Wesley Corpus

Page 167 Yet with them we still grow on, Mindful of thy promise past, Lord, we let the tares alone; Thou shalt root them out at last. "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed." Matt. xiii. 31. A grain of grace may we not see This moment, and the next a tree? Or must we patiently attend To find the precious seed ascend? Our Lord declares it must be so;8 And striking deep our root, we grow, And lower sink, and higher rise, Till Christ transplant us to the skies. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven." Matt. xiii. 33. That heavenly principle within, Doth it at once its power exert, At once root out the seed of sin,9 And plant perfection in the heart? No; but a gradual life it sends, Diffusive thro' the faithful soul, To actions, words, and thoughts extends, And slowly sanctifies the whole.10 "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father." Matt. xiii. 43. Lord, we long to see thy glory Made eternally our own, Long with all thy saints t' adore thee, Bright as the meridian sun: Come, Messiah, Rap us to thy Father's throne! 8John Wesley underlined "This moment" in line 2 and "it must be" in line 5 in his personal copy, drawing an exclamation point in the margin near line 5. 9John Wesley underlined "At once root out" in his personal copy, drawing an exclamation point in the margin. 10John Wesley underlined "slowly sanctifies" in his personal copy.