Wesley Corpus

Nay, but he casts the righteous down, Seems on his belov'd to frown; Yet smiles their fears to see:62 He hears the oft-repeated cry "Why, O my God, my Father, why Hast thou forsaken me?" 61John Wesley underlined "for some fresh" in line 3 and "he never" in line 4 of this stanza in his personal copy, commenting in the margin "True." 62John Wesley underlined "smiles their" in this line in his personal copy, commenting in the margin "No." Page 229 Then let the patient, perfect man His integrity maintain; But not before his God: The Lord may crush a sinless saint, As once he left his Son to faint,63 And die beneath his load. "Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both." Job ix. 33. But we a mighty daysman know, By love divine to sinners given, The Lord of all who dwelt below, And mediates betwixt earth and heaven: Of both the nature he partakes, United in himself alone, An end of all the difference makes, For God and man in Christ are one. Thou, Jesus, thou that umpire art, Whose hand on man and God is laid: Assure a trembling sinner's heart, My sin is purg'd, my peace is made: Thou who hast apprehended me, Give me thyself to apprehend: My peace, my sole perfection be, My present and eternal friend. "I will say unto God, Do not condemn me." Job x. 2. Cut me not off, Almighty Lord, But use thy rod, and not thy sword; The cross no longer I decline, But save me from the curse divine; Let sorrow break this wretched heart, Let pain my soul and body part, But suffer not my soul to be For ever separated from thee. 63John Wesley underlined "left his Son" in his personal copy, commenting in the margin "No Parallel Case." Page 230 "Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me." Job x. 2. Why dost thou this affliction send, Why with a feeble worm contend? Unneeded pain thou canst not give, Or causelesly thy children grieve: Father, in kind compassion shew, What means this providential blow: O may I here thy mercy see, And all the good design'd for me. "These things hast thou hid in thine heart; I know that this is with thee." Job x. 13.