Wesley Corpus

Free from the busy worldling's cares, Who gathers riches for his heirs, Who hoards what God hath given; Fast as the Lord her basket bless'd, Fast as her well-got wealth increas'd, She laid it up in heaven. Witness ye servants of her Lord, Ye preachers of the joyous word, Constrain'd with her t' abide: Page 54 With Lydia's open house and heart, Glad of her carnal things t' impart, She all your wants supply'd. Surely ye judg'd her faithful then: And did she not thro' life remain Invariably the same? Her even soul to heaven aspir'd, The only mind of Christ desir'd, The tempers of the Lamb. Hymn XXXIII. On the Death of Mrs. Mary Naylor, March 21, 1757. Part IV. Tho' envy foul its poison shed, To blast the venerable dead, With base reproach to load, She did not lose her pious pains; Her judgment with her Lord remains, Her work is with her God. She never left her former love, Her zeal, or boldness to reprove Triumphant wickedness: Since first she knew the crucified, She never cast her shield aside, Or forfeited her peace. Constant, unwarp'd from first to last, She kept the faith, and held it fast, From sin and error free, Contending for the faith alone, The name inscrib'd in the white stone, The life of piety. While others spent their strength for nought, For trifles she no longer fought, Page 55 For human rules or rites: Her soul the Shibboleths disdain'd, By rigid novices maintain'd,42 And smooth-tongued hypocrites. With ease her quick-discerning eyes Look'd thro' the soft and thin disguise, The meek and humble veil: Beneath the superficial grace, She knew the lurking fiend to trace, The rage and pride of hell. Yet neither earth nor hell could move Her firm unconquerable love To Jesus and his flock: Her faith did all assaults indure, And stood like its foundation sure Establish'd on a rock. She lov'd, but lean'd no more on man, A broken reed, an helper vain; People and ministers Men of like passions she beheld, Their faults and weaknesses conceal'd, And help'd them by her prayers. Their Master she rever'd in them, With grateful love, and high esteem, Rejoic'd their work to own; But only Christ her Lord allow'd, And with entire devotion bow'd To Jesus' name alone. 42"Disdain'd" and "maintain'd" are in reversed positions in MS Spencer; which seems more fitting.