness their vile delight, and pride
Their boasted principle?
I found Thy hand, again beset,
And saved by grace alone,
Where learning keeps its loftiest seat,
And hell its firmest throne:
Satan and sloth had smooth'd my way
To pleasure's paradise;
Yet still I paused, afraid to stray,
Or plunge the gulf of vice.
And saved by grace alone,
Where learning keeps its loftiest seat,
And hell its firmest throne:
Satan and sloth had smooth'd my way
To pleasure's paradise;
Yet still I paused, afraid to stray,
Or plunge the gulf of vice.
How wisely timed the help that came
In my extremity,
And bade the Law its prisoner claim,
And shut me up for Thee!
Within the iron walls immured,
I now Thy goodness bless,
By servile fear for years secured
From my own wickedness.
In my extremity,
And bade the Law its prisoner claim,
And shut me up for Thee!
Within the iron walls immured,
I now Thy goodness bless,
By servile fear for years secured
From my own wickedness.
Loosed from the chains of unbelief,
From legal bondage freed,
I felt the joy that follow'd grief,
And love that banish'd dread:
To me, beneath the wrath of God,
The pardoning grace how sweet,
When, bruised to death by Moses' rod,
I fell at Jesu's feet!
From legal bondage freed,
I felt the joy that follow'd grief,
And love that banish'd dread:
To me, beneath the wrath of God,
The pardoning grace how sweet,
When, bruised to death by Moses' rod,
I fell at Jesu's feet!
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Still at His feet I humbly own
Thy uniform design,
The Spirit of fear and love was one,
Was given to make me Thine:
Wherefore with reverend joy I praise
Thine all-redeeming plan,
The various wisdom of Thy ways,
And charity to man.
Thy uniform design,
The Spirit of fear and love was one,
Was given to make me Thine:
Wherefore with reverend joy I praise
Thine all-redeeming plan,
The various wisdom of Thy ways,
And charity to man.
WRITTEN AFTER DELIVERANCE FROM A POPISH AMBUSH AND ASSAULT NEAR ATHLONE, FEBRUARY 11TH, 1748.
All-conquering King,
Thy triumph we sing,
Redeem'd from the foe,
We publish our mighty Redeemer below;
The' omnipotent name
Of Jesus proclaim,
And joyfully raise
Our voices and hearts in a concert of praise.
Thy triumph we sing,
Redeem'd from the foe,
We publish our mighty Redeemer below;
The' omnipotent name
Of Jesus proclaim,
And joyfully raise
Our voices and hearts in a concert of praise.
From the malice of men,
Thou hast saved us again,
And broken the snare,
And scatter'd the folk that delighted in war:
Athirst for our blood
In ambush they stood,
Our lives to surprise,
And hurry us hence to our friends in the skies.
Thou hast saved us again,
And broken the snare,
And scatter'd the folk that delighted in war:
Athirst for our blood
In ambush they stood,
Our lives to surprise,
And hurry us hence to our friends in the skies.
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The' idolatrous priest
Their purpose had bless'd;
And, arm'd with his zeal,
And inspired with the tenderest mercies of hell,
They rush'd on their prey,
The victims to slay,
And accomplish their doom,
And offer us up to the Moloch of Rome.
Their purpose had bless'd;
And, arm'd with his zeal,
And inspired with the tenderest mercies of hell,
They rush'd on their prey,
The victims to slay,
And accomplish their doom,
And offer us up to the Moloch of Rome.
But God on the throne
Protected His own;
The danger to ward,
He planted around an angelical guard:
Their wings were outspread,
And cover'd our head;
Their arms were beneath,
And bore us aloft from the weapons of death.
Protected His own;
The danger to ward,
He planted around an angelical guard:
Their wings were outspread,
And cover'd our head;
Their arms were beneath,
And bore us aloft from the weapons of death.
All glory to God,
All honour and laud
To our conquering King,
Whom Lord of the heavenly armies we sing:
His servants are ours,
The angelical powers;
And now they attend,
And assist at the concert that never shall end.
All honour and laud
To our conquering King,
Whom Lord of the heavenly armies we sing:
His servants are ours,
The angelical powers;
And now they attend,
And assist at the concert that never shall end.
With angels above
We sing of Thy love,
With saints in the vale
Thy unsearchable riches of mercy we tell:
Till, admitted among
The glorified throng,
We look on Thy face,
And eternity spend in a rapture of praise.
We sing of Thy love,
With saints in the vale
Thy unsearchable riches of mercy we tell:
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The glorified throng,
We look on Thy face,
And eternity spend in a rapture of praise.
OCCASIONED BY AN IRISH JUDGE SENTENCING ME IN MY ABSENCE TO TRANSPORTATION.
Join, all the friends of Jesus, join
Your full, exulting hearts with mine;
With mine your joyful voices raise,
Attuned to our Redeemer's praise,
Who crowns us still with victory,
And now delights to honour me!
Your full, exulting hearts with mine;
With mine your joyful voices raise,
Attuned to our Redeemer's praise,
Who crowns us still with victory,
And now delights to honour me!
Me He hath counted for His name
Worthy to suffer wrong and shame;
Condemn'd for publishing my Lord,
Proscribed for ministering His word;
Untried, unheard, to exile driven,
'Gainst all the laws of earth and heaven.
Worthy to suffer wrong and shame;
Condemn'd for publishing my Lord,
Proscribed for ministering His word;
Untried, unheard, to exile driven,
'Gainst all the laws of earth and heaven.
Vainly in our protection join
The laws, both human and Divine,
While those who fill the judge's chair
To' abuse their dread commission dare;
Our helpless innocency sell,
To glut the priestly rage of hell.
The laws, both human and Divine,
While those who fill the judge's chair
To' abuse their dread commission dare;
Our helpless innocency sell,
To glut the priestly rage of hell.
But God in our defence shall stand,
And shield us with His own right hand;
The Lord, whom on our side we have,
Shall from unrighteous judges save,
His injured messengers confess,
And give His suffering people peace.
And shield us with His own right hand;
The Lord, whom on our side we have,
Shall from unrighteous judges save,
His injured messengers confess,
And give His suffering people peace.
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Wherefore of Him His people boasts,
The Prince of Peace, the Lord of Hosts;
Our Strength, and Confidence, and Tower,
Our Light in Satan's darkest hour,
Our Glory in reproach and shame,
Our Guide and Saviour in the flame.
The Prince of Peace, the Lord of Hosts;
Our Strength, and Confidence, and Tower,
Our Light in Satan's darkest hour,
Our Glory in reproach and shame,
Our Guide and Saviour in the flame.
Bound every heart which Christ inspires,
And praise Him, praise Him in the fires;
Him walking in the furnace scan,
Whose form is as the Son of man;
And triumph like the faithful three,
And shout our guardian Deity.
And praise Him, praise Him in the fires;
Him walking in the furnace scan,
Whose form is as the Son of man;
And triumph like the faithful three,
And shout our guardian Deity.
Blessing and thanks to God most high,
And love, and might, and majesty;
Ascribe salvation to the Lamb;
The Spirit of power and peace proclaim;
The great Three-One let all things praise
In glorious, everlasting lays!
And love, and might, and majesty;
Ascribe salvation to the Lamb;
The Spirit of power and peace proclaim;
The great Three-One let all things praise
In glorious, everlasting lays!
FOR THE ROMAN CATHOLICS IN IRELAND.
Shepherd of souls, the great, the good,
Thy helpless sheep behold,
Those other sheep dispersed abroad,
Who are not of this fold.
By Satan and his factors bound
In ignorance and sin,
Recall them through the gospel sound,
And bring the outcasts in.
Thy helpless sheep behold,
Those other sheep dispersed abroad,
Who are not of this fold.
By Satan and his factors bound
In ignorance and sin,
Recall them through the gospel sound,
And bring the outcasts in.
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Strangers alas! to Thee and peace,
They cannot find the way,
But wander in the wilderness,
And on the mountains stray.
Why should they faint, unsaved, unsought,
With sure relief so nigh?
Why should the souls whom Thou hast bought
For lack of knowledge die?
They cannot find the way,
But wander in the wilderness,
And on the mountains stray.
Why should they faint, unsaved, unsought,
With sure relief so nigh?
