Wesley Corpus

Fully thy heavenly mission prove, And make thy own election sure; Rooted in faith, and hope, and love, Active to work, and firm t' endure. Scorn to contend with flesh and blood, And trample on so mean a foe; By stronger fiends in vain withstood, Dauntless to nobler conquests go. Go where the darkest tempest low'rs, Thy foes triumphant wrestler foil; Thrones, principalities, and powers, Engage, o'ercome, and take the spoil. The weapons of thy warfare take, With truth and meekness arm'd ride on; Mighty, through God, hell's kingdom shake, Satan's strong holds, through God, pull down. Humble each vain aspiring boast, Intensely for God's glory burn; Strongly declare the sinner lost, SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS o'erturn, o'erturn. Page 29 Tear the bright idol from his shrine, Nor suffer him on earth to dwell; T' usurp the place of blood divine, But chase him to his native hell. Be all into subjection brought, The pride of man let faith abase; And captivate his every thought, And force him to be sav'd by grace. To the Same Revd. Mr. Whitefield, Before His Voyage.15 Servant of God, the summons hear, Thy Master calls, arise, obey! The tokens of his will appear, His providence points out thy16 way. Lo! We commend thee to his grace! In confidence go forth! Be strong! Thy meat his will, thy boast his praise, His righteousness be all thy song. Strong in the Lord's almighty power, And arm'd in panoply divine, Firm may'st thou stand in danger's hour, And prove the strength of Jesus thine. 15First published in George Whitefield's Continuation of the Reverend Mr. Whitefield's Journal, During the Time he was Detained in England by the Embargo (London: James Hutton, 1739), iii-iv. 16Ori. "the", a misprint; restored to "thy" in 4th edn. (1743) and following, as it had appeared in Whitefield's Journal. Page 30 Thy breast-plate be his righteousness, His sacred truth thy loins surround; Shod be thy beauteous feet with peace, Spring forth, and spread the gospel sound. Fight the good fight, and stand secure In faith's impenetrable shield; Hell's prince shall tremble at its power, With all his fiery darts repel'd. Prevent thy foes, nor wait their charge, But call their ling'ring battle on. But strongly grasp thy seven-fold targe, And bear the world, and Satan down.