Wesley Corpus

His everlasting arms are spread, His faithful mercies never fail, 28Manuscript precursors of Part IV appear in MS Richmond Tracts, 15-16; MS Shent, 165b-166b; and MS Thirty, 108-11. Page 283 His hand supports thy sinking head, With thee he walks thro' the dark vale, He whispers, "Child be of good cheer, Rejoice in death, for I am here." Say, are his consolations small? I read the answer in thine eyes: Thy smiling looks on sinners call, And point them to yon opening skies, From which thy much-lov'd Lord looks down, And reaches out a radiant crown. Thrice happy soul, thy Lord appears, I feel thou art forever his, Weep over thee with joyful tears, And triumph in thy glorious bliss, With thee the hidden manna prove, Thy Lord's unutterable love. Thy mighty extacies I feel, On thee with eager transport gaze! Thy forehead bears the Spirit's seal, And heaven is open'd in thy face; Thy mounting soul is on the wing, And hears the quire of angels sing. Hovering around the new-born heir For thee the shining convoy waits, To God thy spotless soul they bear: Open ye everlasting gates, A wide triumphant entrance give, The glorious new-born heir receive! Page 284 Eternal God of truth and grace, We magnify thy faithful love, We all shall soon behold thy face, We all shall take our seats above, And I shall in thy kingdom share, And I shall meet my sister there. Epitaph.29 Stay thou eternal spirit stay, And let the dead point out thy way; Mark where a Christian's ashes lie, And learn of her to live and die. A virtuous maid for twenty years She sojourn'd in the vale of tears, The Father then his love made known, And in her heart reveal'd his Son. Join'd to the Lord her righteousness, Fill'd with unutterable peace, She felt on earth her sins forgiven, That glorious antepast of heaven. Not long for all her heaven she stay'd, Her soul thro' sufferings perfect made, With joy forsook the earthy clod, And sprang into the arms of God. 29Manuscript precursors of this epitaph appear in MS Cheshunt, 44; and MS Clarke, 47 where it is identified as for Frances ("Fanny") Cowper (1716-42). See note on next hymn. Page 285