Why should the souls whom Thou hast bought
For lack of knowledge die?
Cast up, cast up an iron road,
The stumbling-block remove,
The sin that keeps them back from God,
And from Thy pardoning love.
The hinderer of Thy word restrain,
The Babylonish beast,
The men who sell poor souls for gain,
Or curse whom Thou hast bless'd.
The stumbling-block remove,
The sin that keeps them back from God,
And from Thy pardoning love.
The hinderer of Thy word restrain,
The Babylonish beast,
The men who sell poor souls for gain,
Or curse whom Thou hast bless'd.
Those blindfold leaders of the blind,
Who frighten them from Thee,
And still bewitch the people's mind
With hellish sorcery:
Pierced with Thy Spirit's two-edged sword,
They shall no more deceive:
Simon himself at Thy great word
Shall tremble and believe.
Who frighten them from Thee,
And still bewitch the people's mind
With hellish sorcery:
Pierced with Thy Spirit's two-edged sword,
They shall no more deceive:
Simon himself at Thy great word
Shall tremble and believe.
Who lead their followers down the way
To everlasting death,
Confound, convert, and pluck the prey
Out of the lion's teeth.
The simple men, of heart sincere,
Who would receive Thy word,
Bring in, Thy blessed word to hear,
And own their bleeding Lord.
To everlasting death,
Confound, convert, and pluck the prey
Out of the lion's teeth.
The simple men, of heart sincere,
Who would receive Thy word,
Bring in, Thy blessed word to hear,
And own their bleeding Lord.
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If Thou wilt work a work of grace,
Who shall the hinderer be?
Shall all the human hellish race
Detain Thy own from Thee?
Shall Satan keep, as lawful prize,
A nation in his snare?
Hosts of the living God, arise,
And try the force of prayer!
Who shall the hinderer be?
Shall all the human hellish race
Detain Thy own from Thee?
Shall Satan keep, as lawful prize,
A nation in his snare?
Hosts of the living God, arise,
And try the force of prayer!
The prayer of faith hath raised the dead,
The' infernal legions driven,
The slaves from Satan's dungeon freed,
And shut and open'd heaven.
Our faith shall cleave the triple crown,
Shall o'er the beast prevail,
And turn his kingdom upside down,
And shake the gates of hell.
The' infernal legions driven,
The slaves from Satan's dungeon freed,
And shut and open'd heaven.
Our faith shall cleave the triple crown,
Shall o'er the beast prevail,
And turn his kingdom upside down,
And shake the gates of hell.
Come then, the all-victorious Name,
Jesus, whom demons flee,
Redemption in Thy blood proclaim,
And life and liberty.
Satan and all his hosts confound,
Burst ope the dungeon-door;
Deliverance preach to spirits bound,
And pardon to the poor.
Jesus, whom demons flee,
Redemption in Thy blood proclaim,
And life and liberty.
Satan and all his hosts confound,
Burst ope the dungeon-door;
Deliverance preach to spirits bound,
And pardon to the poor.
These poor for whom we wrestle still,
A blind, deluded crowd,
Bring to the word, and wound and heal
Through the atoning blood.
We will not let Thee go, unless
The captives Thou retrieve;
Now, Lord, with true repentance bless,
And help them to believe.
A blind, deluded crowd,
Bring to the word, and wound and heal
Through the atoning blood.
We will not let Thee go, unless
The captives Thou retrieve;
Now, Lord, with true repentance bless,
And help them to believe.
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To Thee with boldness we look up,
For all these sons of Rome;
We ask in faith, and lo! a troop,
A troop of sinners come!
As flocking doves, to Thee they fly
For refuge and for rest;
They hasten to their windows nigh,
And shelter in Thy breast.
For all these sons of Rome;
We ask in faith, and lo! a troop,
A troop of sinners come!
As flocking doves, to Thee they fly
For refuge and for rest;
They hasten to their windows nigh,
And shelter in Thy breast.
The things which we desired we have;
To sin and Satan sold,
A nation call, like us, and save,
And make us all one fold:
One house, one body, and one vine,
One church through grace forgiven,
By perfect love to angels join,
And waft us all to heaven.
To sin and Satan sold,
A nation call, like us, and save,
And make us all one fold:
One house, one body, and one vine,
One church through grace forgiven,
By perfect love to angels join,
And waft us all to heaven.
THANKSGIVING FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL IN IRELAND.
Rise, ye ransom'd sinners, rise,
Friends and neighbours, to the skies;
Ye by Jesu's blood brought near,
Ye to Jesu's Father dear;
Sing with me, give thanks, rejoice;
Make to God a cheerful noise;
I the wandering sheep have found,
Earth and heaven with praise resound!
Friends and neighbours, to the skies;
Ye by Jesu's blood brought near,
Ye to Jesu's Father dear;
Sing with me, give thanks, rejoice;
Make to God a cheerful noise;
I the wandering sheep have found,
Earth and heaven with praise resound!
I, (yet O, not I, but He
Through my weakest ministry,)
On the brink of the great deep,
Jesus found His wandering sheep:
Who their heavenly Owner was,
He hath mark'd them with His cross;
He who paid their price of old,
Now hath brought them to His fold.
Through my weakest ministry,)
On the brink of the great deep,
Jesus found His wandering sheep:
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He hath mark'd them with His cross;
He who paid their price of old,
Now hath brought them to His fold.
Jesus, God o'er all supreme,
We ere long shall reign with Him,
In celestial glory stand
With the sheep at His right hand;
Join the bright angelic throng,
Shout the new triumphant song,
Face to face our Shepherd see,
Gaze to all eternity!
We ere long shall reign with Him,
In celestial glory stand
With the sheep at His right hand;
Join the bright angelic throng,
Shout the new triumphant song,
Face to face our Shepherd see,
Gaze to all eternity!
HYMN SUNG IN HIS FAMILY, SEPTEMBER 4TH, 1749.
God of faithful Abraham, hear
His feeble son and Thine,
In Thy glorious power appear,
And bless my just design:
Lo! I come to serve Thy will,
All Thy blessed will to prove;
Fired with patriarchal zeal,
And pure primeval love.
His feeble son and Thine,
In Thy glorious power appear,
And bless my just design:
Lo! I come to serve Thy will,
All Thy blessed will to prove;
Fired with patriarchal zeal,
And pure primeval love.
Me and mine I fain would give
A sacrifice to Thee,
By the ancient model live,
The true simplicity;
Walk as in my Maker's sight,
Free from worldly guile and care,
Praise my innocent delight,
And all my business prayer.
A sacrifice to Thee,
By the ancient model live,
The true simplicity;
Walk as in my Maker's sight,
Free from worldly guile and care,
Praise my innocent delight,
And all my business prayer.
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Whom to me Thy goodness lends
Till life's last gasp is o'er,
Servants, relatives, and friends,
I promise to restore;
All shall on Thy side appear,
All shall in Thy service join,
Principled with godly fear,
And worshippers Divine.
Till life's last gasp is o'er,
Servants, relatives, and friends,
I promise to restore;
All shall on Thy side appear,
All shall in Thy service join,
Principled with godly fear,
And worshippers Divine.
Them, as much as lies in me,
I will through grace persuade,
Seize, and turn their souls to Thee
For whom their souls were made;
Bring them to the' atoning blood,
(Blood that speaks a world forgiven,)
Make them serious, wise, and good,
And train them up for heaven.
I will through grace persuade,
Seize, and turn their souls to Thee
For whom their souls were made;
Bring them to the' atoning blood,
(Blood that speaks a world forgiven,)
Make them serious, wise, and good,
And train them up for heaven.
WRITTEN ON A JOURNEY IN PERIL OF ROBBERS.
Saviour, Thy promised aid I claim
In danger's threatening hour;
I run for shelter to Thy name,
My adamantine tower:
While underneath Thy wings I rest,
My sure defence I have;
For who or what can e'er molest
Whom God resolves to save?
In danger's threatening hour;
I run for shelter to Thy name,
My adamantine tower:
While underneath Thy wings I rest,
My sure defence I have;
For who or what can e'er molest
Whom God resolves to save?
The man who truly fears his God
Hath nothing else to fear:
Thy providence marks out my road,
Thy glory guards my rear;
I journey on, with flaming bands
Begirt on every side;
The angels bear me in their hands,
And Jesus is my guide.
