Wesley Corpus

Whene'er in error's paths we rove, The living God thro' sin forsake, Our conscience by thy word reprove, Convince, and bring the wanderers back, Deep-wounded by thy Spirit's sword, And then by Gilead's balm restor'd. The secret lessons of thy grace, Transmitted thro' the word, repeat, To train us up in all thy ways, To make us in thy will compleat, Fulfil thy love's redeeming plan, And bring us to a perfect man. Furnish'd out of thy treasury, O may we always ready stand, To help the souls redeem'd by thee, In what their various states demand, To teach, convince, correct, reprove, And build them up in holiest love. "I have fought a good fight." 2 Tim. iv. 7. "I the good fight have fought," O when shall I declare! The victory by my Saviour got I long, with Paul, to share: O might I triumph so, When all my warfare's past, And dying find my latest foe Beneath my feet at last! "I have finished my course." 2 Tim. iv. 7. Strengthen'd by Christ alone, With long-continued strife, A race as for my life I run, For my eternal life! And who his grace receive, And who his grace employ, My earthly course, I dare believe, Shall end in heavenly joy. Page 339 "I have kept the faith." 2 Tim. iv. 7. This blessed word be mine, Just as the port is gain'd, "Kept by the power of grace divine I have the faith maintain'd!" Th' apostles of my Lord, To whom it first was given, They could not speak a greater word, Nor all the saints in heaven. "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Tim. iv. 8. A crown of righteousness There is laid up for me, Who keep the faith, and win the race, And get the victory: The judge of all is just His saints to glorify, To save who in his promise trust, And in his favour die. When shall the judge descend, And fix his kingdom here! With vehement love we still attend To see our Lord appear, With languishing desire, We long our head to own, Incircled by his angel-quire, High on his azure throne.