Wesley Corpus

Page 94 55"Shall" changed to "shalt" in 4th edn. (1748) and following. 56This psalm, new to this edition, was deleted from the very next edition in 1744. But Charles retained it in MS Psalms, 322. Thy wife shall as the fruitful vine Her blooming offspring shew, Thy children shall be God's, not thine, His pleasant plants below. Around thy plenteous table spread Like olive-branches fair, Heav'n-ward they in thy steps shall tread, And meet their parents there. Thus shall the man be blest who owns His Maker for his Lord: Or doubly blest with better sons Begotten by the word. The children of thy faith and prayer, Thy joyful eyes shall see, Shall see the prosperous church, and share In her prosperity. Sion again shall lift her head, And flourish all thy days, Thy soul shall see the faithful seed, And bless the rising race. Fill'd with abiding peace divine, With Israel's blessing blest, Thou then the church above shall55 join, And gain the heav'nly rest. Psalm CXXIX.56 Many a time, may Israel say, My foes have furiously assail'd, And vex'd me from my natal day, But never, never yet prevail'd, Nor could the gates of hell o'erthrow The church on Jesus built below. The ploughers plough'd upon my back Till all my body was one wound, Nor could they the foundation shake; A seed, a remnant still was found, Page 95 57A manuscript version appears in MS Psalms, 324. Preserv'd by their Almighty Lord, Kept by his everlasting word. The Lord, the righteous Lord, and true, Turn'd our captivity again, The cords of wickedness broke thro', And burst the dire oppressor's chain: And still who Sion hate shall fly, And stumble, and forever die. As grass on the house-top decays, Nor ever fills the mower's breast, But withers in a moment's space, And perishes unreap'd, unblest; So shall the foes of Sion fade, And vanish as a fleeting shade. Psalm CXXXI.57 Lord, if thou the grace impart, Poor in spirit, meek in heart, I shall as my Master be Rooted in humility. From the time that thee I know, Nothing shall I seek below, Aim at nothing great or high, Lowly both my heart and eye. Simple, teachable, and mild, Aw'd into a little child, Quiet now without my food, Wean'd from ev'ry creature-good.