Hath nothing else to fear:
Thy providence marks out my road,
Thy glory guards my rear;
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Begirt on every side;
The angels bear me in their hands,
And Jesus is my guide.
The sons of violence surround
My sacred paths in vain;
By my unseen Protector bound,
They cannot break their chain:
Legions of fiends before Him fly,
Nor dare His charge assail;
He scatters evil with His eye,
He frowns them back to hell.
My sacred paths in vain;
By my unseen Protector bound,
They cannot break their chain:
Legions of fiends before Him fly,
Nor dare His charge assail;
He scatters evil with His eye,
He frowns them back to hell.
Lord, I with thankfulness adore
Thy providential care,
And still Thy promised help implore
In never-ceasing prayer:
Before me still, my Saviour, go,
And lead me by Thy grace;
But turn on Sion's top, and show
Me all Thy glorious face.
Thy providential care,
And still Thy promised help implore
In never-ceasing prayer:
Before me still, my Saviour, go,
And lead me by Thy grace;
But turn on Sion's top, and show
Me all Thy glorious face.
ON HIS WIFE'S SICKNESS. [1751.]
See, gracious Lord, with pitying eyes,
Low at Thy feet a sufferer lies,
Thy fatherly chastisement proves,
And sick she is whom Jesus loves.
Low at Thy feet a sufferer lies,
Thy fatherly chastisement proves,
And sick she is whom Jesus loves.
Thy angels plant around her bed,
And let Thy hand support her head;
Thy power her pain to joy convert,
Thy love revive her drooping heart.
And let Thy hand support her head;
Thy power her pain to joy convert,
Thy love revive her drooping heart.
404
Thy love her soul and body heal,
And let her every moment feel
The' atoning blood by faith applied,
The balm that drops from Jesu's side.
And let her every moment feel
The' atoning blood by faith applied,
The balm that drops from Jesu's side.
HYMN SUNG AT A CONFERENCE HELD IN LEEDS, SEPTEMBER 11TH, 1751.
Arise, Thou jealous God, arise,
Thy sifting power exert,
Look through us with Thy flaming eyes,
And search out every heart.
Thy sifting power exert,
Look through us with Thy flaming eyes,
And search out every heart.
Our inmost souls Thy Spirit knows,
And let Him now display
Whom Thou hast for Thy glory chose,
And purge the rest away.
And let Him now display
Whom Thou hast for Thy glory chose,
And purge the rest away.
The' apostles false far off remove,
The faithful labourers own,
And give us each himself to prove,
And know as he is known.
The faithful labourers own,
And give us each himself to prove,
And know as he is known.
Do I presume to preach Thy word,
By Thee uncall'd, unsent?
Am I the servant of the Lord,
Or Satan's instrument?
By Thee uncall'd, unsent?
Am I the servant of the Lord,
Or Satan's instrument?
Is this, great God, my single aim,
Thine, wholly Thine to be;
To serve Thy will, declare Thy name,
And gather souls for Thee?
Thine, wholly Thine to be;
To serve Thy will, declare Thy name,
And gather souls for Thee?
To labour in my Master's cause,
Thy grace to testify?
And spread the victory of Thy cross,
And on Thy cross to die?
Thy grace to testify?
And spread the victory of Thy cross,
And on Thy cross to die?
405
I once unfeignedly believed
Myself sent forth by Thee;
But have I kept the grace received
In simple poverty?
Myself sent forth by Thee;
But have I kept the grace received
In simple poverty?
Still do I for the kingdom pant,
Till all its coming prove,
And nothing seek, and nothing want,
But more of Jesu's love?
Till all its coming prove,
And nothing seek, and nothing want,
But more of Jesu's love?
If still I in Thy grace abide,
My call confirm and clear,
And into Thy whole counsel guide
Thy poorest messenger.
My call confirm and clear,
And into Thy whole counsel guide
Thy poorest messenger.
Unite my heart to all that bear
The burden of the Lord,
And let our spotless lives declare
The virtue of Thy word.
The burden of the Lord,
And let our spotless lives declare
The virtue of Thy word.
One soul into us all inspire,
And let it strongly move,
In fervent flames of calm desire
To glorify Thy love.
And let it strongly move,
In fervent flames of calm desire
To glorify Thy love.
O may we in Thy love agree,
To make its sweetness known,
Thy love the bond of union be,
And perfect us in one.
To make its sweetness known,
Thy love the bond of union be,
And perfect us in one.
WRITTEN (IN SHORT HAND) DURING A JOURNEY FROM LONDON TO NORWICH, JULY 1754.
In the name of the Lord,
And the strength of His word,
A-fishing we go:
This our only delight and employment below.
As fishing for men
Our labour again
With joy we repeat,
And again, till we catch the whole race in our net.
And the strength of His word,
406
This our only delight and employment below.
As fishing for men
Our labour again
With joy we repeat,
And again, till we catch the whole race in our net.
With the blessing Divine
On our net and our line,
We labour for souls;
And at Jesu's command we shall take them in shoals.
On the right we shall cast,
And catch them at last,
If our toil He approve,
With the hook of His power, and the bait of His love.
On our net and our line,
We labour for souls;
And at Jesu's command we shall take them in shoals.
On the right we shall cast,
And catch them at last,
If our toil He approve,
With the hook of His power, and the bait of His love.
O Saviour, be nigh
Thy word to apply,
Thy gospel to bless,
And crown our attempts with abundant success!
The profligate poor
With a pardon allure
Their Lord to embrace,
And captivate all with the offers of grace.
Thy word to apply,
Thy gospel to bless,
And crown our attempts with abundant success!
The profligate poor
With a pardon allure
Their Lord to embrace,
And captivate all with the offers of grace.
With favour look on,
While we let the net down,
Down into the deep,
And enclose such a number as sinks the old ship.
Nor shall our hearts shrink
Though the vessel should sink;
Nor will we repine,
To be lost in an ocean of mercy Divine.
While we let the net down,
Down into the deep,
And enclose such a number as sinks the old ship.
Nor shall our hearts shrink
Though the vessel should sink;
Nor will we repine,
To be lost in an ocean of mercy Divine.
407
PRAYER FOR THE REV. MR. STONEHOUSE. [1755.]
O Thou whose pitying love relieves
The traveller fallen among thieves,
Stripp'd, wounded, and half dead;
To all the life of faith restore
My friend, who needs Thy aid the more,
The less he asks Thy aid.
The traveller fallen among thieves,
Stripp'd, wounded, and half dead;
To all the life of faith restore
My friend, who needs Thy aid the more,
The less he asks Thy aid.
Caught by the men who steal for God,
The fiends in hunting souls employ'd,
Too long he slumbering lay:
But Thou hast more than shared the spoils,
Dissolved the charms, and burst the toils,
And claim'd the lawful prey.
The fiends in hunting souls employ'd,
Too long he slumbering lay:
But Thou hast more than shared the spoils,
Dissolved the charms, and burst the toils,
And claim'd the lawful prey.
Yet still, unconscious of its wound,
His spirit is not quite unbound,
From all delusion free:
The thieves have left their prey behind,
Naked, insensible, and blind,
And destitute of Thee.
His spirit is not quite unbound,
From all delusion free:
The thieves have left their prey behind,
Naked, insensible, and blind,
And destitute of Thee.
Robb'd in that dark, Satanic hour,
Of all his ministerial power,
The man who ran so well:
His work, alas! hath suffer'd loss;
He is not, Lord, what once he was,
A flame of heavenly zeal.
Of all his ministerial power,
The man who ran so well:
His work, alas! hath suffer'd loss;
He is not, Lord, what once he was,
A flame of heavenly zeal.
A watchman in our Church he was,
Exceeding jealous for Thy cause,
And for Thy glorious name,
A chosen instrument of heaven
To pluck poor souls, by grace forgiven,
From the eternal flame.
Exceeding jealous for Thy cause,
And for Thy glorious name,
A chosen instrument of heaven
To pluck poor souls, by grace forgiven,
From the eternal flame.
408
Raised up by Thee he seem'd to stand
Protector of a guilty land:
Our hopes were built on him,
As equal to the righteous ten,
As planted in the gap, between,
Our Sodom to redeem.
