Wesley Corpus

Ev'n from the sacred laver take, And guard its favour'd infancy, Nor ever, Lord, thy charge forsake, Nor let thy charge depart from thee, But walk in all thy righteous ways, Till meet to see thy glorious face. For a Woman in Travail. Jesus, help! No longer tarry, Hasten to redeem thine own: Son of God, and Son of Mary, Answering to thy creature's groan, Now omnipotently near, Prince of life in death appear. Save her by thy righteous merit From the just reward of sin: By the travail of thy Spirit, Bring the timely succours in; By thy passion on the tree Save a soul that gasps to thee. Soften, sanctify the anguish, Sad memorial of her fall; Let her on thy bosom languish, Till thou bring her safe thro' all, Ransom'd from th' extreme distress, Bid her live in perfect peace. Page 57 God of her compleat salvation, Heal, and bid her body rise, Let her soul with exultation Mount to thee beyond the skies, Happy as thy saints above, Lost in her Redeemer's love. Hear, O thou friend of human kind, Thou Son of Mary hear, And let thy suffering handmaid find The answer of our prayer. Thy Spirit's mixt with nature's cries Thro' thee to heaven ascend: O send deliverance from the skies, A swift deliverance send. Save her, thyself of woman born, Thyself the Son of man, The curse into a blessing turn, And sanctify the pain: Be thou a present succour found In time of greatest need, And while her sorrows most abound, Her comforts shall exceed. This keenest sense of deep distress Which feeble flesh can feel, Or'epower, and swallow up in peace And joy unspeakable: Thy love shall bring her safely thro': Thy love to her be given, And change the pains of hell into The extacies of heaven. So shall the ransom'd sinner give To thee her added days, So shall the joyful mother live A mon'ment of thy praise; Page 58 She and her house shall serve the Lord, Till all from earth remove In sounds of glory to record Thine everlasting love. Jesus, we ask thy promis'd aid; Thou who for us a curse was made, The penalty extreme Far from thy chosen one remove, And now the object of thy love From curse and death redeem.