Wesley Corpus

Page 43 6It is quite possible that some of these hymns for charity schools were authored by Samuel Wesley Jr., including some of those published by Joseph Downing. Samuel notes in a letter to Robert Nelson (3 June 1713) that he had been busy recently preparing "my charity hymns," though he gives no list of these and they do not appear in the later published collections of his poetry. Samuel's letter can be found in the Methodist Archives at the Rylands University Library of Manchester (DDWF 5/1) and in Adam Clarke, Memoirs of the Methodist Family (1848), 436. For those who kindly founded this A better house prepare, Remove them to thy heavenly bliss, And let us meet them there. Before Their Going to Work. Let us go forth, 'tis God commands; Let us make haste away, Offer to Christ our hearts and hands; We work for Christ to day. When he vouchsafes our hands to use, It makes the labour sweet; If any now to work refuse, Let not the sluggard eat. Who would not do what God ordains, And promises to bless? Who would not 'scape the toils and pains Of sinful idleness? In vain to Christ the slothful pray; We have not learn'd him so; No for he calls himself the way, And work'd himself below. Then let us in his footsteps tread, And gladly act our part, On earth employ our hands and head, But give him all our heart. A Hymn for Charity-Children.6 How happy they, O King of kings! How safe, how truly blest, Who under thy protecting wings Both shelter find and rest. Them wilt thou lead, them wilt thou keep, And with thine arm uphold: O blessed shepherd! Blessed sheep Of Israel's sacred fold. Page 44 7"Will" changed to "we'll" in 4th edn. (1748) and following. 8Ori. "as"; a misprint, corrected in 2nd edn. (1743) and following. 9Ori., "e're"; but clearly used in sense of "before." Nor does the tender wand'ring lambs His kindly care disdain; He knows them better than their dams, And better does sustain. Behold his flock from every side He is assembling still; And may he all in safety guide To Sion's sacred hill. If thither he will us convey, Nor our mean vows despise, Our hearts will7 on his altars lay A grateful sacrifice.