Wesley Corpus

No dread have they, lest men should prize, Or glory to the creature give; They let the people sacrifice, Their incense of applause receive, Patient to be admir'd by all, And self-assured they cannot fall! Page 303 "But now I forbear." 2 Cor. xii. 6. And let the apostle still forbear, His graces needlesly suppress, "Speak on," say some, "and never spare, Perfection's bawling witnesses, In fancied holiness compleat, Tell your new hearts to all you meet." Go on to take his name in vain, Who gave the sanctifying word, To stumble serious and prophane, To make the truth of God abhor'd, All fear, all modesty decry, And ranters live and ranters die.49 "Lest I should be exalted above measure, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, lest I should be exalted above measure." 2 Cor. xii. 7. Did holy Paul himself require A balance of depressing pain, Lest nature should in him aspire, Lest, of celestial favours vain, The saint should share his Saviour's praise, And forfeit all his boasted grace? A sinless saint he was not yet; Or sinless saints may start aside, Their pard'ning, hallowing Lord forget, Puff'd up with self-exalting pride; Or tempted still in weakness mourn, And groan to feel the humbling thorn. Be not high-minded then, but fear, Who sudden saints, and pillars seem, Fill up your mournful measure here, Less than the least yourselves esteem, And thus your sure election prove, And thus declare your perfect love. 49John Wesley underlined "ranters live" and "ranters die" in his personal copy. He then wrote in the margin "φεØ" (a Greek exclamation of disappointment, like "Alas!"). Page 304 "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice." 2 Cor. xii. 8. Saviour, to thee for help I sue, O bring thy tempted servant thro' The danger and distress; Thrust out, destroy the inbred fiend, And bid my bosom-conflict end In never-ending peace. Still in mine agony I pray, Take, Jesus, take this thorn away, Command him to depart This cruel messenger of hell, And O, for ever, Lord, expel His nature from my heart.