Wesley Corpus

While to the work their lives they give, Thy love of solitude inspire: Nightly let thy disciples leave The crowd, and to the mount retire, Secretly call'd to rest apart, And talk with Jesus in their heart. Stir up the souls by them begot Ceaseless in their behalf to cry, And keep them, that they perish not, Thine all-sufficient grace supply; Preserve from twice ten thousand snares, And give them to their children's prayers. Hymn VIII. For the Same For the Ministers of the Gospel. Ah! Most compassionate high-priest, Thy tempted messengers defend, Honour'd, expos'd above the rest, To them thy timely succour send, With each in his temptation stay, Nor cast one helpless soul away. Save them from pride, and worldly love, From envy, mean and base desire; Their lust of praise and power remove, Walk with thy servants in the fire, Appear their leader on the flood, And prop them with the arm of God. Shew them, their strength and safety lies In closely copying after thee, In boldly labouring up the skies, In full divine conformity, In fervent zeal to do and bear, In all the powers of faithful prayer. Page 10 Ent'ring into their closet, Lord, Thee let them daily seek, and find, Studious to preach, and live thy word, To copy out thy perfect mind, To be as thou their Master art, Lowly, and meek, and pure in heart. Hymn IX. For the Same For the Ministers of the Gospel. Lord of the gospel-harvest send, More labourers forth into thy field, More pastors teach thy flock to tend, More workmen raise thy house to build, His work and place to each assign, And cloath their word with power divine. But chiefly to thy mild command The masters of our Israel bow: Stars let them shine in thy right-hand (Eclips'd alas! And wandring now!) Who do not yet thy kingdom see, But ask, How can the mystery be? Light of the world, thy beams impart, To make thy witnesses appear; Thy Spirit shining in the heart Appoints the gospel minister: Now, Lord, the gracious wonder shew, An angel on thy church bestow. Mov'd by our long-continued cry, Some apostolic father raise, Our want of labourers to supply, T' admit the vessels of thy grace, To lay on hands, o'er-rul'd by thine, And recognize the call divine. Page 11 Hymn X. For His Majesty King George.