Wesley Corpus

Page 166 To us who grasp the things before, Grace upon grace be given; And when our souls can hold no more, Bestow the joys of heaven. "Whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath." Matt. xiii. 12. Why is my heart so dark and void, And hardly feels its loss? I have not what I once injoy'd, I am not what I was: With Christ my suffering Lord one hour I would not watch and pray, And therefore he withdrew the power, And took his gifts away. "The deceitfulness of riches choak the word." Matt. xiii. 22. What harm to raise a fortune fair, What harm a fortune fair t' increase? The lust of gold, the thorns of care Choak every seed of righteousness: And when the fiend is enter'd in, We cloak our covetous desire, We justify our gainful sin, Till Satan pays his slaves their hire. "His enemy sowed tares." Matt. xiii. 25. Only good proceeds from God, Evil from his enemy: Pride, the seed of sins he sow'd, All the sins we feel and see, Curs'd the field which God did bless, Turn'd it to this wilderness! "Then appeared the tares also." Matt. xiii. 26. Rising with thy faithful race Token of the harvest near, Lo, th' abusers of thy grace, Lo, the Gnostick tares appear!