Wesley Corpus

The world, and their infernal god Against thy people rise, Because our trust is in thy blood They mingle earth and skies. Slaughter, and cruel threats they breathe, And endless battles wage, And gnash upon us with their teeth, And tear the ground with rage. 11Ori., "die." Page 26 Captain of our salvation hear, In all the heathen's sight Make bare thine arm; appear, appear, And for thy people fight. Jesus, thy righteous cause maintain, The sons of violence quell, Take to thee thy great power, and reign O'er heaven, and earth, and hell. As chaff before the whirlwind drive, And bruise them by thy rod, Who madly with their Maker strive, And fight against their God. Who kick against the pricks in vain Thy foes in anger blast, And chasten with judicial pain, But save their souls at last. O that at last by love compel'd The rebels might submit, In humble hope of mercy yield, And tremble at thy feet! The faith they persecute, imbrace, On thee their Lord rely, And live the mon'ments of thy grace, And for thy glory die! See, Lord, the purchase of thy death, Thy little feeble flock, Gather, and keep our souls beneath The shadow of their rock. Thy few returning sheep behold, By wolves encompast round, And let us never leave the fold, But still in thee be found. Page 27 Regard the number of our foes, Their subtlety and might, Arise, and stop the way of those Who 'gainst thy people fight. Helper of every helpless soul, Shew forth thy saving grace, The fierceness of vain man controul, Or turn it to thy praise. Thou know'st for thy dear sake alone We daily suffer shame, Because we dare our Master own, And triumph in thy name. Thee, Lord, before thy foes we dare In word and deed confess, Rejoice thy hallow'd cross to bear, And live thy witnesses. Witnesses of th' atoning blood Which did for sinners flow, And brought a guilty world to God, And sprinkled all below. That blood we felt thro' faith applied, And know our sins forgiven, And tell mankind the purple tide Would waft them all to heaven. For this we reckon all things loss, Till Christ the judge comes down, Honours the followers of his cross, And bids them wear his crown.