Wesley Corpus

Who made the world a wilderness, Laid waste the souls of all mankind, Nor ever would his slaves release, To sin's eternal bonds consign'd. Part II. Prepare, the slaughtering sword prepare For Babylon's devoted sons, The children from their mother tear, Dash all your sins against the stones. No more let Satan's offspring rise, Or build the heaven-invading tower; Your sins no more shall threat the skies, But lose their being with their power. For I (the Lord of hosts hath said) Will against Babylon rise up, Throughout their towers destruction spread, And quite cut off their latest hope. Against them will I set my face, The serpent's seed, th' accursed kin, Being, remains, and name erase, And cut off the whole brood of sin. Page 253 Satan his kingdom's fall shall see, Its final period sin shall feel, Destruction shall the besom be, And sweep its last remains to hell. The Lord of hosts, the mighty Lord, Hath sworn his promise to fulfil, Surely I will perform my word, The counsel of my sovereign will. It shall be so: my word shall stand, I will confirm the sure decree, And break th' Assyrian in my land, And set my captive people free. My mountains shall lift up their head, O'erlook the world and sin below; My people shall on scorpions tread, On sin no more their bosom-foe. This is the purpose of my grace, My grace which every soul may have, This is the hand o'er Adam's race Stretch'd out, and ready all to save. The Lord of hosts hath so decreed, To save the faithful from all sin, To make them saints and free indeed, Entirely whole, and throughly clean. Page 254 The fixt, unchangeable decree What power can break or disannul! It stood from all eternity Confirm'd to every faithful soul. Who can the will divine withstand? The will divine its course shall have, Who can turn back that out-stretch'd hand, Or teach his God how far to save! Factors for hell, ye strive in vain To limit his omnipotence, Sin shall not in our flesh remain, His perfect love shall drive it thence. The poor shall on his promise feed, The needy shall in peace lie down, And wait to be for ever freed From sin, and wear the conqu'ror's crown.