Wesley Corpus

Page 226 "Which of you sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost?" Luke xiv. 28. Lord, I have counted first the cost, My all must for thy love be lost: I know, the sure foundation stands Establish'd by almighty hands; And thou who hast thy work begun, From faith to faith shalt lead me on, Till bold I to the summit press, And rise compleat in holiness. "This man receiveth sinners." Luke xv. 2. Yes; for thou hast receiv'd The sinners' chief in me: Thro' mercy I believ'd, And favour found with thee: Admitted on thy grace to feast O take me to thy glorious rest. "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." Luke xv. 21.32 Yet for my sinless Saviour's sake Thou wilt be reconcil'd, Into thine arms of mercy take, And own me for thy child. "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Luke xvi. 9.33 Help me to make the poor my friends, By that which paves the way to hell, That, when my loving labour ends, And dying from the earth I fail, My friends may greet me in the skies, Born to a life that never dies. "In hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments." Luke xvi. 23. Why is he doom'd to endless pain? Did he by fraud his wealth obtain? 32Ori., "xvi. 21"; a misprint. 33Ori., "xv. 9"; a misprint. Page 227 No; but the blessings given On his rich neighbours he bestow'd, Enjoy'd himself instead of God, And sought no other heaven. "If thy brother trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him." Luke xvii. 4. Let mine injurious brother own His oft-reiterated sin, Receiv'd for Jesu's sake alone, As the offence had never been, I to my confidence restore, And love, and prize him as before. But if his stubborn pride disdain The frequent evil to confess, Lord, shall I trust my foe again, Or as my bosom-friend caress? I must, I will, with love receive, And twice ten thousand times forgive.