[Page 37]

On CLEMENS ALEXANDRINUS'S Description of a Perfect Christian.

I.
1 HERE from afar the finish'd Height
2 Of Holiness is seen:
3 But O what heavy Tracts of Toil,
4 What Deserts lie between?
II.
5 Man for the Simple Life Divine
6 What will it cost to break;
7 Ere Pleasure soft and wily Pride
8 No more within him speak?
[Page 38]
III.
9 What lingring Anguish must corrode
10 The Root of Nature's Joy?
11 What secret Shame and dire Defeats
12 The Pride of Heart destroy?
IV.
13 Learn Thou the whole of Mortal State
14 In Stilness to sustain;
15 Nor sooth with false Delights of Earth
16 Whom GOD has doom'd to Pain.
V.
17 Thy Mind now Multitude of Thoughts,
18 Now Stupor shall distress;
19 The Venom of each latent Vice
20 Wild Images impress.
VI.
21 Yet darkly fafe with GOD thy Soul
22 His Arm still onward bears,
23 Till thro' each Tempest on her Face
24 A Peace beneath appears.
VII.
25 'Tis in that Peace we see and act
26 By Instincts from above;
27 With finer Taste of Wisdom fraught,
28 And mystic Pow'rs of Love.
VIII.
29 Yet ask not in mere Ease and Pomp
30 Of Ghostly Gifts to shine:
31 Till Death the Lownesses of Man,
32 And decent Griefs are Thine.

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Title (in Source Edition): On CLEMENS ALEXANDRINUS'S Description of a Perfect Christian.
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Genres: hymn

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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. 37-38. x,[6],223,[1]p.; 12⁰. (ESTC T31323; OTA K034809.000) (Page images digitized from a copy in the Bodleian Library [Vet. A4 f. 254].)

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