Wesley Corpus

Long did all hell its pow'rs engage, And fill'd thy darken'd soul with fears: Baffled at length the dragon's rage, At length th' attoning blood appears: Thy light is come, thy mourning's o'er, Look up; for thou shalt weep no more! Blest be the name that sets thee free, The name that sure salvation brings! The Sun of righteousness on thee Has rose with healing in his wings. Away let grief and sighing flee; Jesus has died for thee for thee! And will he now forsake his own, Or lose the purchase of his blood? No! For he looks with pity down, He watches over thee for good; Gracious he eyes thee from above, And guards and feeds thee with his love. Since thou wast precious in his sight, How highly favour'd hast thou been! Upborn by faith to glory's height, The Saviour-God thine eyes have seen, Thy heart has felt its sins forgiv'n, And tastes anticipated heav'n. Page 205 Still may his love thy fortress be And make thee still his darling care, Settle, confirm, and stablish thee, On eagle's wings thy spirit bear: Fill thee with heav'n, and ever shed63 His choicest blessings on thy head. Thus may he comfort thee below, Thus may he all his graces give: Him but in part thou here canst know: Yet here by faith submit to live; Help me to fight my passage thro', Nor seize thy heav'n, till I may too. Or if the sov'reign wise decree First number thee among the blest, (The only good I'd envy thee) Translating to an earlier rest; Near in thy latest hour may I Instruct, and learn of thee, to die. Mixt with the quires that hover round And all th' adverse pow'rs controul, Angel of peace may I be found To animate thy parting soul, Point out the crown, and smooth thy way To regions of eternal day. Fir'd with the thought, I see thee now Triumphant meet the king of fears! 63Changed to "Fill thee with heavenly joy, and shed" in 4th edn. (1743) and 5th edn. (1756). Page 206 Stedfast thy heart, serene thy brow; Divinely confident appears Thy mounting soul, and spreads abroad, And swells to be dissolv'd in God.