Protector of a guilty land:
Our hopes were built on him,
As equal to the righteous ten,
As planted in the gap, between,
Our Sodom to redeem.
How is the fervent zeal grown cold,
The wine with water mix'd, the gold
With nature's base alloy!
How hath Thy messenger denied
His heavenly call, and turn'd aside,
And cast his sword away.
The wine with water mix'd, the gold
With nature's base alloy!
How hath Thy messenger denied
His heavenly call, and turn'd aside,
And cast his sword away.
But Thou canst yet his zeal revive,
Canst stir him up to fight and strive,
As in those happy days,
To prove Thy good and perfect will,
To own, and zealously fulfil
The counsels of Thy grace.
Canst stir him up to fight and strive,
As in those happy days,
To prove Thy good and perfect will,
To own, and zealously fulfil
The counsels of Thy grace.
O wouldst Thou in this gracious hour
Renew, and give him back his power,
His wisdom from above:
His simple faith, and tender fear,
His filial piety for Her
Whom more than life I love.
Renew, and give him back his power,
His wisdom from above:
His simple faith, and tender fear,
His filial piety for Her
Whom more than life I love.
O might my dearest charge be his!
My ceaseless prayer for Sion's peace,
Now let it answer'd be!
Shepherd Divine, (I ask no more,)
This pastor to our Church restore,
And take my soul to Thee.
My ceaseless prayer for Sion's peace,
Now let it answer'd be!
Shepherd Divine, (I ask no more,)
This pastor to our Church restore,
And take my soul to Thee.
409
A HYMN FOR MY DEAREST FRIENDS. [1760.]
God, be mercifully near,
Object of my father's fear;
Me into Thy favour take,
Me preserve for Jesu's sake.
Object of my father's fear;
Me into Thy favour take,
Me preserve for Jesu's sake.
With Thy kind protection bless'd,
Calm I lay me down to rest;
All I have to Thee resign,
Lodge them in the arms Divine:
Calm I lay me down to rest;
All I have to Thee resign,
Lodge them in the arms Divine:
Her, my dearest earthly friend,
To Thy guardian love commend;
Day and night her Keeper be,
Knit her simple heart to Thee.
To Thy guardian love commend;
Day and night her Keeper be,
Knit her simple heart to Thee.
Make the little ones Thy care;
Bear them, in Thy bosom bear;
Mark'd with the Good Shepherd's sign,
Keep my lambs for ever Thine.
Bear them, in Thy bosom bear;
Mark'd with the Good Shepherd's sign,
Keep my lambs for ever Thine.
WRITTEN JANUARY 7TH, 1768.
Solemn, memorable day
That snatch'd my darling son away!
Calm I welcome thy return,
Which summons me again to mourn,
After a sad length of years
To pour again my selfish tears,
To bleed with undiminish'd smart,
And feel the recent wound of heart.
That snatch'd my darling son away!
Calm I welcome thy return,
Which summons me again to mourn,
After a sad length of years
To pour again my selfish tears,
To bleed with undiminish'd smart,
And feel the recent wound of heart.
410
Time may gently bring relief,
Assuage or cure a common grief:
I no end of sorrow see,
Till harbour'd in eternity:
Then, my God, and not before,
My penal woes shall all be o'er,
And gloomy sorrow flee away
At the first dawn of endless day.
Assuage or cure a common grief:
I no end of sorrow see,
Till harbour'd in eternity:
Then, my God, and not before,
My penal woes shall all be o'er,
And gloomy sorrow flee away
At the first dawn of endless day.
Now, accepting my distress,
I suffer out my evil days;
Softly toward the tomb I tread,
Myself lamenting, not the dead,
Till my Life in death appears,
And Jesus, banishing my fears,
Cheers by the beauties of His face,
O'erwhelms me with the glorious blaze.
I suffer out my evil days;
Softly toward the tomb I tread,
Myself lamenting, not the dead,
Till my Life in death appears,
And Jesus, banishing my fears,
Cheers by the beauties of His face,
O'erwhelms me with the glorious blaze.
A PRAYER FOR MRS. VIGOR, WHEN HER SON WAS IN THE SMALL-POX.
Jesus, regard a mother's sighs!
Her Isaac on the altar lies,
Her loved and only son;
As struggling in the toils of death
He lies,—as gasping out his breath,
His last expiring groan!
Her Isaac on the altar lies,
Her loved and only son;
As struggling in the toils of death
He lies,—as gasping out his breath,
His last expiring groan!
With pity mark her silent tears,
Her pious prayers, and tender fears
To' oppose Thy sovereign will;
Her wish with meekness to submit,
And weep, afflicted, at Thy feet,
Till Thou Thy mind reveal.
Her pious prayers, and tender fears
To' oppose Thy sovereign will;
Her wish with meekness to submit,
And weep, afflicted, at Thy feet,
Till Thou Thy mind reveal.
411
Obedient to the word Divine,
She would her more than life resign;
If Thou her son demand,
Forbid on earth his longer stay,
And take him from the evil day
To that celestial land.
She would her more than life resign;
If Thou her son demand,
Forbid on earth his longer stay,
And take him from the evil day
To that celestial land.
If Thou hast work prepared for him,
Thou canst, almighty to redeem,
Both soul and body save;
Canst stop the spirit in its flight,
Arrest him at the gates of light,
And snatch him from the grave.
Thou canst, almighty to redeem,
Both soul and body save;
Canst stop the spirit in its flight,
Arrest him at the gates of light,
And snatch him from the grave.
Now, Lord, a gracious token give,
And let us with the parent grieve,
Resign'd to Thy decree,
Calmly, like her, expect to prove
The appointments of almighty Love,
And leave our all to Thee.
And let us with the parent grieve,
Resign'd to Thy decree,
Calmly, like her, expect to prove
The appointments of almighty Love,
And leave our all to Thee.
Thy love must send whate'er is best;
Grant or deny her fond request;
O give her back her son,
Or to Thy mercy's arms receive,
And bid him in Thy glory live
Partaker of Thy throne.
Grant or deny her fond request;
O give her back her son,
Or to Thy mercy's arms receive,
And bid him in Thy glory live
Partaker of Thy throne.
FOR A DYING FRIEND, MR. ABRAHAM BROWN.
Stricken with the stroke of death,
Jesus, save my gasping friend;
Kindly catch his parting breath,
Bless him with a peaceful end;
Death be endless life begun,
Bliss obtain'd and glory won.
Jesus, save my gasping friend;
Kindly catch his parting breath,
Bless him with a peaceful end;
412
Bliss obtain'd and glory won.
One is as a thousand days,
As a thousand years to Thee:
O cut short Thy work of grace;
Ripe for full felicity,
Ready with Thyself to live,
Now his spotless soul receive.
As a thousand years to Thee:
O cut short Thy work of grace;
Ripe for full felicity,
Ready with Thyself to live,
Now his spotless soul receive.
O cut short Thy work in mine;
Mine, most gracious Lord, prepare,
Purchase dear of blood Divine,
Let me all Thine impress bear,
All Thy great salvation see:
Send the chariot now for me.
Mine, most gracious Lord, prepare,
Purchase dear of blood Divine,
Let me all Thine impress bear,
All Thy great salvation see:
Send the chariot now for me.
Dying once to die no more,
Might I, like my friend, aspire,
On the wings of angels soar,
Added to the tuneful choir,
Mingled with the saints above,
Lost in harmony and love!
Might I, like my friend, aspire,
On the wings of angels soar,
Added to the tuneful choir,
Mingled with the saints above,
Lost in harmony and love!
PRAYER FOR THE REV. MR. JOHN FLETCHER, JUNE 30TH, 1776.
Jesus, Thy feeble servant see,
Sick is the man beloved by Thee:
Thy name to magnify,
To spread Thy gospel truths again,
His precious soul in life detain,
Nor suffer him to die.
Sick is the man beloved by Thee:
Thy name to magnify,
To spread Thy gospel truths again,
His precious soul in life detain,
Nor suffer him to die.
413
The fervent prayer Thou oft hast heard,
Thy mighty arm in mercy bared;
Thy wonder-working power
Appear'd in all Thy people's sight,
And stopp'd the spirit in its flight,
Or bade the grave restore.
