Wesley Corpus

Page 62 Before their face an Eden blooms, But where the grounded staff hath past, Their breath the paradise consumes, And lays the pleasant landscape waste, No more the seat of joy and peace, But one great dreary wilderness. As horsemen harness'd for the fight, They rush impetuous from afar, Borne headlong with resistless might, Loud-rattling as the rolling car, Light o'er the mountain-tops they bound, The vales with clanging arms resound. As fire on crackling stubble feeds, And wins its desolated way, The mighty host destruction spreads, Wide-wasting, and devours its prey, With noise confus'd, and shoutings loud, And groans, and garments roll'd in blood. Where'er they turn, the people fail, Pain'd and astonied at the sight, Their face o'erspread with deadly pale, Their heart o'erwhelm'd with huge affright, Hopeless to stand the invader's force, Or stop their all-victorious course. Nothing against their might shall stand, While firmly rank'd in close array And marshal'd by divine command, Secure they urge their rapid way, Or rise when fallen on the sword, Unwounded champions of the Lord. Swift to the slaughter and the spoil The fierce invulnerable powers Shall run, shall fly; their foemen foil, And scale the walls, and mount the towers: The earth beneath their rage shall quake, The battlements of heaven shall shake. Page 63 The sun no more shall rule the day, But set eclips'd in sudden night, The moon shall lose her paler ray, The stars withdraw their glimm'ring light, The higher powers shall disappear, When God, the glorious King, is near. Before his dreadful camp the Lord Shall utter his majestic voice, For he is strong, and keeps his word, And all his vengeful power employs Against the world in that great day, When heaven and earth shall flee away. The Second Chapter of Joel. Part II. Wherefore he now in mercy cries With all your heart ye sinners turn, To me, before my wrath arise, To me confess your sins and mourn, Chasten your souls with fast severe, And tremble at my judgments near. Your hearts, and not your garments rent, And turn unto the Lord your God, For he is kind, on mercy bent, Gracious to those that hear his rod, To anger slow, and loath to chide, But swift to lay his bolt aside.