Wesley Corpus

And shall we mourn to see Our fellow-prisoner free? Free from doubts, and griefs, and fears, In the haven of the skies! Can we weep to see the tears Wip'd forever from his eyes? No, dear companion, no! We gladly let thee go From a suffering church beneath To a reigning church above: Thou hast more than conquer'd death, Thou art crown'd with life, and love. 99James Hitchens, a blacksmith at Gwennap, Cornwall was an early convert to Methodism. Four of his sons became lay preachers, suffering significant hardship and persecution for their labor. Two died "in the saddle." The first, Samuel, is commemorated in this hymn. John Wesley published an account of his death and that of his brother a year later: A Short Account of the Death of Sam Hitchens (1746); and A Short Account of the Death of Thomas Hitchens (1747). Page 75 Thou in thy youthful prime Hast leap'd the bounds of time; Suddenly from earth releast, Lo! We now rejoice for thee, Taken to an early rest, Caught into eternity. Thither we all repair, That glorious bliss to share: We shall see the welcome day, We shall to the summons bow: Come, Redeemer, come away, Now prepare, and take us now! Desiring Death. Hymn XII. For One Departing. Happy soul, thy days are ended, All thy mourning days below: Go, by angel guards attended, To the sight of Jesus go! Waiting to receive thy Spirit, Lo! The Saviour stands above, Shews the purchase of his merit, Reaches out the crown of love. Struggle thro' thy latest passion To thy dear Redeemer's breast, To his uttermost salvation, To his everlasting rest: For the joy he sets before thee, Bear a momentary pain, Die, to live the life of glory, Suffer, with thy Lord to reign. Page 76 Desiring Death. Hymn XIII. On the Death of a Farewell thou once a sinner, My poor afflicted friend! Thy Lord, thy faith's beginner, Is now its glorious end! The author of thy being Hath summon'd thee away, And faith is lost in seeing, And night in endless day. Thy days of pain and mourning, Thy punishment is past, And to thy God returning Thy soul is sav'd at last: Sav'd from a world of evils, With Jesus Christ shut in, Beyond the range of devils, Beyond the reach of sin.