Wesley Corpus

But wilt thou not thy cause maintain, Thy helpless, injur'd people right? Yes, Lord; our faith shall not be vain, Our faith in thy all-saving might Shall bring the promis'd succours down, And win the fight, and take the crown. Page 116 Thou wilt, we stedfastly believe, Thy glorious arm at last display, Out of the toils of hell retrieve, And take us for thy lawful prey, Call home thy flock to exile driven, And lead us to thy fold in heaven. Hymns for the Persecuted. Hymn VII. Rejoice, ye happy saints, Who only Jesus know, Whom vice and folly paints As monsters here below, Rejoice in the divine applause, The honour from above, And glory in your Master's cross, And triumph in his love. Ye wise and pious few, Whose names the world blaspheme, They therefore know not you Because they know not him: Strangers, approv'd of God alone, To all their wrongs submit, And let them spurn, and tread you down As clay beneath their feet. 'Tis thus ye learn to be True followers of the Lamb, Who died upon the tree, That ye might do the same: With humble thankfulness receive The scandal of the cross, The grace not only to believe, But suffer for his cause. Page 117 By fools accounted mad, Of his reproach possest, He bids your hearts be glad, Your Lord declares you blest: Exult in your despis'd estate, Enjoy the token given, For O! Beyond conception great Is your reward in heaven. Hymns for the Persecuted. Hymn VIII. John xvi. 1, 2, 3, 4. Master, we call thy word to mind, Thy truth and faithfulness we find Our sure support, and stay: The time is come, by thee foretold, Like sheep we are to slaughter sold, And made to wolves a prey. The world, who take thy name in vain, Afflict our shrinking flesh with pain, Our feeble spirits grieve, The Christian world with furious zeal, Out of their synagogues expel, And murmur that we live. They load us with reproach, and shame, As loathsome hereticks disclaim, And from thine altars chase; Assur'd they do thee service good, And merit much, who shed the blood Of such a pois'nous race. Because our God they have not known, Nor thee his meek, pacific Son,