Surely He will not long delay:

I hear His Spirit cry,

"Arise, my love, make haste away! Go, get thee up, and die.

O'er death, who now has lost his sting, I give the victory;

And with Me My reward I bring,

I bring My heaven for thee."

Lord, I the welcome word receive,
Thee on the mount adore;
For Thy dear sake consent to live
Some painful moments more.
I live in holy grief and joy;
On Pisgah's top I stand,
And life's important point employ
To view the Promised Land.

O what hath Jesus bought for me!

Before my ravished eyes Rivers of life divine I see,

And trees of paradise.

They flourish in perpetual bloom,
Fruit every month they give ;
And to the healing leaves who come
Eternally shall live.

I see a world of spirits bright,

Who reap the pleasures there;

They all are robed in purest white,
And conquering palms they bear.
Adorned by their Redeemer's grace,
They close pursue the Lamb;
And every shining front displays
The unutterable Name.

They drink the deifying stream,
They pluck the ambrosial fruit,
And each records the praise of Him
Who tuned his golden lute:

At once they strike the harmonious wire,
And hymn the great Three-One :
He hears; He smiles; and all the choir
Fall down before His throne.

O what a heaven of heavens is this,
This swoon of silent love!

How poor the world's sublimest bliss
Compared with joys above!
With joys above may I be blest,
And earthly bliss I scorn;
Or sing triumphantly distrest
Till I to God return.

O what are all my sufferings here,
If, Lord, Thou count me meet
With that enraptured host to appear,
And worship at Thy feet!

Give joy or grief, give ease or pain,
Take life or friends away,

I come, to find them all again
In that eternal Day.

Larger Funeral Hymns, 1759.

OF HEAVEN.

WHERE shall true believers go,
When from the flesh they fly?
Glorious joys ordained to know,
They mount above the sky,
To that bright celestial place;
There they shall in raptures live,
More than tongue can e'er express,
Or heart can e'er conceive.

When they once are entered there,
Their mourning days are o'er;
Pain, and sin, and want, and care,
And sighing is no more.
Subject then to no decay,
Heavenly bodies they put on,
Swifter than the lightning's ray,
And brighter than the sun.

But their greatest happiness,
Their highest joy, shall be

God their Saviour to possess,
To know, and love, and see.
With that beatific sight
Glorious ecstasy is given;
This is their supreme delight,

And makes a heaven of heaven.

Him beholding face to face,

To Him they glory give,

Bless His Name and sing His praise,
As long as God shall live.

While eternal ages roll,

Thus employed in Heaven they are:

Lord receive my happy soul

With all Thy servants there!

Hymns for Children, 1763.

NOTES.

[The references and quotations are to or from Mr. Jackson's "Life of Charles Wesley," the unabridged London edition, 2 vols., 1841; his "Journal," etc., edited by Mr. Jackson, 2 vols., London, 1849; and Mr. Creamer's "Methodist Hymnology," New York, 1848.]

PAGE 1. In the first edition, 1739, this is headed "A Hymn for Midnight;" the title is here given as in subsequent editions. "This poem," says Mr. Creamer, "gives some idea of the defective creed and gloomy feelings" of both John and Charles Wesley, in the earlier stages of their experience. To the piece John" afterward gave an evangelical character, by substituting the word faith for death, in the last line of the third stanza." With this and three other verbal alterations, the last four verses were admitted into J. W.'s large "Collection," and thence into the present M. E. Hymn-book.

5, 6. Mr. Jackson (Life, I. 137) thinks it is one or other of these two hymns that is referred to in the following passages of the poet's Diary: "May 23d, 1738. At nine I began an hymn upon my conversion, but was persuaded to break off, for fear of pride. Mr. Bray coming, encouraged me to proceed, in spite of Satan. prayed Christ to stand by me, and finished the hymn. . . . 24th. Towards ten (P. M.) my brother was brought in triumph by a troop of our friends, and declared, 'I believe.' We sang the hymn with great joy."

...

7. Preaching at Cardiff, July 14, 1741, "Many tears were shed at the singing that,

"Outcasts of men, to you I call,'" etc.

8. "For the Anniversary," etc. The day was Sunday, May 21st, 1738.