Thy mighty arm in mercy bared;
Thy wonder-working power
Appear'd in all Thy people's sight,
And stopp'd the spirit in its flight,
Or bade the grave restore.
In faith we ask a fresh reprieve;
Frequent in deaths he yet shall live,
If Thou pronounce the word
Shall spend for Thee his strength renew'd,
Witness of the all-cleansing blood,
Forerunner of his Lord.
Frequent in deaths he yet shall live,
If Thou pronounce the word
Shall spend for Thee his strength renew'd,
Witness of the all-cleansing blood,
Forerunner of his Lord.
The Spirit which raised Thee from the dead
Be in its quickening virtue shed,
His mortal flesh to raise,
To consecrate Thy human shrine,
And fill with energy Divine
The minister of grace.
Be in its quickening virtue shed,
His mortal flesh to raise,
To consecrate Thy human shrine,
And fill with energy Divine
The minister of grace.
Body and soul at once revive,
The prayer of faith in which we strive,
So shall we all proclaim,
According to Thy gracious will,
Omnipotent the sick to heal,
In every age the same.
The prayer of faith in which we strive,
So shall we all proclaim,
According to Thy gracious will,
Omnipotent the sick to heal,
In every age the same.
FOR THE FAST DAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, 1779.
Tremendous God, Thy work we see,
Thy strange destruction work below,
Chastised for our iniquity,
Compell'd the fatal cause to know:
We tremble as the storm comes on,
And turns the kingdoms upside down.
Thy strange destruction work below,
Chastised for our iniquity,
Compell'd the fatal cause to know:
We tremble as the storm comes on,
And turns the kingdoms upside down.
414
Abroad the sword our kin devours,
And thousands and ten thousands fall;
(Their doom, alas! involving ours;)
Yet still for sorer plagues they call;
And by the tyrant's heaviest chain,
With wasted realm, and heaps of slain,
And thousands and ten thousands fall;
(Their doom, alas! involving ours;)
Yet still for sorer plagues they call;
And by the tyrant's heaviest chain,
With wasted realm, and heaps of slain,
By famine, pestilence, and sword,
Thou hast our guilty brethren tried;
Yet, oh! Thou dread, avenging Lord,
Thy justice is not satisfied;
Thine anger is not turn'd away,
Thine arm is still stretch'd out to slay.
Thou hast our guilty brethren tried;
Yet, oh! Thou dread, avenging Lord,
Thy justice is not satisfied;
Thine anger is not turn'd away,
Thine arm is still stretch'd out to slay.
Britons at home with Britons fight,
And furious partisans engage;
With cruel hate, and full despite,
Intestine war they madly wage:
By discord dire the land o'erturn,
And Thee and Thy vicegerent scorn.
And furious partisans engage;
With cruel hate, and full despite,
Intestine war they madly wage:
By discord dire the land o'erturn,
And Thee and Thy vicegerent scorn.
Thy speaking rod they will not hear,
Thy lifted hand they will not see;
But cast off all religious fear,
And only by their crimes agree
Their sinful measure to fulfil,
Their own extreme perdition seal.
Thy lifted hand they will not see;
But cast off all religious fear,
And only by their crimes agree
Their sinful measure to fulfil,
Their own extreme perdition seal.
Yet oh! Thou gracious God and true,
Our death-devoted nation spare,
Attentive to the pious few,
Who wrestle on in ceaseless prayer,
Who will not let Thy wrath alone,
But cry for mercy—in Thy Son.
Our death-devoted nation spare,
Attentive to the pious few,
Who wrestle on in ceaseless prayer,
Who will not let Thy wrath alone,
But cry for mercy—in Thy Son.
415
Thy children, faithful in the fire,
Regard, and timely rescue send:
Mercy our hearts, with theirs, require,
Mercy our miseries to end;
For Jesu's sake our sins remove,
And save us through Thy pardoning love.
Regard, and timely rescue send:
Mercy our hearts, with theirs, require,
Mercy our miseries to end;
For Jesu's sake our sins remove,
And save us through Thy pardoning love.
All things are possible to God,
To them that on Thy Son believe;
In answer to His speaking blood,
Father, the murderers forgive,
And pristine piety restore,
And peace, till time shall be no more.
To them that on Thy Son believe;
In answer to His speaking blood,
Father, the murderers forgive,
And pristine piety restore,
And peace, till time shall be no more.
PRAYER FOR THE LIFE OF MR. JOHN WESLEY. [1779.]
Jesus, Thy hated servant own,
And send Thy glorious Spirit down,
In answer to our prayers:
While others curse and wish him dead,
Do Thou Thy choicest blessings shed,
And crown his hoary hairs.
And send Thy glorious Spirit down,
In answer to our prayers:
While others curse and wish him dead,
Do Thou Thy choicest blessings shed,
And crown his hoary hairs.
Not for his death, but life, we pray,
In mercy lengthen out his day,
Our venerable guide;
Long may he live Thy flock to keep,
Protect from wolves Thy lambs and sheep,
And in his bosom hide.
In mercy lengthen out his day,
Our venerable guide;
Long may he live Thy flock to keep,
Protect from wolves Thy lambs and sheep,
And in his bosom hide.
Long may he live to serve Thy cause,
To spread the victory of Thy cross,
To minister Thy grace;
And late, to' increase Thy church in heaven,
With all the children Thou hast given,
Appear before Thy face.
To spread the victory of Thy cross,
To minister Thy grace;
416
With all the children Thou hast given,
Appear before Thy face.
Thou God that answerest by fire,
With fervent faith and strong desire,
Whom we present to Thee,
Fill with pure love his ravish'd breast,
And let the Spirit of glory rest
On all Thy church—and me!
With fervent faith and strong desire,
Whom we present to Thee,
Fill with pure love his ravish'd breast,
And let the Spirit of glory rest
On all Thy church—and me!
Me, me, Thy meanest messenger,
Admit his happiness to share;
And intimately one,
Through life, through death, together guide,
To sing with all the sanctified,
Around Thy azure throne.
Admit his happiness to share;
And intimately one,
Through life, through death, together guide,
To sing with all the sanctified,
Around Thy azure throne.
WRITTEN AFTER THE CONFERENCE OF 1780, THE LAST AT WHICH THE WRITER WAS PRESENT.
Why should I longer, Lord, contend,
My last important moments spend
In buffeting the air?
In warning those who will not see,
But rest in blind security,
And rush into the snare?
My last important moments spend
In buffeting the air?
In warning those who will not see,
But rest in blind security,
And rush into the snare?
Prophet of ills why should I live,
Or by my sad forebodings grieve
Whom I can serve no more?
I only can their loss bewail
Till life's exhausted sorrows fail,
And the last pang is o'er.
Or by my sad forebodings grieve
Whom I can serve no more?
I only can their loss bewail
Till life's exhausted sorrows fail,
And the last pang is o'er.
417
Here then I quietly resign
Into those gracious hands Divine,
Whom I received from Thee,
My brethren and companions dear,
And finish with a parting tear
My useless ministry.
Into those gracious hands Divine,
Whom I received from Thee,
My brethren and companions dear,
And finish with a parting tear
My useless ministry.
Detach'd from every creature now,
I humbly at Thy footstool bow,
Accepting my release;
If Thou the promised grace bestow,
Salvation to Thy servant show
And bid me die in peace.
I humbly at Thy footstool bow,
Accepting my release;
If Thou the promised grace bestow,
Salvation to Thy servant show
And bid me die in peace.
A PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
Head of Thy church, attend
Our long-continued prayer,
And our Jerusalem defend,
And in Thy bosom bear
The sheep of England's fold,
Mark'd with their Shepherd's sign,
Bought with a price, redeem'd of old,
And wash'd in blood Divine.
Our long-continued prayer,
And our Jerusalem defend,
And in Thy bosom bear
The sheep of England's fold,
Mark'd with their Shepherd's sign,
Bought with a price, redeem'd of old,
And wash'd in blood Divine.
Call'd out of Babylon
At Thy command they came;
Our ancestors their lives laid down,
And triumph'd in the flame:
The Church's seed arose
Out of the martyrs' blood,
And saw their anti-Christian foes
Before Thy cross subdued.
