Wesley Corpus

Or rather, if any are nigh, Forlorn, and afflicted like me, All night let us lift up our cry, And mourn his appearing to see, (As watchmen expecting the morn) Look out for the light of his face, And wait for his mercy's return, And long to recover his grace. His grace to our souls did appear, And brought us salvation from sin; We felt our Emmanuel here, Restoring his kingdom within: But O! We have lost him again, His Spirit hath taken its flight, Our joy, it is turn'd into pain, Our day it is turn'd into night. O what shall we do to retrieve The love for a season bestow'd! 'Tis better to die than to live Exil'd from the presence of God: With sorrow distracted, and doubt, With palpable horror opprest, The city we wander about, And seek our repose in his breast. Page 123 Ye watchmen of Israel, declare If ye our beloved have seen, And point to that heavenly fair, Surpassing the children of men: Our lover and Lord from above, Who only can quiet our pain, Whom only we languish to love, O where shall we find him again! The joy, and desire of our eyes, The end of our sorrow and woe, Our hope, and our heavenly prize, Our height of ambition below; Once more if he shew us his face, He never again shall depart, Detain'd in our closest embrace, Eternally held in our heart. Hymns for the Watch-Night. Hymn IV. O Jesus, the rest Of spirits distrest, In whom all the children of men may be blest, The blessing design'd For the whole of mankind, Give us in the love of thy Spirit to find. For this do we keep A sad vigil, and weep, The fruit of our tears that in joy we may reap; While sent from above The comfort we prove, The unspeakable gift of thy ransoming love. Our brethren we see By mercy set free, They have found the abundant redemption in thee. Page 124 Thy tenders of grace They gladly embrace, And tell of thy goodness, and live to thy praise. But still we remain In bondage and pain, Unable to bear, or to shake off our chain; In the furnace we cry, Come, Lord, from the sky, Make haste to our help, or in Egypt we die.