Wesley Corpus

Present to end the doubtful strife, Thy aid he soon shall feel; Confirm'd by thee, tho' warm in life, Bid the vain world farewell. Thro' thee he treads the shining way That saints and martyrs trod, Shakes off the frailty of his clay, And wings his soul for God. His portion thou, he burns no more, With fond desire to please; The fierce, distracting conflict's o'er And all his thoughts are peace. Sent by almighty pity down, To thee alone 'tis giv'n With glorious infamy to crown The favourites of heav'n. With thee heav'n's fav'rite Son, when made Incarnate, deign'd t' abide; To thee he meekly bow'd his head, He bow'd his head, and dy'd. And shall I still the cup decline, His suff'rings disesteem, Disdain to make this portion mine When sanctify'd by him? Page 28 Or firm thro' him and undismay'd, Thy sharpest darts abide? Sharp as the thorns that tore his head, The spear that pierc'd his side. Yes since with thee my lot is cast, I bless my God's decree, Embrace with joy what he embrac'd, And live and die with thee! So when before th' angelic host To each his lot is giv'n, Thy name shall be in glory lost, And mine be found in heav'n! Page 34 Grace Before Meat.3 Fountain of being, source of good! At whose almighty breath The creature proves our bane or food, Dispensing life or death: Thee we address with humble fear, Vouchsafe thy gifts to crown; Father of all, thy children hear, And send a blessing down. O may our souls for ever pine Thy grace to taste and see; Athirst for righteousness divine, And hungry after thee! For this we lift our longing eyes, We wait the gracious word; Speak and our hearts from earth shall rise, And feed upon the Lord. 3Charles included this hymn in a later manuscript selection for family use: MS Family, 12. Page 35 Another Grace Before Meat.4 Enslav'd to sense, to pleasure prone, Fond of created good; Father, our helplessness we own, And trembling taste our food. Trembling we taste: for ah! No more To thee the creatures lead; Chang'd they exert a fatal pow'r, And poison while they feed. Cursed for the sake of wretched man, They now engross him whole, With pleasing force on earth detain, And sensualize his soul.