At Thy command they came;
Our ancestors their lives laid down,
And triumph'd in the flame:
The Church's seed arose
Out of the martyrs' blood,
And saw their anti-Christian foes
Before Thy cross subdued.
418
Again Thy Spirit of grace
Doth with our Israel strive,
And even in our degenerate days
His ancient work revive.
Ten thousand witnesses
Stand forth on every side,
And, bold in life and death, confess
Jehovah crucified.
Doth with our Israel strive,
And even in our degenerate days
His ancient work revive.
Ten thousand witnesses
Stand forth on every side,
And, bold in life and death, confess
Jehovah crucified.
O that the faithful seed
May never, never fail,
Victorious through their conquering Head
O'er all the powers of hell!
Still with Thy people stay,
By England's Church adored,
Till every island flee away
Before our glorious Lord.
May never, never fail,
Victorious through their conquering Head
O'er all the powers of hell!
Still with Thy people stay,
By England's Church adored,
Till every island flee away
Before our glorious Lord.
ANOTHER.
[Jesus, our true and faithful Lord]
Jesus, our true and faithful Lord,
May we not on Thy word depend?
Thy sure irrevocable word,
“Lo, I am with you to the end!”
May we not on Thy word depend?
Thy sure irrevocable word,
“Lo, I am with you to the end!”
Thy promise with the church to' abide,
For ours may we not justly claim;
For ours, who in Thy blood confide,
And truly bear Thy hallow'd name?
For ours may we not justly claim;
For ours, who in Thy blood confide,
And truly bear Thy hallow'd name?
The gates of hell can ne'er o'erthrow
Thy church immovably secure:
Built on the Rock we surely know
It must from age to age endure.
Thy church immovably secure:
Built on the Rock we surely know
It must from age to age endure.
419
Yet Satan hath too oft prevail'd,
And anti-Christ victorious proved,
Churches particular have fail'd,
Have seen their candlestick removed.
And anti-Christ victorious proved,
Churches particular have fail'd,
Have seen their candlestick removed.
Nations that walk'd in gospel light
Thy presence doth no longer cheer,
Afric again is wrapp'd in night,
And Asia's ruins scarce appear.
Thy presence doth no longer cheer,
Afric again is wrapp'd in night,
And Asia's ruins scarce appear.
The man of sin who reigns at Rome
Compels adoring crowds to' obey,
Honours Divine he dares assume,
And poisons all that own his sway.
Compels adoring crowds to' obey,
Honours Divine he dares assume,
And poisons all that own his sway.
And may not we to Satan yield,
And sink beneath the' infernal host,
The measure of our sin fulfill'd,
Our lamp extinct, our gospel lost?
And sink beneath the' infernal host,
The measure of our sin fulfill'd,
Our lamp extinct, our gospel lost?
Humbly we hope for better things,
Since Thou our offering dost receive,
And grace to us salvation brings,
And, unconsumed, by faith we live.
Since Thou our offering dost receive,
And grace to us salvation brings,
And, unconsumed, by faith we live.
Thy blessing with the remnant stays,
The faithful seed is multiplied,
Thousands their bleeding Lord confess,
And follow close their heavenly Guide.
The faithful seed is multiplied,
Thousands their bleeding Lord confess,
And follow close their heavenly Guide.
O may they more and more increase,
Protectors of a guilty land,
And spread the kingdom of Thy peace,
Till all submit to Thy command.
Protectors of a guilty land,
And spread the kingdom of Thy peace,
Till all submit to Thy command.
O may they never turn aside,
In separate sects and parties stray,
Lost from the fold, and scatter'd wide,
But still their Shepherd's voice obey.
In separate sects and parties stray,
Lost from the fold, and scatter'd wide,
But still their Shepherd's voice obey.
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To Thee, and to each other cleave,
Thy mercy, power, and truth make known,
A pattern to believers live,
Till all are perfected in one!
Thy mercy, power, and truth make known,
A pattern to believers live,
Till all are perfected in one!
Thou God who hear'st the faithful prayer
Utter'd according to Thy will,
Assure us of Thy constant care,
And on our hearts the answer seal.
Utter'd according to Thy will,
Assure us of Thy constant care,
And on our hearts the answer seal.
The Spirit pleading in the bride,
With gracious smiles of love attend,
And with our favourite Church abide,
And bless, and keep till time shall end!
With gracious smiles of love attend,
And with our favourite Church abide,
And bless, and keep till time shall end!
THANKSGIVING FOR AN ESCAPE FROM BEING CRUSHED TO DEATH. NOVEMBER 8TH, 1782.
Thee, Father, I praise,
Almighty in grace,
Through Jesus my Lord
Thy power be acknowledged, Thy mercy adored!
In dangers and snares
Thou number'st my hairs,
Thy wings are outspread,
My soul to defend, and to cover my head.
Almighty in grace,
Through Jesus my Lord
Thy power be acknowledged, Thy mercy adored!
In dangers and snares
Thou number'st my hairs,
Thy wings are outspread,
My soul to defend, and to cover my head.
When destruction was nigh,
I was under Thine eye;
When the ruin came down,
Unconscious of harm, and unhurt, I went on:
Without Thy decree
No evil could be,
And, restrain'd by Thy will,
Death himself had no power, or commission, to kill.
I was under Thine eye;
When the ruin came down,
Unconscious of harm, and unhurt, I went on:
Without Thy decree
No evil could be,
And, restrain'd by Thy will,
Death himself had no power, or commission, to kill.
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Reserved by the love
Of my Saviour above,
Thy servant I am,
Thy kingdom to spread, and to hallow Thy name:
Thee in Jesus to know,
And publish below
Thy unspeakable grace,
Which abolishes death, and redeems our whole race.
Of my Saviour above,
Thy servant I am,
Thy kingdom to spread, and to hallow Thy name:
Thee in Jesus to know,
And publish below
Thy unspeakable grace,
Which abolishes death, and redeems our whole race.
For this at Thy feet
Expecting I sit,
Till Thy counsel Thou show,
And discover the work Thou wouldst have me to do:
Whatsoever it be,
Let me do it to Thee,
And Thy blessing receive,
And an heir of Thy kingdom eternally live.
Expecting I sit,
Till Thy counsel Thou show,
And discover the work Thou wouldst have me to do:
Whatsoever it be,
Let me do it to Thee,
And Thy blessing receive,
And an heir of Thy kingdom eternally live.
FOR MISS A. D. [SEPTEMBER 1784.]
Jesus, The promise made by Thee
We plead, and touching this agree
To ask it for our friend,
The help Thou only canst bestow,
Deliverance from her hellish foe,
A swift deliverance, send.
We plead, and touching this agree
To ask it for our friend,
The help Thou only canst bestow,
Deliverance from her hellish foe,
A swift deliverance, send.
The virtues of Thy balmy name
To-day as yesterday the same,
In her relief exert;
The fiend who dares Thy temple seize,
No longer suffer him to' oppress,
But bid him now depart.
To-day as yesterday the same,
In her relief exert;
The fiend who dares Thy temple seize,
No longer suffer him to' oppress,
But bid him now depart.
422
Thou canst with equal ease make whole
The body, and the sinsick soul,
Physician of mankind;
Thy patient, Lord, at once restore,
Fill'd with the spirit of love and power,
And of a healthful mind.
The body, and the sinsick soul,
Physician of mankind;
Thy patient, Lord, at once restore,
Fill'd with the spirit of love and power,
And of a healthful mind.
Clothed with humility and grace,
Thy ransom'd, happy handmaid place
Attentive at Thy feet;
And never may she thence remove,
Till spotless in Thy sight above
She finds her joy complete.
Thy ransom'd, happy handmaid place
Attentive at Thy feet;
And never may she thence remove,
Till spotless in Thy sight above
She finds her joy complete.
ON HIS SON SAMUEL'S PERVERSION TO POPERY. [1784.]
Farewell, my all of earthly hope,
My nature's stay, my age's prop,
Irrevocably gone!
Submissive to the will Divine,
I acquiesce, and make it mine;
I offer up my son!
My nature's stay, my age's prop,
Irrevocably gone!
Submissive to the will Divine,
I acquiesce, and make it mine;
I offer up my son!
