Wesley Corpus

Volume 7 (1784): 59-60 On the Death of Alexander Harford, who Departed This Life January 24, 1783.48 And is the happy moment come, When Jesus hath recall'd thee home, And wip'd off ev'ry tear? And must we part, no more to join, Till all who tread the path divine, Shall with their Lord appear? Go happy saint, by Jesus bless'd, Of all that happiness possess'd Thy Saviour hath in store; Thy conflicts now for ever past, And thou from earth escap'd at last Hast reach'd the heav'nly shore. A blessing to the church below, He long'd that all the truth might know, And all its sweetness prove; He by example spread around, The precious faith himself had found, The faith that works by love. Long in affliction's furnace tri'd, But still with heav'nly grace suppli'd, He bow'd beneath the rod; Resign'd to his Redeemer's will, Desirous always to fulfil The pleasure of his God. He testifi'd to all around, The happiness in Jesus found, And prais'd his loving Lord; While in excruciating pain, Did heav'nly consolation gain, Relying on his word. Thus longing for the welcome word, And wishing to behold his Lord, The happy prisoner lay; 48Although this funeral hymn does not appear among Charles Wesley's surviving manuscripts, his authorship seems likely. The style, metre, and some phrases in the hymn are common to Wesley, and it appears in the same volume with some other funeral hymns from his hand. Alexander Harford (c. 1748-83) was buried in Bathwick St Mary, Somerset on Feb. 2, 1783. Till Jesus did his convoy send, Who bore the spirit of our friend, To realms of endless day. Supported by the pow'r of grace, May we behold the Saviour's face, To wonder and adore; From him receive the glorious prize, And claim our mansion in the skies, Where parting is no more.