Wesley Corpus

Blest is the man, and none but he, Who walks not with ungodly men, Nor stands their evil deeds to see, Nor sits the innocent to arraign, The persecutor's guilt to share, Oppressive in the scorner's chair. Obedience is his pure delight, To do the pleasure of his Lord: His exercise by day and night To search his soul-converting word, The law of liberty to prove, The perfect law of life and love. Fast by the streams of paradise He as a pleasant plant shall grow: The tree of righteousness shall rise, And all his blooming honours shew, Spread out his boughs, and flourish fair, And fruit unto perfection bear. Page 2 3A manuscript version appears in MS Psalms, 2-3. 4Ori., "again"; a misprint, corrected in 4th edn. (1748) and following. His verdant leaf shall never fade, His works of faith shall never cease, His happy toil shall all succeed Whom God himself delights to bless: But no success th' ungodly find, Scatter'd like chaff before the wind. No portion and no place have they With those whom God vouchsafes t' approve: Cast in the dreadful judgment-day, Who trample on their Saviour's love, Who here their bleeding Lord deny, Shall perish, and for ever die. Psalm II.3 Why do the Jews and Gentiles join To execute a vain design, Idly their utmost powers engage, And storm with unavailing rage? Earth's haughty kings their Lord oppose, The rulers list themselves his foes, To fight against4 their God agree, And slay th' incarnate deity. As sworn their Maker to dethrone, And Jesus his anointed Son, To rise from all subjection freed, And reign almighty in his stead. The Lord that calmly sits above Enthron'd in everlasting love, Shall all their feeble threats deride, And laugh to scorn their furious pride. Then shall he in his wrath address, And vex his baffled enemies, Yet I have glorified my Son, And plac'd him on his Father's throne. Conqueror of sin and death and hell He reigns a prince invincible, Page 3 5A manuscript version appears in MS Psalms, 4-5. All power is now to Jesus given, Triumphant on the hill of heaven. I publish the divine decree, That all shall live who trust in me: Look unto me ye ransom'd race, Believe, and ye are sav'd by grace.