To a FRIEND in LOVE. Rev. John Gambold Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T31323 K034809.000 Wesley, John, 1703-1791. Wesley, Charles, 1707-1788. Hymns and sacred poems: Published by John Wesley, ... and Charles Wesley, ... London printed by William Strahan; and sold by James Hutton; and at Mr. Bray's 1739 pp. 20-23. x,[6],223,[1]p.; 12⁰.

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To a FRIEND in LOVE . ACCEPT , dear Youth , a sympathizing Lay , The only Tribute pitying Love can pay . Tho' vain the Hope thine Anguish to asswage , Charm down Desire , or calm fierce Passion's Rage ; Yet still permit me in thy Griefs to grieve , Relief to offer , if I can't relieve ; Near thy sick Couch with fond Concern t' attend , And reach out Cordials to my Dying Friend . Poor hapless Youth ! what Words can ease thy Pain , When Reason pleads , and Wisdom cries in vain ! Can feeble Verse impetuous Nature guide , Or stem the Force of blind Affection's Tide ? If Reason checks , or Duty disallows , " Reason , you cry , and Duty are my Foes : " Religion's Dictates ineffectual prove , " And GOD Himself's Impertinence in Love . What art Thou , Love ? Thou strange mysterious Ill , Whom none aright can know , tho' all can seel . From careless Sloth thy dull Existence flows , And feeds the Fountain whence itself arose : Silent its Waves with baleful Influence roll , Damp the young Mind , and sink th' aspiring Soul Poison its Virtues , all its Pow'rs restrain , And blast the Promise of the future Man . To Thee , curst Fiend , the captive Wretch consign'd , " His Passions rampant , and his Reason blind , Reason , Heav'n's great Vicegerent , dares disown , And place a Foolish Idol in its Throne : Or wildly raise his frantic Raptures higher , And pour out Blasphemies at thy Desire . At thy Desire he bids a Creature shine , He decks a Worm with Attributes Divine ; Hers to Angelic Beauties dares prefer , " Angels are painted fair to look like Her ! Before her Shrine the lowly Suppliant laid , Adores the Idol that Himself has made : From her Almighty Breath his Doom receives , Dies by her Frown , as by her Smile he lives . Supreme she reigns in all-sufficient State , To her he bows , from her expects his Fate , " Heav'n in her Love , Damnation in her Hate . He rears unhallow'd Altars to her Name , Where Lust lights up a black , polluted Flame ; Where Sighs impure , as impious Incense rise , Himself the Priest , his Heart the Sacrifice : And thus GOD's Sacred Word his Horrid Pray'r supplies . " Center of All Perfection , Source of Bliss , " In whom thy Creature lives and moves and is , " Save , or I perish ! hear my humble Pray'r , " Spare thy poor Servant — O in Mercy spare . " Thou art my Joy , on Thee depends my Trust , " Hide not thy Face , nor frown me into Dust . " Send forth thy Breath , and rais'd again I see " My Joy , my Life , my Final Bliss in Thee . " For Thee I Am : for Thee I All resign , " Be Thou my One thing Needful , Ever Mine ! But O forbear , presumptuous Muse forbear , Nor wound with Rant profane the Christian Ear : A just Abhorrence in my Friend I see , He starts from Love , when Love's Idolatry . " Give me thy Heart , " if the Creator cries , " 'Tis giv'n the Creature , " What bold Wretch replies ? Not so my Friend — he wakes , he breaths again , And " Reason takes once more the slacken'd Rein . " In vain rebellious Nature claims a Part , When Heav'n requires , he gives up All his Heart : ( " For Love Divine no Partnership allows , " And Heav'n averse rejects divided Vows ) Fixt tho' she be , he rends the Idol thence , Nor lets her Pow'r exceed Omnipotence . Commands his GOD , " Cut off th' offending Hand ? " He hears , Obedient to his GOD's Command : " Pluck out thine Eye , " let the Redeemer say ; He tears , and casts the bleeding Orb away . Victorious now to Nobler Joys aspires , His Bosom , touch'd with more than Earthly Fires : He leaves rough Passion for calm Virtue's Road , Gives Earth for Heav'n , and quits a Worm for GOD .