Wesley Corpus

Tremendous oracle divine! Who can the harsh command obey! "That son, that only son of thine, That son belov'd, that Isaac slay!" Whoe'er the God of Abraham know, Their faith by like obedience prove, And offering up their Isaacs, shew The power supreme of Jesu's love. Father, thou call'st me by my name, Thy sovereign pleasure to fulfil, And lo, thro' grace I ready am To answer all thy awful will, By faith I climb the mountain-top, Thy blessings chearfully resign, And yield my dearest comforts up A bleeding sacrifice divine. Page 24 "Abraham stretched forth his hand, to slay his son." Gen. xxii. 10. Resolv'd, O God, with all to part, I bring the victim crown'd, The dearest partner of my heart Is on the altar bound! Spirit and soul asunder tear, I say, thy will be done, And thus, by thee requir'd, I bare Mine arm to slay my son! "Abraham bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood: and Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son." Gen. xxii. 9, 10. Let angels wonder at the sight! Fond Abraham's laughter and delight Is sacrific'd at God's command: The church's hope, behold him lie, The promis'd heir, prepar'd to die, To die by a paternal hand! One only act did this exceed, When Christ, our sacrifice indeed, Was by his Father's goodness given, Deliver'd up for all t' atone, His Son belov'd, his only Son, The Lord, the joy of earth and heaven! "Lay not thy hand upon the lad." Gen. xxii. 12. Safely we may our Isaacs give, And leave them on the altar laid: If best for us that they should live, A way for their deliverance made Shall lift our hearts to things above, And perfect us in heavenly love. "Because thou hast done this thing, in blessing I will bless thee, c." Gen. xxii. 16, 17, 18. Was not our father Abraham tried, And found compleatly justified,