Wesley Corpus

King of Glory, soul of bliss, Everlasting life is this, Thee to know, thy pow'r to prove, Thus to sing, and thus to love! Hymn for Ascension-Day.32 Hail the day that sees him rise, Ravish'd from our wishful eyes; Christ a while to mortals giv'n, Re-ascends his native heav'n! Page 39 33HSP (1747) has inverted the first two lines and the second two lines of the HSP (1739) original in this stanza. There the pompous triumph waits, "Lift your heads eternal gates, Wide unfold the radiant scene, Take the King of Glory in!" Circled round with angel pow'rs, Their triumphant Lord and ours, Conqu'ror over death and sin, Take the King of Glory in! Tho' returning to his throne, Still he calls mankind his own. Him tho' highest heav'n receives, Still he loves the earth he leaves.33 See! He lifts his hands above! See! He shews the prints of love! Hark! His gracious lips bestow Blessings on his church below! Still for us his death he pleads; Prevalent, he intercedes; Near himself prepares our place, Harbinger of human race. Master, (will we ever say) Taken from our head to-day; See thy faithful servants, see! Ever gazing up to thee. Grant, tho' parted from our sight, High above yon azure height, Page 40 34First appeared in HSP (1739), 213-15. Grant our hearts may thither rise, Following thee beyond the skies. Ever upward let us move, Wafted on the wings of love, Looking when our Lord shall come, Longing, gasping after home. There we shall with thee remain, Partners of thy endless reign; There thy face unclouded see, Find our heav'n of heav'ns in thee! Hymn for Whitsunday.34 Granted is the Saviour's pray'r, Sent the gracious Comforter; Promise of our parting Lord, Jesus to his heav'n restor'd: Christ; who now gone up on high, Captive leads captivity, While his foes from him receive Grace, that God with man may live. God, the everlasting God, Makes with mortals his abode, Whom the heav'ns cannot contain, He vouchsafes to dwell in man. Page 41 Never will he thence depart, Inmate of an humble heart; Carrying on his work within, Striving till he cast out sin. There he helps our feeble moans, Deepens our imperfect groans; Intercedes in silence there, Sighs th' unutterable pray'r. Come, divine and peaceful guest, Enter our devoted breast; Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire, Kindle there the gospel-fire.