Wesley Corpus

His death compleats the sacrifice, And shews the consecrated way, That we might on his cross arise, By suffering, as by works, obey, And while we all his pangs endure, Expect his blood to make us pure. Thy passion, Lord, and not our own, Doth peace and purity impart; Thy blood which did for sin atone, Writes pardon on the sprinkled heart, And by the Spirit of faith applied, It perfects all the crucified. Who daily bleed and die with thee, Thou dost with perfect patience bless, Redeem'd from all iniquity, Restor'd to all the life of grace, And by this narrow way alone, Thou lead'st us to thy glorious throne. "It became him, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect thro' sufferings." Heb. ii. 10. Can suffering purge my inbred sin? No more than it can heaven procure: But he, who brought this fire within, By patience makes my nature pure, But he, who with the suffering comes, My dross in his own way consumes. Page 348 His love into the furnace cast, His love attends and keeps me here, That coming forth as gold at last, Stamp'd with his name and character, And perfected thro' sufferings I May spotless to his bosom fly. "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold our confidence unto the end." Heb. iii. 14. Help me, Saviour, to hold fast My confidence in thee: Art thou not the first and last, Who lov'd, and died for me? Thou on whom I dare depend, Wilt fill me with the life divine, Love me still, when time shall end, Thro' endless ages mine. "Seeing we have a great high-priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Heb. iv. 14. Trusting in our Lord alone, A great high-priest we have! Jesus, God's eternal Son, Omnipotent to save, With the virtue of his blood, Ascending to the holiest place, Pass'd the heavenly courts, and stood Before his Father's face. There he ever lives to plead His suffering people's cause, Let us then pursue our head, And bear his daily cross, Hold our pure profession fast, And faithful unto death remain: Then the end of faith at last, The crown of life we gain.