But give I God a sacrifice
That costs me nought? my gushing eyes
The answer sad express,—
My gushing eyes, and troubled heart,
Which bleeds with its beloved to part,
Which breaks through fond excess!
That costs me nought? my gushing eyes
The answer sad express,—
My gushing eyes, and troubled heart,
Which bleeds with its beloved to part,
Which breaks through fond excess!
Yet since he from my heart is torn,
Patient, resign'd, I calmly mourn
The darling snatch'd away:
Father, with Thee Thy own I leave;
Into Thy mercy's arms receive,
And keep him to that day.
Patient, resign'd, I calmly mourn
The darling snatch'd away:
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Into Thy mercy's arms receive,
And keep him to that day.
Keep (for I nothing else desire)
The bush unburn'd amidst the fire;
And freely I resign
My child, for a few moments lent,
(My child no longer!) I consent
To see his face no more!
The bush unburn'd amidst the fire;
And freely I resign
My child, for a few moments lent,
(My child no longer!) I consent
To see his face no more!
But hear my agonizing prayer,
And O preserve him, and prepare
To meet me in the skies,
When throned in bliss the Lamb appears,
Repairs my loss, and wipes the tears
For ever from my eyes!
And O preserve him, and prepare
To meet me in the skies,
When throned in bliss the Lamb appears,
Repairs my loss, and wipes the tears
For ever from my eyes!
Bereaved by His revoking word,
I will not sin against the Lord,
To pray I will not cease
For the dear author of my woes,
Till death these weary eyelids close,
And I depart in peace.
I will not sin against the Lord,
To pray I will not cease
For the dear author of my woes,
Till death these weary eyelids close,
And I depart in peace.
But while an exile here I live,
I live for a lost son to grieve,
And in Thy Spirit to groan,
Thy blessings on his soul to claim,
Through Jesu's all-prevailing name,
Presented at Thy throne.
I live for a lost son to grieve,
And in Thy Spirit to groan,
Thy blessings on his soul to claim,
Through Jesu's all-prevailing name,
Presented at Thy throne.
Still let Thine eye his steps pursue,
And keep the fugitive in view,
Where'er he rashly strays;
Control his violence of will,
Withhold him, Lord, from pleasing ill,
And the destroyer's ways.
And keep the fugitive in view,
Where'er he rashly strays;
424
Withhold him, Lord, from pleasing ill,
And the destroyer's ways.
That poison of the Romish sect,
O let it not his soul infect,
With close serpentine art,
With bitter, persecuting zeal;
But from those mysteries of hell
Preserve his simple heart.
O let it not his soul infect,
With close serpentine art,
With bitter, persecuting zeal;
But from those mysteries of hell
Preserve his simple heart.
Surround him with Thy guardian power
When ended the Satanic hour,
And darkness flees away,
When infidels without disguise
Tear open his unwilling eyes,
And drag him into day.
When ended the Satanic hour,
And darkness flees away,
When infidels without disguise
Tear open his unwilling eyes,
And drag him into day.
See the true ancient Church appears,
Peter's unerring successors,
Who Christ and God disown!
Adulterers and murderers rise,
And monsters of unnatural vice
Adorn the Papal throne.
Peter's unerring successors,
Who Christ and God disown!
Adulterers and murderers rise,
And monsters of unnatural vice
Adorn the Papal throne.
Shock'd at the hypocrites profane,
My son, when undeceived, restrain
From worse, if worse can be;
Nor let him all religion cast
Behind, and shelter take at last
In infidelity.
My son, when undeceived, restrain
From worse, if worse can be;
Nor let him all religion cast
Behind, and shelter take at last
In infidelity.
Father, for Thy own mercy's sake,
Let all my mournful prayers come back
In that tremendous day,
While ready and resolved he is
To plunge into the dark abyss,
And cast his soul away!
Let all my mournful prayers come back
In that tremendous day,
425
To plunge into the dark abyss,
And cast his soul away!
Then in his soul the secret tell,
And answering for Thyself, reveal
The Truth so long unknown,
The Way, which Thou in Jesus art,
And Life, eternal life, impart
By giving him Thy Son.
And answering for Thyself, reveal
The Truth so long unknown,
The Way, which Thou in Jesus art,
And Life, eternal life, impart
By giving him Thy Son.
The blessed day of my release
(Should sorrow's pangs no sooner cease)
Will swallow up my woe,
Make darkness light, and crooked straight,
Unwind the labyrinths of fate,
And all the secret show.
(Should sorrow's pangs no sooner cease)
Will swallow up my woe,
Make darkness light, and crooked straight,
Unwind the labyrinths of fate,
And all the secret show.
But while Thy way is in the deep,
Thou dost not chide, if still I weep,
If still mine eyes run o'er;
The bitterness of the death is pass'd;
The bitterness of life may last
A few sad moments more.
Thou dost not chide, if still I weep,
If still mine eyes run o'er;
The bitterness of the death is pass'd;
The bitterness of life may last
A few sad moments more.
Patient till death I feel my pain,
But neither murmur nor complain,
While humbled in the dust;
My sins the cause of my distress
I feel, and mournfully confess
The punishment is just.
But neither murmur nor complain,
While humbled in the dust;
My sins the cause of my distress
I feel, and mournfully confess
The punishment is just.
Wherefore with soft and silent pace
I measure out my suffering days
In view of joys to come,
In hope His plan to comprehend,
When Jesus shall with clouds descend,
And call me from the tomb.
I measure out my suffering days
In view of joys to come,
426
When Jesus shall with clouds descend,
And call me from the tomb.
My God alone I fain would love,
And patient Thy return attend,
These clouds and mountains to remove,
And give me an expected end,
Explain my life of misery,
With all Thy love's designs on me.
And patient Thy return attend,
These clouds and mountains to remove,
And give me an expected end,
Explain my life of misery,
With all Thy love's designs on me.
A child of sorrow from the womb,
By sad variety of pain
Weigh'd down, I sink into the tomb,
Yet only of myself complain;
My sins the root of bitterness
I must in life and death confess.
By sad variety of pain
Weigh'd down, I sink into the tomb,
Yet only of myself complain;
My sins the root of bitterness
I must in life and death confess.
But trouble shall not always last:
Affliction's child shall weep no more,
When thankful for my sufferings past,
Exulting on the heavenly shore,
I tell the' acclaiming hosts above
That all Thy paths were truth and love.
Affliction's child shall weep no more,
When thankful for my sufferings past,
Exulting on the heavenly shore,
I tell the' acclaiming hosts above
That all Thy paths were truth and love.
Come, Finisher of sin and woe,
And let me die my God to see;
My God, as I am known, to know,
Fathom the depths of Deity,
And spend, contemplating Thy face,
A bless'd eternity in praise.
And let me die my God to see;
My God, as I am known, to know,
Fathom the depths of Deity,
And spend, contemplating Thy face,
A bless'd eternity in praise.
427
Against the instrument of ill
O may I no resentment find,
No wrong, vindictive temper feel,
Unfriendly wish, or thought unkind;
But put the yearning bowels on,
The tender mercies of Thy Son.
O may I no resentment find,
No wrong, vindictive temper feel,
Unfriendly wish, or thought unkind;
But put the yearning bowels on,
The tender mercies of Thy Son.
Still would I keep the Lamb in view,
Harmless in thought, and word, and deed,
That Lover of His foes pursue,
Who suffer'd in His murderers' stead,
Expired Himself, that they might live,
And meekly gasp'd in death, “Forgive!”
Harmless in thought, and word, and deed,
That Lover of His foes pursue,
Who suffer'd in His murderers' stead,
Expired Himself, that they might live,
And meekly gasp'd in death, “Forgive!”
His Spirit into my soul inspire,
That, in true holiness renew'd,
With pure, benevolent desire,
For evil I may render good,
Kind to my adversary prove,
And cruel hate requite with love.
That, in true holiness renew'd,
With pure, benevolent desire,
For evil I may render good,
Kind to my adversary prove,
And cruel hate requite with love.
If Thou forgive my debt immense,
I may forgive a trivial debt,
A fellow-servant's hundred pence
Against ten thousand talents set:
I do forgive, myself forgiven,
And haste to meet my foe in heaven.
I may forgive a trivial debt,
A fellow-servant's hundred pence
Against ten thousand talents set:
I do forgive, myself forgiven,
And haste to meet my foe in heaven.
