Wesley Corpus

Author of friendship's sacred tie, Regard us with a gracious eye, Our souls whom thou hast join'd in one, Join'd by the unction from above In bonds of pure seraphic love, United in thy love alone. Searcher of hearts unsearchable, To thee, great God, we dare appeal, To thee we dare our cause commend; Thou know'st our simpleness of heart, And as thou didst the grace impart, O keep us, keep us to the end. Our friendship sanctify, and guide, Unmixt with selfishness, and pride, Thy glory be our single aim: In all our intercourse below Still let us in thy footsteps go, And never meet but in thy name. Fix on thyself our single eye; Oh! May we on thyself rely For all the help which each conveys, The help as from thy hands receive, And still to thee all glory give, All thanks, all might, all love, all praise. Witnesses of th' all-cleansing blood, Long may we work the works of God, And do thy will like those above Together spread the gospel-sound, And scatter peace, on all around, And joy, and happiness, and love. True yoke-fellows, by love compell'd To labour in the gospel-field, Our all let us delight to spend 161First appeared in HSP (1749), 2:264-66; stanzas 1-2, 4. Page 129 In gathering in thy lambs and sheep, Assur'd that thou our souls will keep, Will keep us faithful to the end. Hymn CXXIII.162 Center of our hopes thou art, End of our enlarg'd desires: Stamp thine image on our heart, Fill us now with holy fires, Cemented by love divine, Seal our souls for ever thine. All our works in thee be wrought, Levell'd at one common aim, Every word, and every thought Purge in the refining flame, Lead us thro' the paths of peace On to perfect holiness. Let us all together rise, To thy glorious life restor'd Here regain our paradise, Here prepare to meet our Lord, Here enjoy the earnest given, Travel hand in hand to heaven. Hymn CXXIV.163 Come, let us ascend, My companion and friend, To a taste of the banquet above: If thy heart be as mine, If for Jesus it pine Come up into the chariot of love. 162This is an extract from HSP (1749), 2:283; stanzas 2-4. 163First appeared in HSP (1749), 2:313-14. Page 130