Wesley Corpus

Volume 6 (1783): 108-10, 164-66 On the Death of Mr. Ebenezer Blackwell, who Died on Sunday, April 23, 1782.43 Part I. Happy the follower of his Lord, Call'd, and indulg'd in him to die, To gain a full, immense reward, Bestow'd by Jesus in the sky! He rests from all his labours there, Pursu'd by all his works of love; And waits for us the joy to share, Triumphant with our friends above. Then let us cheerfully pursue Our comrade, to that heav'nly land, And keep, like him, our end in view, And love, like him, our Lord's command: Obedient both in word and deed, By works his genuine faith he show'd; Rejoic'd in Jesu's steps to tread, And spent his life in doing good. Affliction's kind, unfailing friend, He wisely us'd his growing store, And priz'd his privilege to lend To God, by giving to the poor: The Lord his lib'ral servant bless'd, Who paid him back the blessings giv'n; And still, the more his wealth increas'd, More treasure he laid up in heav'n. Through life inviolably just, He his integrity maintain'd, Most strictly faithful to his trust, An upright man of truth unfeign'd; His roughly, honest soul abhorr'd, The polish smooth, the courtier's art, And free from guile in ev'ry word, 43Appears in MS Funeral Hymns, 59-62. Ebenezer Blackwell (1711-82), a London banker, was one of John Wesley's most trusted friends from as early as 1739. Blackwell helped finance many of Wesley's charitable efforts. He and his wife Elizabeth also frequently hosted Wesley at their country home in Lewisham. The Blackwells became close as well to Charles and Sarah Wesley, particularly after they moved to London.