Wesley Corpus

[1 John 3:18.] “Little children, love one another” Source: Hymns and Sacred Poems (1740), Part I Author: Charles Wesley (attributed) --- We the evil angels doom Antedate the joys to come, See the dear Redeemer’s face Sav’d, already sav’d by grace! [1 John iii. 18.] “Little children, love one another.” Giver of concord, Prince of Peace, Meek, lamb-like Son of God, Bid our unruly passions cease, O quench them with thy blood. Rebuke the seas, the tempest chide, Our stubborn wills controul, Beat down our wrath, root out our pride, And calm our troubled soul. Subdue in us the carnal mind, Its enmity destroy, With cords of love th’ old Adam bind, And melt him into joy. Us into closest union draw, And in our inward parts Let kindness sweetly write her law, Let love command our hearts. O let thy love our hearts constrain! Jesus the crucified, What hast thou done our hearts to gain, Languish’d, and groan’d, and died! Who would not now pursue the way Where Jesu’s footsteps shine? Who would not own the pleasing sway Of charity divine? Saviour, look down with pitying eyes, Our jarring wills controul; Let cordial, kind affections rise, And harmonize the soul. Thee let us feel benignly near, With all thy quick’ning powers, The sounding of thy bowels hear, And answer thee with ours. O let us find the antient way Our wond’ring foes to move, And force the heathen world to say, “See how these Christians love!”