Wesley Corpus

Foolish world, thy vain reply Is to the faithful known, "If we must on God rely, And God doth all alone, Rust our arms, our useless bands And navies be dispers'd abroad, Let us idly fold our hands, And leave it all to God." God who doth appoint the end The proper means bestows, Wills us bravely to defend Our country from her foes: "Fight with Amalek," he cries, While Moses on the mountain prays, Brings assistance from the skies, And ascertains success. Still the battle is the Lord's, Who doth the vict'ry send: Bring forth all your spears and swords, Yet still on God depend: Courage, strength, and skill exert, Every nerve and sinew strain, Yet unless he takes your part Your utmost effort's vain. Did we in our evil day Low at thy footstool mourn, Cast our daring sins away, And to our smiter turn, Then thou wouldst for us appear, As a wall of brass surround, Put our vaunting foes in fear, And all their force confound. Did we, Lord, in every step Look up to thee for aid, Us thou wouldst in safety keep Beneath th' almighty shade; Page 21 While our weapons we employ, And in thine only name confide, None could hurt us, or annoy, With Jesus on our side. Britain thou again wouldst chuse, And call our nation thine, Teach us means, as means to use, And answer thy design, Wouldst our sins, not us, destroy, Us out of the dunghill raise, Turn our sorrow into joy, And nature into grace. Rise, the Lord of armies, rise In thy appointed hour, Scattering evil with thine eyes, And every adverse power: Then let earth and hell engage, Lodg'd in thine arms to pluck us thence, Raging against us, they rage Against omnipotence. Crush'd by thine almighty hand, Do thou our foes suppress, Then throughout the earth command Infernal wars to cease, Bid the ransom'd world be still And know that thou art God alone, Seated on thy holy hill, On thy millennial throne! Hymn XIII. Jesus, thy flaming eyes Full on the wicked dart, Who in rebellion's cause arise, And take the murtherer's part, Their bloody path pursue, A congress from beneath, A daring, dark, and desperate crew, In league with hell and death. Page 22