Wesley Corpus

Warn'd by thy Spirit's gracious call We look'd for this vindictive day; And still we at thy footstool fall, And still we weep, and watch, and pray: Hear, Jesu, hear our mournful prayer, And spare, the sinful nation spare. Why should they still be stricken, Lord, When all thy strokes are spent in vain? They will not see the invading sword, But dare thy lifted arm again, And deep-revolting more and more, Defy thine anger's utmost power. Still they provoke thy glorious eyes, And scorn thy outstretch'd arm to fear, Thy gracious calls they still despise, And vex thy faithful servants here, And hunt to death the righteous soul, And make their guilty measure full. Though twice ten thousand souls are fled With pain to their eternal home, The rest disdain thy wrath to dread, And eager for their instant doom, Page 55 2This is defined in OED as a verb meaning "to knock" or "strike with a hard short blow." When Wesley quotes the last four lines in this stanza in his MS Journal (May 2, 1746), he uses "Snap" instead. 3Ori., "4." With Pharaoh's rage pursue thy sheep, And rush into the hellish deep. Yet for the honour of thy love The people of thy wrath forbear, Their sin and punishment remove, The fury and the waste of war; Pluck from the fire, Almighty God, And quench the brands in Jesus' blood! For His Majesty King George. Lord of hosts we look to thee, To thee in faith we call, Terrible in majesty Thou reignest over all, Thy great arm salvation brings, Thou o'er-rul'st th' imbattled powers, Giv'st the victory to kings O give it now to ours! Sovereign Arbiter arise, His lawful right maintain, Blast and scatter with thine eyes Whoe'er oppose his reign: All their strength o'erturn, o'erthrow, Knap2 their spears, and break their swords, Make the daring rebels know The battle is the Lord's. Not by many or by few Art thou restrain'd to save: They shall all their foes subdue Who thee their helper have; Let the world their powers engage, Rome's and hell's whole conclave join, Calm we meet their utmost rage, If arm'd with strength divine. Page 56 4Ori., "10."