Wesley Corpus

The word, which struck them to the ground, Could it not strike them into hell? Whom all the hosts of heaven surround, He will not force by force repel, Put up, he cries, thy needless sword, Nor stain the meekness of thy Lord. He chides his rash disciple's zeal, Accepts nor man's nor angel's aid: Vouchsafes his wounded foe to heal: The hands, that had his murtherers made, Page 5 He stretches out; he lets them bind The hands that could unmake mankind. Doth he in deed or word gain-say, Or ask or struggle to be freed? They lead the speechless Lamb away: To scorn, and pain, and death they lead The speechless Lamb; resign'd unto The utmost earth and hell could do. O that I might like him withstand, Like him mine innocency clear, Like him resist the ruffian-band, Like him refuse the cross to bear, Like him the persecutor fly; Like him submit to live, and die? The Trial of Faith. Hymn II. Jesu, thy record I receive, With lowly self-mistrusting fear: As many days as here I live, So many must I suffer here: In all my Master's steps to go, To suffer is my lot below. Thy Spirit witnesses to mine, I must thy daily cross endure: I know the warning is divine: The word of promis'd pain is sure; Afflictions all my steps attend, And but with life my griefs shall end. Whate'er the rage of fiends, and men, Can by divine permission do, I come expecting to sustain: It must be so, for God is true; Page 6 And God hath spoke the faithful word, "The servant shall be as his Lord." Master, if thee the world blasphem'd, Will they not scorn, and cast out me? I shall be more and more contemn'd, I shall be more and more like thee, 'Till all-conform'd to thee I am, And honour'd with thine utmost shame. If thee th' ungrateful world could hate, Thou friend, and lover of mankind, Shall I not feel their anger's weight, Shall I not all their malice find, Hated, opprest, despis'd, abhorr'd, And persecuted with my Lord! They will, thyself hast said, they will, With mortal hate my life pursue, As helpless sheep thy people kill, Service to God by murder do, Offer thee human sacrifice, And glut thee with thy martyrs' cries.