Wesley Corpus

Page 336 "Behold, all they that were incensed against thee, shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish." Isa. xli. 11. Thy furious foes implacable, The bandied potentates of night, No more shall dare thy soul assail, Confounded by my Spirit's might; The worldly, persecuting throng, Hell's synagogue, shall all submit, And sin, which strove with thee so long, Lie quite extinguish'd at thy feet. Where are thine old intestine foes? All come to a perpetual end: No longer can the flesh oppose, Or nature frail with grace contend: The hatred of thy carnal mind, Thy passions, lusts, as nothing be, The life of self95 thou canst not find, Or know that pride remains in thee. "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not, I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." Isa. xli. 13, 14. For I, the Lord, thy God abide, 'Till to the utmost sav'd thou art: Be not afraid, 'tis I, thy guide, Who hold thy hand, and keep thy heart, 'Tis I, thy trembling heart assure, With peace which none can take away, And arm with patience to endure, And save thee to the perfect day. On me thy constant helper trust, Thou abject worm despis'd by all; They shall not crush thee in the dust When I have rais'd thee from thy fall: 95John Wesley substituted "sin" for "self" in manuscript in his personal copy. Page 337 Thee from thy fall I soon will raise, The purchase dear of blood divine, Stablish thy feeble heart with grace, And make my glorious fulness thine. "Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshinginstrument, c." Isa. xli. 15, 16. Thee will I wield by grace renew'd, A weapon for my use design'd: Go, thou sharp, iron-flail of God, And thresh the loftiest of mankind, The stubbornest and strongest beat With violence of resistless zeal, And separate from the sacred wheat, And chase the cursed chaff to hell: