Wesley Corpus

A place he should possess at last, When full four hundred years were o'er, Upon the word himself he cast, He follow'd God, and ask'd no more. As in a strange, tho' promis'd, land, (A land his distant heirs receiv'd,) He, and his sons in tents remain'd; He knew on whom he had believ'd. A better heritage he sought, A city built by God on high, Thither he rais'd his tow'ring thought, He fix'd on heaven his stedfast eye. Whose firm foundations never move, Jerusalem was all his care, The New Jerusalem above; His treasure, and his heart was there. And shall not we the call obey, And haste where God commands, to go? Despise these tenements of clay, These dreams of happiness below? Yes Lord; we hearken to thy call, As sojourners o'er earth we rove, We have for thee forsaken all, And seek the heaven of perfect love. Page 11 Verses XI, XII. By faith, the handmaid of the Lord, Sarah, receiv'd a power unknown, She judg'd him faithful to his word; Barren and old she bore a son. Nature had lost its genial power, And Abraham was old in vain: Impossibilities are o'er, If faith assent, and God ordain. He glorified JEHOVAH's name; (God spake the word, it must be done) Father of nations he became, And multitudes sprang forth from one. From one old man the race did rise, A barren womb the myriads bore, Countless, as stars that deck the skies, As sands that crown the ocean shore. Verses XIII, XIV, XV, XVI. The worthies these of ancient days, By faith they lived, in faith they died: Not yet receiv'd the promis'd grace, But darkly from afar descri'd. Assur'd the Saviour should appear, And confident in Christ to come, Him they embrac'd, tho' distant near, And languish'd for their heavenly home. Page 12 Pilgrims they here themselves confess'd, Who no abiding-place must know, Strangers on earth they could not rest, Or find their happiness below. Regardless of the things behind, The earthly home from whence they came, A better land they long'd to find, A promis'd heaven was all their aim. Their faith the gracious Father sees, And kindly for his children cares, He condescends to call them his, And suffers them to call him theirs,