Wesley Corpus

Returning from his sacrifice, The man whom God vouchsaf'd to approve, More highly favour'd by the skies, And perfected in faith and love, Again fulfill'd he found the word, An image of his righteous Lord. Perfect in love which casts out fear, The hoary patriarch receiv'd The crown of his obedience here, And intimate with heaven he liv'd, With glorious dignity endow'd, Forever stil'd the friend of God. "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." James ii. 24. Ye see, who willing are to see, A sinner freely sav'd thro' grace, And justified by faith, must be Confirm'd by works of righteousness: But God for his will never own The idle faith which stands alone. Accounted just thro' faith divine, Inherent righteousness we need, Our actions with our faith must join To make and prove us just indeed, Our faith itself to justify, And fit believers for the sky. "Was not Rahab justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" James ii. 25. In proof that she indeed believ'd, And favour found for Jesu's sake, Rahab with cordial love receiv'd, And sent the spies in safety back, Page 385 Joyful her saving faith t' express In works of real righteousness. While thus the life of faith she shew'd Throughout her new-born soul display'd, She felt that hallowing grace of God, By which our faith is perfect made, By which we truly righteous prove, And then salute the saints above. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so the faith without works is dead also." James ii. 26. As when the active soul is fled, A senseless lump the body lies, The faith which did from God proceed, If separated from works, it dies A carcase without life or power, A faith extinct is faith no more. Faith without works is not the true; The living principle of grace, The virtue which can all things do, Works universal righteousness, And gains, when all its toils are past, The promise of pure love at last. Know this, ye infidels in heart, Who boast your barren faith in vain, Who dare the sacred word pervert; The carcase dead is not the man: Or if ye did true life receive, Ye ceas'd at once to work and live.