Wesley Corpus

Page 5 Inclin'd the creature's heart as passive clay, And pointed out his providential way To learning's seats, for piety design'd, For knowledge sound, with pure religion join'd, Schools of the prophets' sons, and well employ'd, When training servants for the courts of God. 'Twas there he dared his father's God pursue, Associating with the derided few, (Who, newly started in the Christian race, Were blindly following after righteousness, Outcasts of men, and fools for Jesus' sake!) He long'd their glorious scandal to partake, Couragiously took up the shameful cross, And suffering all things in the Saviour's cause, Vow'd to renounce the world, himself deny, And following on with them, with them to live and die. Can I the memorable day forget, When first we by divine appointment met? Where undisturb'd the thoughtful student roves, In search of truth, thro' academic groves, Page 6 2Ori., "carest"; but Wesley clearly means "to caress" rather than "to care." A modest, pensive youth, who mus'd alone, Industrious the frequented path to shun, An Israelite without disguise or art I saw, I loved, and clasp'd him to my heart, A stranger as my bosom-friend caress'd,2 And unawares receiv'd an angel-guest. Mark'd for an angel of the church below, Must he not first severe temptation know, Fly from the flaming mount with guilty awe, And quake to hear the thunders of the law, Th' accuser's cruel buffetings sustain, Still of unconquerable sin complain, With cries, and tears that seem'd to flow in vain? Long in the fire, long in the desart tried, He daily languish'd, and he daily died, Long by the spirit of fear in prison bound, Groan'd for relief, yet no deliverance found; Till quite forsaken both of man and God, And fainting underneath corruption's load, His fastings, prayers, and struggles he gave o're, Sunk in despair, and gasp'd for help no more. Page 7 Then in the last extream of hopeless grief, Jesus appear'd! And help'd his unbelief, Infus'd the faith which did his sins remove, Assur'd his heart of God's forgiving love, And fill'd with glorious joy, the joy of saints above. Who but the souls that savingly believe,