Wesley Corpus

Then let us all proceed, In Jesu's conquest share, Boldly march up with Christ our head, That thunder-bolt of war; Jesus hath all broke thro', Hell, earth, and sin, and death, And we shall more than conquer too, Who Jesu's Spirit breathe. Thro' faith in our dear Lord We surely shall obtain The promise of a full reward, And here with Jesus reign; We without sin shall live, Before we hence remove, Our heavenly calling's prize receive, The crown of perfect love. Our souls like God rais'd up Shall live no more to die, Our flesh dissolv'd shall rest in hope Of immortality: Jesus shall soon appear, With royal glory crown'd, Our dust the trump of God shall hear, And kindle at the sound. Quicken'd by power divine, We all shall see, and know The Son of man's triumphant sign, The cross we bore below; Caught up we all shall rise, Our Master's glory share, And take our seats above the skies, And reign forever there. Page 236 Hymns for Believers. Hymn XXVIII. "The whole armour of God."37 Ephesians vi. Soldiers of Christ, arise, And put your armour on, Strong in the strength which God supplies Thro' his eternal Son; Strong in the Lord of hosts, And in his mighty power, Who in the strength of Jesus trusts Is more than conqueror. Stand then in his great might, With all his strength endu'd, And take, to arm you for the fight, The panoply of God; That having all things done, And all your conflicts past, Ye may o'ercome thro' Christ alone, And stand entire at last. Stand then against your foes, In close and firm array: Legions of wily fiends oppose Throughout the evil day; But meet the sons of night, But mock their vain design, Arm'd in the arms of heavenly light, Of righteousness divine. Leave no unguarded place, No weakness of the soul, Take every virtue, every grace, And fortify the whole; 37This hymn was published first by Charles as a broadsheet in 1742, and then appended shortly thereafter to John Wesley's Character of a Methodist (Bristol: Farley, 1742). A manuscript precursor appears in MS Thirty, Page 237 Indissolubly join'd, To battle all proceed; But arm yourselves with all the mind That was in Christ your head.