Wesley Corpus

The raptures of a faithful soul conceive? The joy unspeakable, the love unknown, The peace he felt is understood by none, By none but those who know their sins forgiven Thro' God the Holy Ghost come down from heaven. Born of the Spirit now, divinely led, He hastes in his dear Saviour's steps to tread, Eager his faith's sincerity to prove By all the works of piety and love; Fruits of repentance first, and legal fear, They now the genuine marks of grace appear, Their own superior principle maintain, And justify his faith to God and man; While listning to forlorn affliction's cries, Swift to assist on wings of love he flies, Page 8 Help to the sick, and needy prisoners gives, And more than their external wants relieves; Alarms the souls that sleep secure in sin, Till urg'd the one great business they begin, Instructs them how to 'scape the judgment nigh, "Ye must be born again, or dead for ever die!" Nor let the scrup'lous sons of Levi fear He thus invades the sacred character: Thus every candidate should first be tried, In doing good, in Jesus' steps abide, Then exercise aright the deacon's powers, Son to his church, as Whitefield was to ours. Moved by the Holy Ghost to minister, And serve his altar, in the house of prayer, Though long resolv'd for God alone to live, The outward call he trembled to receive, Shrunk from the awful charge, so well prepar'd, The gift by apostolic hands confer'd, And cried, with deep unfeign'd humility, "Send, Lord, by whom thou wilt, but send not me." Page 9 Yet soon he bows before the will divine Clearly demonstrating its own design, Call'd by a prelate good, no more delays T' accept with awe the consecrating grace, And offers up, thro' the Redeemer's blood, His body, spirit, soul, a sacrifice to God. He now begins, from every weight set free, To make full trial of his ministry, Breaks forth on every side, and runs, and flies, Like kindling flames that from the stubble rise, Where'er the ministerial Spirit leads, From house to house the heavenly fire he spreads, Ranges thro' all the city-lanes and streets, And seizes every prodigal he meets. Who shall the will and work divine oppose?