Wesley Corpus

Nor envied those his Lord vouchsaf'd to bless, But joy'd in theirs as in his own success, His friends in honour to himself prefer'd, And least of all in his own eyes appear'd. When crouds for counsel or relief applied, No surly rustic he, with cruel pride To bid the sorrowful intruders wait, Or send the suppliants weeping from his gate; But ever listning to the wretch's call, Courteous, and mild, and pitiful to all. No prophet smooth to men of high estate, No servile flatterer of the rich or great, Their faults he dared with freedom to reprove, The honest freedom of respectful love, And sweetly forc'd their consciences to own He sought not theirs, but them, for Jesus' sake alone. To all he rendred what to all he owed, Whose loyalty from true religion flow'd: Page 23 The man of one consistent character, Who fear'd his God, he must his king revere: Fixt as a rock, for all assaults prepar'd, No sly seducers found him off his guard, But miss'd their aim to fix the factious brand On faithful men, the quiet in the land. Single his eye, transparently sincere His upright heart did in his words appear, His chearful heart did in his visage shine; A man of true simplicity divine, Not always as the serpent wise, yet love Preserv'd him always harmless as the dove: Or if into mistake thro' haste he fell, He shew'd what others labour to conceal; Convinc'd, no palliating excuses sought, But freely own'd his error, or his fault, Nor fear'd the triumph of ungenerous foes, Who humbler from his fall, and stronger rose. When Satan strove the brethren to divide, And turn their zeal to "Who is on my side?" Page 24 One moment warm'd with controversial fire, He felt the spark as suddenly expire, He felt reviv'd the pure etherial flame, The love for all that bow'd to Jesus' name, Nor ever more would for opinions fight With men whose life, like his, was in the right. His soul disdain'd to serve the selfish ends Of zealots, fierce against his bosom-friends, (Who urg'd him with his bosom-friends to part, Might sooner tear the fibres from his heart) He now the wiles of the accuser knew, And cast him down, and his strong-holds o'rethrew,