Wesley Corpus

Thou man of an unbridled tongue, Who dar'st assume the Christian name, With slanders foul thy brother wrong, Or needlesly his faults proclaim, Thou dost thy wretched soul deceive, And like thy fellow-fiends believe? Does it extenuate thine offence, To love, and still believe a lie, Without remorse, or shame, or sense, Thy own good deeds to testify, Thee from thyself with softest art To hide, and always err in heart? Page 380 Repent of thy religion vain, Whereof thou loudly mak'st thy boast, Or sentenc'd to eternal pain, And into outward darkness thrust, Thou shalt with the accuser dwell, And find thy faith's reward in hell. "Pure religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James i. 27. Father, on me the grace bestow Unblamable before thy sight, Whence all the streams of goodness flow; Mercy, thine own supreme delight, To me, for Jesu's sake, impart, And plant thy nature in my heart. Thy mind throughout my life be shewn, While listening to the wretch's cry, The widow's and the orphan's groan, On mercy's wings I swiftly fly, The poor and helpless to relieve, My life, my all, for them to give. Thus may I shew thy Spirit within Which purges me from every stain, Unspotted from the world and sin My faith's integrity maintain, The truth of my religion prove By perfect purity and love. "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world?" James ii. 5. Not many rich there are, Who chuse thy poverty, Yet some are found, who dare Sell all to follow thee: Jesus, thy blessed poor increase To whom the kingdom's given, And let thy wealthy witnesses Lay up their wealth in heaven. Page 381 "Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment-seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name, by the which ye are called?" James ii. 6, 7. The rich in every place and age Have shewn their antichristian rage, Eager, impatient to condemn The virtue which reproaches them, And crush, whoe'er to God belong, By violent, or by legal wrong.