Wesley Corpus

Page 147 The wrath of an Almighty Lord, Your lenity's effects, they feel: It fattens for the slaughtering sword, It softly38 lets them down to hell. "The child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the Lord and also with men." I. Sam. ii. 26. Holy child, our children take With thyself on us bestow'd, Partners of thy nature make, Bless, and bring them up for God, Give them in thy grace to grow, Favourites of the deity, Favourites of thy saints below, Perfectly conform'd to thee. "It is the Lord: let him do what seemeth him good." I. Sam. iii. 18. Of my extreme distresses The author is the Lord: Whate'er his wisdom pleases, His name be still ador'd! If still he prove my patience, And to the utmost prove, Yet all his dispensations Are faithfulness, and love. "When he made mention of the ark of God, Eli fell from off the seat, and his neck brake, and he died." I. Sam. iv. 18. "Israel before their foes are fled!" Compos'd the tidings he receives: "Whole troops; and both thy sons are dead!" He hears the fatal news, and lives: "The ark is taken by the foe, And God doth with his ark depart!" This, this inflicts the mortal blow, And breaks his trembling, faithful heart.39 38MS Judges reads "gently," instead of "softly." 39MS Judges reads "breaks the antient Judge's heart"; but then suggests the alternative adopted here.