Wesley Corpus

"He only meant to warn The damn'd, devoted race, Back from his ways lest they should turn Who never knew his ways; He only cautions all Who never came to God Not to depart from God, or fall From grace, who never stood. "His threatnings are a jest, Or not design'd for you; He only means them for the rest, And they shall find them true, Who slight his mercy's call, Which they could ne'er embrace: He warns th' apostates not to fall From common (damning) grace. "'Gainst those that faithless prove He shuts his mercy's door, And whom he never once did love Threatens to love no more; From them he doth revoke The grace they did not share, And blot the names out of his book That ne'er were written there. "But you may rest secure, And safely take your ease, If you are once in grace, be sure You always are in grace: Page 12 "Cast all your fears away, My son, be of good chear, Nor mind what Paul or Peter say, For you must persevere. "And did they fright the child, And tell it, it might fall? Might be of its reward beguil'd, And sin, and forfeit all: Might to its vomit turn, And wallow in the mire, And perish in its sins, and burn In everlasting fire! "What naughty men be they To take the children's bread, Their carnal confidence to slay, And force them to5 take heed! With humble useless doubt The fearful babes they fill, Compell'd with trembling to work out Their own salvation still. "Ah poor misguided soul! And did they make it weep! Come, let me in my bosom lull, Thy sorrows all to sleep: Thine eyes in safety close, Secure from all alarms, And take thine undisturb'd repose, And rest within my arms. "They shall not vex it so, By bidding it take heed; You need not as a bulrush go, Still bowing down your head: Your griefs and fears reject, My other gospel own, Only believe yourself elect, And all the work is done." 5Ori., "them them"; a misprint corrected in 2nd ed. (1756) and following. Page 13 Hymn IV.6