Wesley Corpus

O death, my hope is full of thee, Thou art my immortality, My longing heart's desire, The mention of thy lovely name Kindles within my breast a flame, And sets me all on fire. Extend thy arms, and take me in, Weary of life, and self, and sin; Be thou my balm, my ease: I languish till thy face appears, No longer now the king of fears, Thou art all loveliness. I gasp to end my wretched days, To rush into thy cold embrace, And there securely rest; Come, O thou friend of sorrows, come, Lead to the chambers of the tomb, And lull me on thy breast. I feel that thou hast lost thy sting, My dying Saviour and my King Bore all my sins for me, He tasted death, and made it sweet, From thee the eater brought forth meat, Eternal life from thee. 16Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Richmond Tracts, 11-12; MS Shent, 157a; and MS Thirty, 182-83. Page 270 This earth, I know, is not my place, O that I now might end my race, And leave a world of sin! Receive, dear Lord, my parting breath, Thou, Jesus, hast the keys of death, Open, and take me in! The Christian. Who is as the Christian great! Bought, and wash'd with sacred blood, Crowns he sees beneath his feet, Soars aloft, and walks with God. Who is as the Christian wise! He his nought for all hath given, Bought the pearl of greatest price, Nobly barter'd earth for heaven. Who is as the Christian blest! He hath found the long-sought stone, He is join'd to Christ his rest, He and happiness are one. Earth and heaven together meet, Gifts in him and graces join, Make the character compleat, All immortal, all divine. Page 271 Lo! his cloathing is the Sun, The bright Sun of righteousness, He hath put salvation on, Jesus is his beauteous dress. Lo! he feeds on living bread, Drinks the fountain from above, Leans on Jesu's breast his head; Feasts forever on his love. Angels here his servants are, Spread for him their golden wings, To his throne of glory bear, Seat him by the King of kings. Who shall gain that heavenly height, Who his Saviour's face shall see? I, who claim it in his right, Christ hath bought it all for me. The Same The Christian.17