Wesley Corpus

Turn, sinners, turn from such away, And rather God than man obey, The scriptures search both day and night, And try if what ye hear be right, Put forth your grain of gracious power, (Your use of that shall bring you39 more) 'Till the true light himself impart, And breathes, the witness, in your heart. "The Holy Ghost hath made you overseers." Acts xx. 28. Who but the Holy Ghost can make The genuine gospel-minister, The bishop, bold to undertake Of precious souls the awful care? 39Ori., "bring ye"; corrected in errata. Page 274 The Holy Ghost alone can move A sinner, sinners to convert, Infuse the apostolic love, And bless him with a pastor's heart. Not all the hands of all mankind Can constitute one overseer; But spirited with Jesu's mind, The heavenly messengers appear, They follow close with zeal divine The bishop great, the shepherd good, And chearfully their lives resign To save the purchase of his blood. "The church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts xx. 28. Bought with the blood Of very God, The church in every nation, Publishes thro' earth abroad, The God of their salvation. The God made man For sinners slain, The life of each believer, Did from everlasting reign, And reigns in us forever. "I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." Acts xx. 32. To succour man whate'er is done On earth, thou dost thyself alone, God of the ransom'd race, Wherefore with thee my flock I leave; To thee may all my children cleave, And to thy word of grace. Thy word of grace sufficient is, To stablish them in perfect peace Page 275 Without my ministry, To build them up in holy love, And qualify for joys above, And lodge them safe with thee. Who in thine oracles delight, There let them find by day and night Communion with their Lord, Thou by thy Spirit the truth apply, To save, and wholly sanctify The searchers of thy word.