Wesley Corpus

Volume 6 (1783): 445-48, 502-4, 557-58 On the Death of Dr. Middleton, an Eminent Physician in Bristol, who Died Dec. 16, 1760.46 Part I. Glory to the Redeemer give, The glory of a soul brought home! Our friend, for whom we joy and grieve, Is to th' eternal garner come: Like a ripe shock of corn laid up, In season due, for God mature; He kept the faith, held fast his hope, And made his crown through suff'rings sure. Let infidels and heathens mourn, Hopeless to see their dead restor'd; We feel him from our bosom torn, But calmly say, "It is the Lord!" In pity of his creature's pain, Whom God had to th' afflicted given; He justly asks his own again, And takes to his reward in heav'n. Let us the shining path pursue, And, following him to God ascend, His bright example keep in view, His useful life, and blessed end: He liv'd a life of faith unfeign'd, His rigid virtue unsubdu'd; His strict integrity maintain'd, And boldly own'd he fear'd a God. O where shall we his equal find! To all so just, to all so dear; The pious son, the husband kind, The father good, the friend sincere: Not David lov'd his friend so well, Loth from his Jonathan to part; Or serv'd him with so warm a zeal, 46Appears in MS Funeral Hymns, 12-20. On 6 August 1740 Charles fell dangerously ill of a fever while preaching to the colliers in Kingswood. He was treated by Dr. John Middleton, with whom he formed a lasting friendship.