Wesley Corpus

As a blind bigot on the Church's side: Yet well content, so I my love may shew, My friendly love, to be esteem'd her foe, Foe to her order, governors, and rules: The song of drunkards, and the sport of fools; Or, what my soul doth as hell fire reject, A pope a Count and leader of a sect. Partner of my reproach, who justly claim The larger portion of the glorious shame, My pattern in the work and cause divine, Say is thy heart as bigotted as mine? Wilt thou with me in the Old Church remain, And share her weal or woe, her loss, her gain, Spend in her service thy last drop of blood, And die to build the temple of our God; Page 15 Thy answer is in more than words exprest, I read it through the window in thy breast; In every action of thy life I see Thy faithful love, and filial piety. To save a sinking Church, thou dost not spare Thyself, but lavish all thy life for her: For Sion's sake thou wilt not hold thy peace, That she may grow, impatient to decrease, To rush into thy grave that she may rise, And mount with all her children to the skies. What then remains for us on earth to do, But labour on with Jesus in our view, Who bids us kindly for his patients care, Calls us the burthen of his Church to bear, To feed his flock, and nothing seek beside, And nothing know, but Jesus crucify'd. When first sent forth to minister the word, Say, did we preach ourselves, or Christ the Lord? Was it our aim disciples to collect, To raise a party, or to found a sect? Page 16 7Ori., "live"; in both 1755 printings. No; but to spread the power of Jesus' name, Repair the walls of our Jerusalem, Revive the piety of antient days, And fill the earth with our Redeemer's praise. Still let us steadily pursue our end, And only for the faith divine contend, Superior to the charms of power and fame, Persist thro' life, invariably the same: And if indulg'd our heart's desire to see, Jerusalem in full prosperity, To pristine faith, and purity restor'd; How shall we bless our good redeeming Lord, Gladly into his hands our children give, Securely in their mother's bosom leave,7 With calm delight accept our late release,