WRITTEN IN A BIBLE.
Jesu, dear redeeming Lamb,
Show me my own worthless name
Written in the Book of God,
Written with Thy precious blood.
Show me my own worthless name
Written in the Book of God,
Written with Thy precious blood.
428
Let me here my title see,
To eternal life and Thee;
See and taste how good Thou art,
Find Thy Spirit in my heart.
To eternal life and Thee;
See and taste how good Thou art,
Find Thy Spirit in my heart.
Then reveal Thy perfect love,
Write me in Thy book above;
Thou who hast my sins forgiven,
Write my worthless name in heaven.
Write me in Thy book above;
Thou who hast my sins forgiven,
Write my worthless name in heaven.
A RETROSPECT.
When young, and full of sanguine hope,
And warm in my first love,
My spirit's loins I girded up,
And sought the things above,
Swift on the wings of active zeal
With Jesu's message flew,
O'erjoy'd with all my heart and will
My Master's work to do.
And warm in my first love,
My spirit's loins I girded up,
And sought the things above,
Swift on the wings of active zeal
With Jesu's message flew,
O'erjoy'd with all my heart and will
My Master's work to do.
Freely where'er I would, I went
Through wisdom's pleasant ways,
Happy to spend and to be spent
In ministering His grace:
I found no want of will or power,
In love's sweet task employ'd,
And put forth every day and hour
My utmost strength for God.
Through wisdom's pleasant ways,
Happy to spend and to be spent
In ministering His grace:
I found no want of will or power,
In love's sweet task employ'd,
And put forth every day and hour
My utmost strength for God.
As strong, and glorying in my might,
I drew the two-edged sword,
Valiant against a troop to fight
The battles of the Lord;
I scorn'd the multitude to dread,
Rush'd on with full career,
And aim'd at each opposer's head,
And smote off many an ear.
I drew the two-edged sword,
Valiant against a troop to fight
The battles of the Lord;
429
Rush'd on with full career,
And aim'd at each opposer's head,
And smote off many an ear.
But now, enervated by age,
I feel my fierceness gone,
And nature's powers no more engage
To prop the Saviour's throne:
My total impotence I see,
For help on Jesus call,
And stretch my feeble hands to Thee,
Who workest all in all.
I feel my fierceness gone,
And nature's powers no more engage
To prop the Saviour's throne:
My total impotence I see,
For help on Jesus call,
And stretch my feeble hands to Thee,
Who workest all in all.
Thy captive, Lord, myself I yield,
As purely passive clay;
Thy holy will be all fulfill'd,
Constraining mine to' obey:
My passions by Thy Spirit bind,
And, govern'd by Thy word,
I'll suffer all the woes design'd
To make me like my Lord.
As purely passive clay;
Thy holy will be all fulfill'd,
Constraining mine to' obey:
My passions by Thy Spirit bind,
And, govern'd by Thy word,
I'll suffer all the woes design'd
To make me like my Lord.
Wholly at Thy dispose I am
No longer at my own,
All self-activity disclaim,
And move in God alone:
Transport, do what Thou wilt with me,
A few more evil days,
But bear me safe through all to see
My dear Redeemer's face.
No longer at my own,
All self-activity disclaim,
And move in God alone:
Transport, do what Thou wilt with me,
A few more evil days,
But bear me safe through all to see
My dear Redeemer's face.
430
THE PRAYER OF AN AGED MINISTER BEFORE PREACHING.
Guardian of my hoary hairs,
Let me still dispense Thy grace,
(Meanest of Thy messengers,
Ready to conclude my race,)
Still Thy promised presence prove,
Still proclaim Thy pardoning love.
Let me still dispense Thy grace,
(Meanest of Thy messengers,
Ready to conclude my race,)
Still Thy promised presence prove,
Still proclaim Thy pardoning love.
Touch my lips with hallowing fire,
Utterance let Thy Spirit give,
Fill my heart with pure desire
That a dying world may live,
Witnesses of sins forgiven,
Sons of God and heirs of heaven.
Utterance let Thy Spirit give,
Fill my heart with pure desire
That a dying world may live,
Witnesses of sins forgiven,
Sons of God and heirs of heaven.
Open now the gospel door,
Now the gospel truths reveal,
Clothe Thy word with secret power,
Saving, irresistible,
Power that life Divine imparts,
Breaks and heals attentive hearts.
Now the gospel truths reveal,
Clothe Thy word with secret power,
Saving, irresistible,
Power that life Divine imparts,
Breaks and heals attentive hearts.
Faith which sweetly works by love
Let it now by hearing come,
That begotten from above
Souls may languish after home,
Spotless in Thine image rise,
Grasp through death the' immortal prize.
Let it now by hearing come,
That begotten from above
Souls may languish after home,
Spotless in Thine image rise,
Grasp through death the' immortal prize.
Crown of my rejoicing, Lord,
Let me there my children meet,
Saved by the engrafted word,
Singing round Thy glorious seat,
Children of my faith and prayer
Let me die to meet them there.
Let me there my children meet,
Saved by the engrafted word,
Singing round Thy glorious seat,
Children of my faith and prayer
Let me die to meet them there.
431
Instrument of saving them,
Jesus, claim me for Thine own,
That I may in bliss supreme
Cast my crown before Thy throne,
Face to face my Saviour see,
Gaze through all eternity.
Jesus, claim me for Thine own,
That I may in bliss supreme
Cast my crown before Thy throne,
Face to face my Saviour see,
Gaze through all eternity.
ANOTHER.
[Lord, if Thy sovereign majesty]
Lord, if Thy sovereign majesty
Doth still vouchsafe to send by me,
Even me Thy meanest servant own,
And make Thy Son to sinners known.
Doth still vouchsafe to send by me,
Even me Thy meanest servant own,
And make Thy Son to sinners known.
Thy presence, and Thy help afford
To ratify the gracious word,
The' attesting Spirit's seal set to,
To prove the joyful tidings true.
To ratify the gracious word,
The' attesting Spirit's seal set to,
To prove the joyful tidings true.
If Thou the genuine gospel bless,
They must Thy saving power confess,
Whoe'er in Jesu's blood believe,
And peace and righteousness receive.
They must Thy saving power confess,
Whoe'er in Jesu's blood believe,
And peace and righteousness receive.
Come then, in blessings from above,
Thy Godhead, truth, and mercy prove,
The gift unspeakable impart,
And write Thy name on every heart.
Thy Godhead, truth, and mercy prove,
The gift unspeakable impart,
And write Thy name on every heart.
TAKE AWAY ALL INIQUITY, AND GIVE GOOD.—Hosea xiv. 2.
How long, how often shall I pray,
Take all iniquity away,
And give the plenitude of good,
The blessing bought by Jesu's blood,
Concupiscence and pride remove,
And fill me, Lord, with humble love.
Take all iniquity away,
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The blessing bought by Jesu's blood,
Concupiscence and pride remove,
And fill me, Lord, with humble love.
Again I take the words to me
Prescribed, and offer them to Thee,
Thy kingdom come to root out sin,
And perfect holiness bring in,
And swallow up my will in Thine,
And human change into Divine.
Prescribed, and offer them to Thee,
Thy kingdom come to root out sin,
And perfect holiness bring in,
And swallow up my will in Thine,
And human change into Divine.
So shall I render Thee Thine own,
And tell the wonders Thou hast done,
The power and faithfulness declare
Of God who hears and answers prayer,
Extol the riches of Thy grace
And spend my latest breath in praise.
And tell the wonders Thou hast done,
The power and faithfulness declare
Of God who hears and answers prayer,
Extol the riches of Thy grace
And spend my latest breath in praise.
O that the joyful hour was come
Which calls Thy ready servant home,
Unites me to the church above,
Where angels chant the song of love,
And saints eternally proclaim
The glories of the heavenly Lamb!
Which calls Thy ready servant home,
Unites me to the church above,
Where angels chant the song of love,
And saints eternally proclaim
The glories of the heavenly Lamb!
LINES DICTATED ON HIS DEATH BED.
In age and feebleness extreme,Who shall a helpless worm redeem?
Jesus! my only hope Thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart;
Oh! could I catch one smile from Thee
And drop into eternity!
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |