Wesley Corpus

Come then, the true celestial vine, The tree of life, the root of grace, Claim the wild olive-trees for thine, Spring up in all our ransom'd race, And if conceal'd in all thou art,68 Be found this moment in my heart. "What profit should we have, if we pray unto him?" Job xxi. 15. Who can the benefits explain Which by the prayer of faith we gain? Pardon and peace we first receive, And power a sinless life to live; The grace supreme, the Spirit of grace Is shower'd on every soul that prays, Fulness divine with Christ is given, And all in earth, and all in heaven. "Thou sayest, How doth God know?" Job xxii. 13. Whom God declares a perfect man, Whom God disdains not to commend, Is censur'd as a wretch prophane, An atheist by his pious friend, To shew, how changeable and blind The kindest, wisest of mankind. "O that I knew where I might find him." Job xxiii. 3. Where but on yonder tree? Or if too rich thou art, Sink into poverty, And find him in thine heart. 67John Wesley underlined "at last" in his personal copy, commenting in the margin "poor!" 68John Wesley underlined "conceal'd in all" in his personal copy, commenting in the margin "No." Page 241 "When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job xxiii. 10. Try me then, and try me still In the furnace of distress, By my own, and others' ill, By the hidings of thy face; Yet will I the promise hold Which Jesus to my heart hath told, I shall at last come forth as gold. "God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me." Job xxiii. 16. Troubled by th' Almighty I From the fiery furnace cry, Melted down at last I am, Soft as wax before the flame: Now the form divine impress, True, substantial holiness; Jesus, thou that image art, Seal thy name upon my heart. "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding." Job xxviii. 28. Be it my only wisdom here To serve the Lord with filial fear, With loving gratitude; Superior sense may I display By shunning every evil way, And walking in the good.