Wesley Corpus

Last updated: Sept. 3, 2007. Life of Faith (1740)1 Baker list, 18 Editorial Introduction: This is the first major published example of Charles Wesley's propensity for versifying scripture. Charles issued it in his own name as a pamphlet on May 24, 1740, and the ledger of his printer (William Strahan) suggests that it was reprinted on June 2 on that year. John Wesley then incorporated the hymn into Hymns and Sacred Poems (1740), which appeared in July. The issues of the "quietism" controversy between the Wesley brothers and the English Moravians can also be discerned in this work; cf. the introduction to Means of Grace (1740). Editions: Charles Wesley. The Life of Faith. London: Strahan, 1740. Page 1 Exemplified in the Eleventh Chapter of St. Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews. By Charles Wesley, M.A. Student of Christ-Church, Oxford. Verse I. Author of faith, eternal word, Whose Spirit breathes the active flame, Faith, like its Finisher and Lord, To day, as yesterday the same; To thee our humble hearts aspire, And ask the gift unspeakable: Increase in us the kindled fire, In us the work of faith fulfil. By faith we know thee strong to save, (Save us, a present Saviour thou!) Whate'er we hope, by faith we have, Future and past subsisting now. To him that in thy name believes, Eternal life with thee is given, Into himself he all receives, Pardon, and happiness, and heaven. Page 2 The things unknown to feeble sense, Unseen by reason's glimm'ring ray, With strong, commanding evidence Their heavenly origine display. Faith lends its realizing light, The clouds disperse, the shadows fly, Th' invisible appears in sight, And God is seen by mortal eye. Verses II, III. By faith the holy men of old Obtain'd a never-dying name, The sacred leaves their praise unfold, And God himself records their fame. Thro' faith we know the worlds were made, By his great word to being brought: He spake: the earth and heaven obey'd; The universe sprang forth from nought. The heavens thy glorious power proclaim, If thou in us thy power declare; We know from whom the fabrick came, Our heart believes, when God is there. Thee thro' thy self we understand, When thou in us thyself hast shown, We see thy all creating hand, We feel a God thro' faith alone. Verse IV.