Wesley Corpus

Page 206 Who, if they listen to thy tale, Shall prove the loudest laugh of hell. "Their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Mark ix. 46. Great judge, and lawgiver supreme, Shall man thine attributes deny, Thy sovereign righteousness blaspheme, Or give thine awful truth the lie? With reason's line we cannot prove Thy judgment's infinite abyss, But trust t' inherit thro' thy love A whole eternity of bliss. "Their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Mark ix. 48. Thrice solemn, thrice repeated word, For all who at thy bar are cast! Most merciful, most righteous Lord, Thy justice, as thy grace, shall last: But all that now invoke thy name, That trust thy bleeding sacrifice, Shall flee with us the quenchless flame, Shall 'scape the worm that never dies. "Suffer the little children to come unto me." Mark x. 14. Jesus, kind, inviting Lord, We with joy obey thy word, In their earliest infancy Bring our little ones to thee: Born they are, like us, in sin, Touch th' unconscious lepers clean; Purchase of thy blood they are, Save them by thy dying prayer. "Of such is the kingdom of God." Mark x. 14. Thy church is here with saints supplied, Who childlike innocence regain; And every babe that ever died, Shall in thy heavenly kingdom reign. Page 207 "He took them up in his arms." Mark x. 16. Who is this tender-hearted friend, That doth for children care, That doth my little ones defend, And in his bosom bear? The arms, within whose soft embrace My sleeping babes I see, They comprehend unbounded space, And grasp infinity! "He put his hands upon them, and blessed them." Mark x. 16. Thy hands upon our children lay, And bless them in thy service here, Into their tender hearts convey A principle of pious fear; Thee by a life of holy love Long may they live to glorify, Or innocent from earth remove, And spotless to thy bosom fly. "With men it is impossible." Mark x. 27. A rich man sav'd! It cannot be. Ye that in riches trust, Feel this impossibility, Or be for ever lost! "Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" Mark x. 38.