Wesley Corpus

Page 75 Mocking all his fond desires, Lo, her father's hope expires! Thus her parents' grief she chears, Transient as a short-liv'd flower, Scarcely seen she disappears, Blooms, and withers in an hour, Thus our former loss supplies, Thus our promis'd comfort dies! But shall sinful man complain Stript by the divine decree? Dares our impious grief arraign Heaven's tremendous majesty? Rather let us meekly own All is right which God hath done. God hath answer'd all our prayers, Mended after his own will, Number'd with salvation's heirs Her whose happy change we feel, Her whose bliss rebukes our sighs, Bids us follow to the skies. God, t' enhance her joy above, Gave her a few painful days, Object of his richest love, Vessel of his choicest grace, Bad her suffer with his Son, Die to claim an earlier throne. Best for her so soon to die: Best for us how can it be? Let our bleeding hearts reply, Torn from all, O Lord, but thee, To thy righteous will subdued, Panting for the sovereign good. Page 76 Let them pant, and never rest 'Till thy peace our sorrows heal, Troubled be our aching breast 'Till the balm of love we feel, Love, which every want supplies, Love of one that never dies. Might we, Lord, thy love attain! Cure of every evil this, This would turn our loss to gain, Turn our misery into bliss, Love our Eden here would prove, Love would make our heaven above. For a Child in the Small-Pox. Father, by the tender name Thou for man vouchsaf'st to bear, We thy needful succour claim, We implore thy pitying care, For our stricken child distrest: Wilt thou not our load remove, Calm the tumult in our breast, Manifest thy saving love? Love inflicts the plague severe, Love the dire distemper sends: Let thy heavenly messenger Answer all thy gracious ends: Give us power to watch and pray Trembling at the threaten'd loss: Tear our hearts from earth away, Nail them to thy bleeding cross. Fain we would obedient prove, Here on rugged Calvary Render back the son we love, Yield our only son to thee: Page 77 While he on the altar lies, We to thy decree submit, Offer up our sacrifice, Weep in silence at thy feet.