Wesley Corpus

The Lord our favour'd child hath blest Above what we could ask, or hope, Hath far exceeded our request, And fill'd our largest wishes up With more than nature dar'd require, Or a fond parent's heart desire. We rashly for our offspring claim The goods which foolish mortals prize, Beauty, and health, and power, and fame; We wish them great, and rich, and wise, With pleasures crown'd, and long to live In all the bliss which earth can give. But see, whom God hath made his heir, Adorn'd with each celestial grace! His features how divinely fair, How full of heaven his blooming face! And what shall mar that heavenly bloom, Where pain and death can never come? With glory deck'd, and cloath'd with power, On kings the pitying saint looks down, For who can tell his gracious store, Or count the jewels of his crown? Bright as ten thousand stars they shine, And purchas'd all by blood divine. Page 45 With pure superior wisdom fraught, He fathoms the angelic minds, Prevents the quickest glance of thought, And truth by intuition finds, He comprehends the One in Three, He sounds the depths of deity. Knowledge, and power, and glory meet T' inhance his happiness and joy; His joy unutterably great, His happiness without alloy, His pleasures spiritual and pure, Immortal as their source endure. Happy, and wise, and great, and good, In fashion like his Maker found, With heavenly faculties endu'd, With all divine perfections crown'd, And long as God his throne maintains, The heir with Christ triumphant reigns. Hymn XXVII. On the Death of a Child. Part VIII. Father, in thee our hearts confide, And wait thine utmost word to feel, Have we not been by trouble tried? Now let it answer all thy will, Now let it yield with vast increase The peaceful fruit of righteousness. Beneath thy chast'ning hand we stoop, And pour out our sad souls in prayer, Prostrate, till mercy lift us up, Till thou thy righteousness declare: To thee by deep affliction driven, We cry, to know our sins forgiven. Page 46 Come, to thy drooping servants come, Thou God of reconciling grace, Pierce thro', dispel this guilty gloom, Unveil the brightness of thy face; And while these clouds of grief remove, Appear, the pard'ning God of love.