Wesley Corpus

Away my tears, and selfish sighs! The happy saint in paradise Requires us not to mourn; 37Wesley's manuscript copy in Letters upon Sacred Subjects, reads "turn'd." 38Charles Wesley was instrumental to the conversion of Mary Naylor (1713-57) in October 1745, and they became close friends. Although Mary never married, as an older "spinster," she was by custom referred to as "Mrs." 39A precursor of this six-part hymn in CW's hand appears in shorthand in MS Spencer, 41-49. It has a few scattered variants, noted in that file. Page 50 But rather keep her life in view, And still her shining steps pursue, Till all to God return. Her life from outward evil free From every gross enormity Her life of nature was: Harmless she pass'd her time to play, Stranger to Christ, the living way, Regardless of his cross. But when she heard the gospel-sound, The seed receiv'd in the good ground, The heart-ingrafted word Produc'd an hundred-fold increase, And join'd to Jesus' witnesses, She gloried in her Lord. With joy she flew her all to sell, Borne on the wings of rapid zeal, Impatient of delay; Away she cast with eager strife, Kindred, and friends, and more than life, She cast her fame away. Where Satan keeps his gaudy throne, Firm as the righteous Lot, alone Against the world she stood, The cross indur'd, the shame despis'd, And only sought, and only priz'd The praise that comes from God. When men and fiends against her rose, Could all her fierce opprobrious foes Her stedfast faith o'erturn? A follower of the patient Lamb, The hatred she with love o'ercame, And triumph'd in the scorn. Page 51 Her solid piety unfeign'd A witness from her foes obtain'd, And forc'd them to confess, "Where faith appears with virtue crown'd, Religion pure on earth is found, And all her paths are peace." Hymn XXXI. On the Death of Mrs. Mary Naylor, March 21, 1757. Part II. Long in those peaceful pleasant ways She walk'd, she run40 the Christian race, With never-slack'ning care; Studious her talents to improve, She liv'd a life of faith and love, Of holiness and prayer. The weighter matters of the law With single eye she clearly saw, Nor overlook'd the less: Her tythe of mint she gladly paid, But the main stress on mercy laid, And truth and righteousness.