Wesley Corpus

Page 224 "Wherefore is life60 given to him that is in misery?" Job iii. 20. To teach the wretched man, From whence his miseries flow, Discover sin the source of pain, The cause of all our woe; To shew his soul's disease, Suppress his murmuring sighs, And fit him for internal peace, And life that never dies. O for that gracious power, My load of life to bear, And watch for the appointed hour, With never-slackning care! Thy glorious house above, Father, I fain would see; But how thou wilt my soul remove, And when I leave to thee. O may I thus resign'd, In every change and state, The counsels of my Father's mind With perfect patience wait, Thy welcome will receive, Alike indifferent I, Or in the griefs of life to live, Or in the joys to die. "Which long for death ... which rejoice when they can find the grave?" Job iii. 21, 22. Why should I seek what cannot save? I have no joy to find a grave, Unless, before I hence depart, I find a Saviour in my heart: Then would I gladly die to see, The man who lay so low for me, Out of his tomb secure to rise, And follow Jesus to the skies. 60The AV actually reads "Wherefore is light given ...." Page 225 "Behold he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly." Job iv. 18. And shall we in ourselves confide, Our wisdom, or our perfect grace, When angels tremble to abide The test, and fall before his face, Who flaws in purest spirits sees, And marks celestial blemishes? The creature fails, if thou art near, The brightest day is central night, The morning stars no more appear, The sun is darkness in thy sight, The perfect their perfection see Absorb'd in thy immensity. "Happy is the man whom God correcteth." Job v. 17. How happy the sorrowful man, Whose sorrow is sent from above! Indulg'd with a visit of pain, Chastis'd by omnipotent love, The author of all his distress He comes by affliction to know, And God he in heaven shall bless, That ever he suffer'd below.