Wesley Corpus

We believe that Christ our head, For us resign'd his breath, He was number'd with the dead, And dying conquer'd death; Burst the barriers of the tomb: Death could him no longer keep, He is the first-fruits become Of those in him that sleep. God, who him to life restor'd, Shall all his members raise. Bring them quicken'd with their Lord, The children of his grace. We who then on earth remain, Shall not sooner be brought home, All the dead shall rise again, To meet their general doom. Jesus, faithful to his word, Shall with a shout descend, All heaven's host their glorious Lord Shall pompously attend: Christ shall come with dreadful noise, Lightnings swift, and thunders loud, With the great archangel's voice, And with the trump of God. 68First appeared in HSP (1742), 127-28. Page 47 First the dead in Christ shall rise, Then we who yet remain, Shall be caught up to the skies, And see our Lord again: We shall meet him in the air, All wrapt up to heaven shall be, See and love, and praise him there, To all eternity. Who can tell the happiness, This glorious hope affords? Joy unutter'd we possess, In these reviving words; Happy while on earth we breathe, Mightier bliss ordain'd to know, Trampling down sin, hell and death, To the third heaven we go. Hymn XLVI.69 Believing on my Lord, I find A sure and present aid: On thee alone my constant mind Is every moment stay'd. Whate'er in me seems wise, or good, Or strong I here disclaim: I wash my garments in the blood Of the atoning Lamb. Jesus, my strength, my life, my rest, On thee will I depend, Till summon'd to the marriage-feast, Where faith in sight shall end. 69This is an extract from HSP (1742), 142; stanzas 8-10. Page 48 Hymn XLVII.70 Is it not enough that I Now can Abba Father cry? I am now a child of God, Bought and sprinkled with thy blood; Lord, it doth not yet appear, What I surely shall be here, When thou shalt unfold the word: Only make me as my Lord.