Wesley Corpus

Jesu, great healer of mankind, Who dost our sorrows bear, Let an afflicted parent find An answer to his prayer. I look for help in thee alone, To thee for succour fly; My son is sick, my darling son, And at the point to die. By deep distress a suppliant made, By agony of grief, Most justly might thy love upbraid My lingring unbelief. But thou art ready still to run, And grant our heart's desire: Lord, in thy healing power come down, Before my child expire. Surely if thou pronounce the word If thou the answer give, My dying son shall be restor'd, And to thy glory live. Rebuke the fever in this hour, Command it to depart; Now, let me now behold thy power, And give thee all my heart. O save the father in the son, Restore him, Lord, to me; My heart the miracle shall own, And give him back to thee. 58Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Clarke, 204-206; and MS Shent, 162a-162b. Page 276 I will, I will obey thy word, To thee my all resign, I, and my house will serve the Lord, And live forever thine. On the Death of a Child. Hymn I.59 Wherefore should I make my moan, Now the darling child is dead? He to early rest is gone, He to paradise is fled: I shall go to him, but he Never shall return to me. God forbids his longer stay, God recalls the precious loan, God hath taken him away, From my bosom to his own; Surely what he wills is best, Happy in his will I rest. Faith cries out, It is the Lord! Let him do as seems him good: Be thy holy name ador'd, Take the gift awhile bestow'd, Take the child, no longer mine, Thine he is, forever thine. On the Death of a Child. Hymn II.60 Glory to that victorious grace, Thro' which a worm can all things do! I stand o'erwhelm'd with vast amaze, And scarce believe the wonder true; 59Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 204-5; MS Clarke, 210; and MS Shent, 162b. 60Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 205-7; MS Clarke, 211-13; and MS Shent, 163a-163b. Page 277 'Tis more than heart could e'er conceive, I know my child is dead and live!