Wesley Corpus

O Father, who hearest the prayer, Presented in Jesus's name, The peaceable answer declare, Confirm'd in the blood of the Lamb; We pray thee, for Jesus's sake The prisoner of Jesus retrieve, And give us his confessor back, And all to thy glory receive. Hymns for the Persecuted. Hymn V. Another For One in Prison. Hear, O Lord, the ceaseless prayer The suffering members groan, Page 114 Lo! We all the burthen bear, And grieve the grief of one: Pray we, Jesus, in thy name, Give him to thy church restor'd, Him whom now in faith we claim, The prisoner of the Lord. All together bound with him We for deliverance cry: Thou art mighty to redeem, Thy help is ever nigh: Who against thy power can stand? Jesu, Lord, the matter take Into thine almighty hand, And send our brother back. Now into his dungeon shine, And sweeten his distress, Fill his heart with love divine, And keep in perfect peace; Let his mind on thee be stay'd, Lull him in thy arms to rest, Bid him lean his weary head On his Redeemer's breast. Keep him, 'till th' appointed hour Thy glory to display, Then put forth thy kingly power, And make an open way; From his sins, and bonds release, Stamp him with the stamp divine, Thou thy lawful captive seize, And seal him ever thine. Page 115 Hymns for the Persecuted. Hymn VI. Hear, O thou strength of Israel, hear Thy poor, afflicted people's cry, From Satan, and his legions near, To thee our only help we fly; All human confidence resign, Nor trust in any arm but thine. Not one of all the rich, or great, Or noble, on our side is seen, They shrink to bear thy cross's weight, They seek the praise that comes from men, Thine honour sell, to save their own, And leave us to our God alone. Expos'd we seem to Satan's will, As sheep 'midst ravening wolves we lie, Our foes have learnt the art to kill, By legal wrong they doom to die The faithful followers of our Lord, And slay them as with Ammon's sword. In haste to fill their measure up, And bring thy plague on all the race, Their ears against thy calls they stop, Reject the gospel of thy grace, Slaughter against thy people breathe, And drag thy messengers to death.