Wesley Corpus

Wise in his prime, he waited not for noon ; Convinced, that mortal never lived too soon. As if foreboding then his little stay, He made his morning bear the heat of day. Fix’d, while unfading glory he pursues, No ill to hazard, and no good to lose : No fair occasion glides unheeded by ; Snatching the golden moments as they fly, k He by few fleeting hours ensures eternity. Friendship’s warm beams his artless breast inspire, And tend’rest reverence for a much-loved sire. He dared for heaven this flattering world forego, Ardent to teach, as diligent to know ; Unwarp’d by sensual views, or vulgar aims, By idle riches, or by idler names ; Fearful of sin in every close disguise ; Unmoved by threatening or by glozing lies. Seldom indeed the wicked came so far, Forced by his piety to defensive war ; Whose zeal for other men’s salvation shown, Beyond the reach of hell secured his own. Gladd’ning the poor, where’er his steps he turn’d ; Where pined the orphan, or the widow mourn’d ; Where prisoners sigh’d beneath guilt’s horrid stain The worst confinement and the heaviest chain ; Where death’s sad shade the uninstructed sight Veu’d with thick darkness in the land of light. Our Saviour thus fulfill’d his great design, (If human we may liken to divine,) Heal’d each disease that bodies frail endure, And preach’d the’ unhoped-for Gospel to the poor. To means of grace the last respect he show’d, Nor sought new paths, as wiser than his God: Their sacred strength preserved him from extremes Of empty outside or enthusiast dreams ; Whims of Molinos, lost in rapture’s mist, Or Quaker, late-reforming quietist. He knew that works our faith must here employ, And that ’tis heaven’s great business to enjoy. Fix’d on that heaven, he death’s approaches saw, Nor vainly murmur’d at our nature’s law ; Repined not that his youth so soon should go, Nor grieved for fleeting pleasures here below. Of sharpest anguish scorning to complain, He fills with mirth the intervals of pain. Not only unappall’d, but joyful, sees The dark, cold passage that must lead to peace , Strong with immortal bloom secure to rise, The tears for ever banish’d from his eyes.