Wesley Corpus

Page 73 This memo'ry I shall lose it there, With all I feel, and am: In sweet oblivion drown'd My sorrows all shall cease; There only92 peace for me is found, A sure eternal peace. I dare not hope93 to see My sufferings end below, But wait the hour that sets me free From life, and all its woe: No gleam of joy shall steal94 Into this wretched heart, 'Till God his perfect love reveal, And bid me hence depart. Harden'd in just despair95 I hug the destin'd cross,96 The wound incurable97 I bear, Th' irreparable loss: The pangs thro' which I groan On earth shall never end,98 For O! Eternity alone Can give me back my friend. O happy, happy hope (My only hope of bliss) I, even I, shall there look up, And see my troubles cease, Beyond the cruel power Of sin I there shall be, I, even I, shall reach the shore Of calm eternity. Come then, my friendly foes, With kindest violence come, Fill up the measure of my woes, Hasten my spirit home, 92John Wesley underlined "There only" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 93John Wesley underlined "dare not hope" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 94John Wesley underlined this line in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 95John Wesley underlined "just despair" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 96John Wesley underlined "destin'd cross" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 97John Wesley underlined "wound incurable" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 98John Wesley underlined "shall never end" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). Page 74 Let grief, and loss, and shame With men and devils join, To drive a wretch without a name Into the arms divine. Desiring Death. Hymn XI. On the Death of Samuel Hitchins.99 Again we lift our voice And shout our solemn joys! Cause of highest rapture this, Rapture that shall never fail, See a soul escap'd to bliss, Keep the Christian festival! Our friend is gone before To that celestial shore! He hath left his mates behind, He hath all these storms outrode, Found the rest we toil to find, Landed in the arms of God.