Wesley Corpus

Th' Egyptians daring to pursue, With horror found a wat'ry grave, Too late their want of faith they knew, And sunk beneath th' o'erwhelming wave. Verses XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV. By faith, while Israel's host surrounds Proud Jericho's devoted walls, The ark stands still, the trumpet sounds, The people shouts, the city falls. Rahab by faith deliv'rance found, Nor perish'd with th' accursed race, The harlot for her faith renown'd, Amongst the worthies takes her place. 5Ori., "12"; a misprint. Page 18 Worthies, who all recorded stand, And shine in everlasting lays; And justly now they each demand The tribute of distincter praise. Gideon, and Barak claim the song, And David good, and Samuel wise, And Jephtha bold, and Samson strong, And all the ancient prophets rise! The battles of the Lord they fought Thro' faith, and mighty states subdu'd, And works of righteousness they wrought, And prov'd the faithfulness of God. They stop'd the lions' mouths, the rage Of fire they quench'd, escap'd the sword, The weak grew strong, and bold t' engage, And chase the hosts that dar'd their Lord. Women their quicken'd dead receiv'd, Women the power of faith display'd, With stedfast confidence believ'd, Believ'd their children from the dead. Verses XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII. Others, as in a furnace try'd, With strength of passive grace endu'd, Tortures, and deaths thro' faith defy'd, Thro' faith resisted unto blood. Page 19 Earth they beheld with gen'rous scorn, On all its proffer'd goods look'd down, High on a fiery chariot borne, They lost their life to keep their crown. Secure a better life to find, The path of varied death they trod, Their souls triumphantly resign'd, And died into the arms of God. The prelude of contempt they found, A spectacle to fiends and men; Cruelly mock'd, and scourg'd, and bound, 'Till death shut up the bloody scene. Or stoned, they glorified their Lord, Or joy'd, asunder sawn, t' expire, Or rush'd to meet the slaught'ring sword, Or triumph'd in the tort'ring fire. Verses XXXVII, XXXVIII. Naked, or in rough goatskins clad, In every place they long confess'd The God, for whom o'er earth they stray'd Tormented, destitute, distress'd. Of whom the world unworthy was, Whom only God their Maker knew, The world they punish'd with their loss, The holy anchorites withdrew. Page 20