Wesley Corpus

And gently led him to the secret shade; Led him a way that nature never knew, And from the busy careless croud withdrew, To serious solitude his heart inclin'd Tir'd with the noise and follies of mankind, Impatiently resolv'd to cast the world behind. The power unseen which bad his wand'rings cease, Follow'd, and found him in the wilderness, Gave him the hearing ear, and seeing eye, And pointed to the blood of sprinkling nigh, (That blood divine which makes the conscience clean, That fountain open'd for a world of sin) Call'd him to hear the name to sinners given, The only saving name in earth or heaven. So when the first degenerated man Far in the woods from his Creator ran, Page 6 Mercy pursu'd, his fugitive to seize, And stop'd his trembling flight among the trees; "Where art thou, man?" he heard his Maker say, Calm-walking in the cool decline of day, Aghast he heard; came forth with guilty fear, And found the bruiser of the serpent near, Receiv'd the promise of his sin forgiven, And for an Eden lost an antepast of heaven. Hail Mary's Son! thy mercies never end, Thy mercies reach'd, and sav'd my happy friend! He felt th' atoning blood by FAITH applied, And freely was the sinner justified, Sav'd by a miracle of grace divine And O! my God, the ministry was mine! I spake thro'3 thee the reconciling word, Meanest forerunner of my glorious Lord: He heard impartial: for himself he heard; And weigh'd th' important truth with deep regard: The sacred leaves, where all their God may find, He search'd with noble readiness of mind, Listen'd, and yielded to the gospel-call, And glorified the Lamb that died for ALL; Gladly confess'd our welcome tidings true, And waited for a power he never knew, The seal of all his sins, thro' Christ forgiven, With God the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. 3"Thro'" changed to "from" in 2nd edn. (1748). Page 7 The Lord he sought allow'd his creature's claim, And sudden to his living temple came; The Spi'rit of love, (which like a rushing wind Blows as he lists, but blows on all mankind,) Breath'd on his raptur'd soul: the sinking clay O'rewhelm'd beneath the mighty comfort lay; While all-dissolv'd the powers of nature fail, Enter'd his favour'd soul within the vail,