Wesley Corpus

Howe'er in humble words we all Infallibility disclaim, Yet every church and party call Themselves, the consort of the Lamb! "In us the saints, the people see, The temple of the Lord are we! "We are the men, mankind must own, Who faith and purity possess, Christ is with us, and us alone," A thousand jarring sects profess, And all the Babel-builders cry, "Wisdom and truth with us shall die." "He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening." Job xii. 14. Shut up in unbelief I groan, Fast bound in misery: What miracle of power unknown Can set the captive free? He only can release and save, (Throughout my soul I feel) Who forc'd the barriers of the grave, And burst the gates of hell. "The deceived and the deceiver are his." Job xii. 16. The crafty manages the fool, The tame unthinking crowd, He makes the simple one his tool; But both are tools to God: Page 233 Their folly and their craft he blends, Whate'er themselves design, And bids them blindly serve the ends Of providence divine. What have his servants then to fear Who bear65 Jehovah's seal, Tho' thorns and briars are with us here, And we with scorpions dwell? His love omnipotent we sing, Who doth the world restrain, Rejoicing that the Lord is King, And shall for ever reign. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Job xiii. 15. And let my body languish, (So he my soul redeem) Or fail thro' mortal anguish, Yet will I trust in him: Destruction as a blessing At Jesu's hands I meet, And calmly die embracing My dear destroyer's feet! "Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?" Job xiii. 24. Why dost thou, Lord, conceal thy face, With-hold the joyous sense of grace, And reckon me thy foe? If sin provokes thee to depart, And keeps thy presence from my heart, The secret evil shew. Still I enquire and weep, and pray; Thy comforts dost thou take away, To punish, or to prove? I wait thy mind to comprehend, I long to answer all the end Of thy mysterious love. 65Ori., "bears"; corrected in errata.