Wesley Corpus

From house to house they broke the bread Impregnated with life divine, And drank the Spirit of their head Transmitted in the sacred wine. With Jesu's constant presence blest, While duteous to his dying word, They kept the eucharistick feast, And supp'd in Eden with their Lord. Throughout their spotless lives was seen The virtue of this heavenly food, Superior to the sons of men They soar'd aloft, and walk'd with God. O what a flame of sacred love Was kindled by the altar's fire! They liv'd on earth like those above, Glad rivals of the heavenly choir. 48"Simply" changed to "simple" in 6th edn. (1771) and following. Page 140 Strong in the strength herewith receiv'd, And mindful of the crucified; His confessors for him they liv'd, For him his faithful martyrs dyed. Their souls from chains of flesh releas'd, By torture from their bodies driven With violent faith the kingdom seiz'd, And fought and forc'd their way to heaven. Where is the pure primeval flame, Which in their faithful bosom glow'd? Where are the followers of the Lamb, The dying witnesses for God? Why is the faithful seed decreas'd, The life of God extinct and dead? The daily sacrifice is ceas'd, And charity to heaven is fled. Sad mutual causes of decay, Slackness and vice together move, Grown cold we cast the means away, And quench'd our latest spark of love. The sacred signs thou didst ordain, Our pleasant things are all laid waste; To men of lips and hearts profane, To dogs and swine, and heathen cast. Thine holy ordinance contemn'd Hath let the flood of evil in, And those who by thy name are nam'd, The sinners unbaptiz'd out-sin. But canst thou not thy work revive Once more in our degenerate years? O wouldst thou with thy rebels strive, And melt them into gracious tears! Page 141 O wouldst thou to thy church return! For which the faithful remnant sighs, For which the drooping nations mourn, Restore the daily sacrifice. Return, and with thy servants sit, Lord of the sacramental feast, And satiate us with heavenly meat, And make the world thy happy guest. Now let the spouse, reclin'd on thee, Come up out of the wilderness, From every spot, and wrinkle free, And wash'd, and perfected in grace.