Wesley Corpus

Blest with his lowly loving mind, One with the friend of human kind, In all his steps she trod; In doing good, and bearing ill, Fulfill'd her heavenly Father's will, And liv'd, and dy'd to God. Page 48 Eager to drink his deepest cup, She fill'd her Lord's afflictions up, Together crucified; To nature's will entirely dead, She languish'd till she bow'd her head, And with her Saviour died. Like him, her thirty years and three, She finish'd on the sacred tree, In sacrificial prayer, Calmly without a lingring sigh, Dismiss'd her spirit to the sky, And clasps her Jesus there! Hymn XXIX. On the Death of Mrs. Lefevre, July 6, 1756. Part II. O that the child of heavenly light Might drop her mantle in her flight, Her lamb-like spirit leave! On us let all her graces rest, To meeken every troubled breast, And teach us how to grieve. Happy, could we the secret find, Like her in all events resign'd To gain by every loss; Our sharpest agonies t' improve, Esteem our Master's lot, and love, And glory in his cross! Master, on us, ev'n us bestow Like precious faith thyself to know; Fulfil our heart's desire, Daily in all her36 steps to tread, And let us in the garden bleed, And on the mount expire. 36Wesley's manuscript copy in Letters upon Sacred Subjects, reads "thy" instead of "her." Page 49 Like her, who now supremely blest, Enjoys an everlasting rest, We fain on earth would be; As harmless as that gentlest dove, As simplified by humble love, As perfectly like thee. O were it, Lord, on us bestow'd, The love that in her bosom glow'd, The love invincible; The love that turns37 the other cheek, The love inviolably meek, That bears and conquers all! Made ready here by patient love For sweetest fellowship above With our translated friend; Give us thro' life her spirit to breathe, Indulge us then to die her death, And bless us with her end. Hymn XXX. On the Death of Mrs. Mary Naylor,38 March 21, 1757.39 Part I. But is the hasty spirit fled? But hath my friend inclin'd her head, And laid her burden down? Dead, dead to man, to God she lives, And from her Saviour's hands receives The never-fading crown.