Wesley Corpus

Page 51 14"Kindly tears" changed to "Jesus' blood" in 2nd edn. (1743) and following. 15Ori., "3"; a misprint. How beauteous nature now! How dark and sad before! With joy we view the pleasing change, And nature's God adore. O may no gloomy crime Polute the rising day; Or kindly tears,14 like evening dew, Wash all the stains away. May we this life improve, To mourn for errors past, And live this short revolving day As if it were our last. To God the Father, Son, And Spirit, One and Three, Be glory, as it was, is now, And shall for ever be. An Evening Hymn. All praise to him who dwells in bliss, Who made both day and night: Whose throne is darkness, in th' abyss Of uncreated light. 215 Each thought and deed his piercing eyes With strictest search survey: The deepest shades no more disguise Than the full blaze of day. Whom thou dost guard, O King of kings! No evil shall molest; Under the shadow of thy wings Shall they securely rest. Thy angels shall around their beds Their constant stations keep: Thy faith and truth shall shield their heads, For thou dost never sleep. May we with calm and sweet repose, And heav'nly thoughts refresh'd, Our eye-lids with the morn's unclose, And bless the ever-bless'd. Page 52 16Cf. Psalm 130. A Funeral Hymn, for a Scholar, or Other Young Person. Vain man, of mortal parents born, Know thou art born to die! How frail our state, how short our life! How full of misery! As flowers from mother-earth we rise, A fading bloom we spread: As soon we waste and pass away Among th' unnumber'd dead. As shadows glide o'er hills and dales, And yet no tracks appear; So swift we vanish hence; our souls Have no abiding here. The mourners go about the streets With solemn steps, and slow; Thus must it be for you and me, To the same home we go. So teach us, Lord, to number out Our life's uncertain days, We timely may our hearts apply To heav'nly wisdom's ways. O holy Lord! O mighty God! When we resign our breath, Then save us from the bitter pains Of everlasting death. De Profundis.16 Out of the deeps to thee, O Lord! I make my mournful cry; Incline thine ear unto my voice, Thy ready help apply.