Wesley Corpus

Fear not hence that ill should flow, Wars or pestilence below, Wars it bids and tumults cease, Ushering in the Prince of Peace. Mild he shines on all beneath, Piercing thro' the shade of death, Scatt'ring error's wide-spread night, Kindling darkness into light. 68"Inner" changed to "heav'nly" in 4th edn. (1743) and 5th edn. (1756). 69Charles included a manuscript copy of this hymn in MS Richmond Tracts, 21. 70Reads "behold him far" in HSP (1747). Page 209 Nations all, far off and near, Haste to see your God appear! Haste, for him your hearts prepare, Meet him manifested there! There behold the Day-Spring rise, Pouring eye-sight on your eyes, God in his own light survey, Shining to the perfect day. Sing, ye morning stars again, God descends on earth to reign, Deigns for man his life t' employ; Shout, ye sons of God, for joy! Hymn for Easter-Day.71 "Christ the Lord is ris'n to day," Sons of men and angels say, Raise your joys and triumphs high, Sing ye heav'ns, and earth reply. Love's redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the battle won, Lo! Our sun's eclipse is o'er, Lo! He sets in blood no more. 71Charles included a manuscript copy of this hymn in MS Richmond Tracts, 22-23. Page 210 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Christ has burst the gates of hell! Death in vain forbids his rise: Christ has open'd paradise! Lives again our glorious King, Where, O death, is now thy sting? Dying once he all doth save,72 Where thy victory, O grave? Soar we now, where Christ has led? Following our exalted head, Made like him, like him we rise, Ours the cross the grave the skies! What tho' once we perish'd all, Partners in our parent's fall? Second life we all receive, In our heav'nly Adam live. Ris'n with him, we upward move, Still we seek the things above, Still pursue, and kiss the Son Seated on his Father's throne; Scarce on earth a thought bestow, Dead to all we leave below, Heav'n our aim, and lov'd abode, Hid our life with Christ in God! 72Changed to "Once he died our souls to save" in 4th edn. (1743) and 5th edn. (1756). Page 211 Hid; till Christ our life appear, Glorious in his members here: Join'd to him, we then shall shine All immortal, all divine!