Wesley Corpus

By his gracious wise commands Strengthen thou the workmen's hands, Who, as instruments of grace, Under thee thy temple raise: Or if so thy will ordain Not t' accept the help of man, Only thou thy servants own, Build the house thyself alone. "The king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him." Ezra vii. 6. Jesus, with thine o'ershadowing hand With thine almighty favour blest, Thy servants before kings shall stand, And prosper'd in their just request, Page 211 Boldly dispence that gospel-word, Which builds the temple of the Lord. "He came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him." Ezra vii. 9. Conducted by his gracious power, Where'er our Lord directs we go, Secure in danger's blackest hour, And careless of our ambush'd foe, Whom Jesus covers with his hand, We reach the holy, heavenly land. "God hath put this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord." Ezra vii. 27. Th' external house of the Most-High Cyrus may build, or beautify, Jesus, 'tis thine alone to raise The living temples of thy grace, T' adorn our souls, when cleans'd from sin, And make us glorious all within. "I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers, to help us against the enemy." Ezra viii. 22. Lord, we before the world profess Our trust in thine almighty grace Which for thy servants cares; Thou, while we trust on thee alone, Dost bring the blind by ways unknown, And number all our hairs. Ah, leave us not in danger's day, By fear thine honour to betray, By base mistrust t' offend The strangers to thy pard'ning love; But let us still consistent prove, And faithful to the end. "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him." Ezra viii. 22. Father, in Christ we seek thy face; Stay by thine outstretch'd hand of grace