Wesley Corpus

Gideon, and Barak claim the song, And David good, and Samuel wise, And Jephtha bold, and Samson strong, And all the ancient prophets rise! Page 11 The battles of the Lord they fought Thro' faith, and mighty states subdu'd, And works of righteousness they wrought, And prov'd the faithfulness of God. They stop'd the lions' mouths, the rage Of fire they quench'd, escap'd the sword, The weak grew strong, and bold t' engage, And chase the hosts that dar'd their Lord. Women their quicken'd dead receiv'd, Women the power of faith display'd, With stedfast confidence believ'd, Believ'd their children from the dead. Verses XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII. Others, as in a furnace try'd, With strength of passive grace endu'd, Tortures, and deaths thro' faith defy'd, Thro' faith resisted unto blood. Earth they beheld with gen'rous scorn, On all its proffer'd goods look'd down, High on a fiery chariot borne, They lost their life to keep their crown. Secure a better life to find, The path of varied death they trod, Their souls triumphantly resign'd, And died into the arms of God. The prelude of contempt they found, A spectacle to fiends and men; Cruelly mock'd, and scourg'd, and bound, 'Till death shut up the bloody scene. Or stoned, they glorified their Lord, Or joy'd, asunder sawn, t' expire, Or rush'd to meet the slaught'ring sword, Or triumph'd in the tort'ring fire. Page 12 Verses XXXVII, XXXVIII. Naked, or in rough goatskins clad, In every place they long confess'd The God, for whom o'er earth they stray'd Tormented, destitute, distress'd. Of whom the world unworthy was, Whom only God their Maker knew, The world they punish'd with their loss, The holy anchorites withdrew. Lone unfrequented wilds they trod, O'er mountain-tops the wanderers ran, With milder beasts in dens abode, And shun'd the haunts of savage man. Verses XXXIX, XL. Famed for their faith all these believ'd, By justifying faith made whole: Nor yet the promis'd grace receiv'd, The Christ, the fulness in their soul. A better gift he us provides, On whom the gospel-times are come; And lo! The Holy Ghost abides In us, and makes our hearts his home. We now our elder brethren meet, Their faith, and happiness improve, And soon with them shall shine compleat In Christ, and perfected in love.