Wesley Corpus

Physicians of no price are they Thy people's hurt who slightly heal, Who bid us thy commands obey Before thy pardning grace we feel, Before we feel our soul's disease, Who wrap us up in worldly peace. No peace is for the wicked found; We all are wickedness within, 'Till thou search out our spirit's wound, And pour the balm of Gilead in, The joy and love, the oil and wine, And heal our souls with blood divine. "They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly." Jer. vi. 14. Ah simple souls, who fondly dream Of instantaneous holiness!4 Tho' pride and self extinguish'd seem, While all within is joy and peace, Ye soon shall own, with shame compell'd, Th' original wound was slightly heal'd. It cannot heal your sloth, to say "Ye need not suffer first, or grieve, Ye need not fight so long, or pray,5 But now, ye novices, believe, But now the crown of victory seize, But now be perfect if you please!" It cannot heal your pride, to praise, And part you from the groveling croud, To set you up for fools to gaze At the strange miniatures of God, 4John Wesley underlined "instantaneous holiness" in his personal copy, drawing an exclamation point in the margin. 5John Wesley underlined "suffer first" and "fight so long in his personal copy, drawing an exclamation point in the margin. Page 13 Sinners transform'd by fancy's power To saints, and perfect in an hour!6 Rather a thousand fold increase Your flatter'd vanity obtains, While in perfection's glorious dress The self-exalting nature reigns, And all your grace so highly priz'd Is only Antichrist disguis'd!7 "Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Jer. vi. 16. Stand we in the good old way, Who Christ by faith receive, Heartily we must obey,8 If truly we believe: Other way can none declare Than this from which we ne'er will move: Sav'd by grace thro' faith we are, Thro' faith that works by love.