Wesley Corpus

Three innocents lie buried here, Who in their dawn of day Rejoic'd before the Lord t' appear, And 'scaped at once away. At once their pardon they receiv'd With Jesu's blood applied, His witnesses awhile they liv'd, His witnesses they died. Quicken'd at once they soon shall rise, Their Saviour's joy to share: Reader, expect him from the skies, And thou shalt meet him there. Page 282 Epitaph on Mrs. Susanna Wesley.62 In sure and stedfast hope to rise, And claim her mansion in the skies, A Christian here her flesh laid down, The cross exchanging for the crown. True daughter of affliction she, Enur'd to pain and misery, Mourn'd a long night of griefs and fears, A legal night of seventy years. The Father then reveal'd his Son, Him in the broken bread made known, She knew, and felt her sins forgiven, And found the earnest of her heaven. Meet for the fellowship above, She heard the call, "Arise, my love:" "I come," her dying looks replied, And lamb-like as her Lord she died! On the Death of Mrs. Elisabeth Witham.63 And is the happy spirit fled? And is she number'd with the dead, Who live to God above? Make haste, my soul, her steps pursue, And fight like her thy passage through, To yon bright throne of love. 62Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 80; and MS Clarke, 91. 63Charles included a manuscript version of this hymn in a letter to Sarah and Thomas Witham (December 18, 1747), surviving children of Elizabeth (Harrison) Witham. Mrs. Witham was an early supporter of the Wesley brothers in London, serving as a band leader and often hosting them in her home. She died November 29, 1747. Page 283 By her example fir'd I rise, My blissful mansion in the skies Determin'd to secure; And if I dare believe the word, And follow her as she her Lord, The glorious prize is sure. The speaking saint, tho' dead, I hear, Who past her time in lowly fear, Her chearful time below: A daily death on earth she died, Her Jesus, and him crucified, Resolv'd alone to know. Since first she felt the sprinkled blood, She never lost her hold of God, She never went astray; When stronger souls their Lord forsook, And shamefully threw off his yoke, And cast his cross away.