Wesley Corpus

Page 229 Ah! Lord, regard in him thy Spirit's groan, And haste to perfect all thy saints in one! Divinely warn'd to meet the mortal hour, And tread the path his Saviour trod before, Without surprize the sudden call he heard, Always alike for life or death prepar'd; With calm delight the summons he receiv'd, For well he knew in whom he had believ'd, He knew himself with Christ for ever one, (The Lamb that died for all his sins t' atone) And welcom'd death whose only sting was gone: The foe to nature, but a friend to grace, The king of terrors with an angel-face! He smil'd as the swift messenger drew near, With stedfast faith, and love that cast out fear Look'd thro' the vale, and saw his Lord appear. But O! what words the mighty joy can paint, Or reach the raptures of a dying saint! See there! the dying saint with smiling eyes A spectacle to men and angels lies! His soul from every spot of sin set free, His hope is full of immortality: To live was Christ to him, and death is gain; Resign'd, triumphant in the mortal pain, He lays his earthly tabernacle down In confidence to grasp the starry crown, Sav'd to the utmost here by Jesu's grace, "I here," he cries, "have seen his glorious face." Nor ev'n in death could he forget his own; Still the kind brother, and the pious son