Wesley Corpus

Page 27 34HSP (1739) ori., "Conqueror over death and sin." 35HSP (1739) ori.: Still for us his death he pleads. Prevalent, he intercedes. 36HSP (1739) ori., "Near." Circled round with angel-pow'rs, Their triumphant Lord and ours, Conqu'ror o'er death, hell, and sin,34 Take the King of Glory in. Him though highest heaven receives, Still he loves the earth he leaves; Though returning to his throne, Still he calls mankind his own. See, he lifts his hands above! See, he shews the prints of love! Hark, his gracious lips bestow, Blessings on his church below! Still for us he intercedes, Prevalent his death he pleads;35 Next36 himself prepares our place, Harbinger of human race. Page 28 37HSP (1739) ori., "thy." Master (will we ever say) Taken from our head to-day, See, thy faithful servants see, Ever gazing up to thee! Grant, though parted from our sight, High above yon azure height, Grant our hearts may thither rise, Following thee beyond the skies. Ever upward let us move, Wafted on the wings of love, Looking when our Lord shall come, Longing, gasping after home. There we shall with thee remain Partners of thine37 endless reign; There thy face unclouded see, Find our heaven of heavens in thee. Page 29 38First appeared in Ascension Hymns (1746), 7-9 (4). 39Final four lines of this stanza in Ascension Hymns: That holy happy place above! Thou hast the conquest more than gain'd, The everlasting bliss obtain'd For all who trust thy dying love. Hymn XII. On the Ascension.38 Hail, Jesus, hail, our great high-priest, Entred into thy glorious rest, That holy blissful place above; The conquest thou hast more than gain'd, The heavenly happiness obtain'd For all that trust thy dying love.39 () The blood of goats and bullocks slain Could never purge our guilty stain, Could never for our sins atone: But thou thine own most precious blood Hast spilt, to quench the wrath of God, Hast sav'd us by thy blood alone. Page 30 Shed on the altar of thy cross, Thy blood to God presented was Thro' the eternal Spirit's pow'r: Thou didst, a spotless victim, bleed, That we from sin and suffering freed, Might live to God, and sin no more.