Congratulation to a Friend, upon Believing in CHRIST. Rev. Charles Wesley 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. 203-206. x,[6],223,[1]p.; 12⁰.

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Congratulation to a Friend , upon Believing in CHRIST . I. WHAT Morn on Thee with sweeter Ray , Or brighter Lustre e'er hath shin'd ? Be blest the Memorable Day That gave Thee JESUS CHRIST to find ! Gave Thee to taste his perfect Grace , From Death to Life in Him to pass ! II . O how diversify'd the Scene , Since first that Heart began to beat ! Evil and few thy Days have been : In Suff'ring , and in Comfort , great , Oft hast Thou groan'd beneath thy Load , And sunk — into the Arms of GOD ! III . Long did all Hell its Pow'rs engage , And fill'd thy darken'd Soul with Fears : Baffled at length the Dragon's Rage , At length th'Attoning Blood appears : Thy Light is come , thy Mourning's o'er , Look up ; for Thou shalt weep no more ! IV . Blest be the Name that sets Thee free , The Name that sure Salvation brings ! The Sun of Righteousness on Thee Has rose with Healing in his Wings . Away let Grief and Sighing flee ; JESUS has died for Thee — for Thee ! V. And will He now forsake his own , Or lose the Purchase of his Blood ? No ! for He looks with Pity down , He watches over Thee for Good ; Gracious He eyes Thee from above , And guards and feeds Thee with his Love . VI . Since Thou wast precious in his Sight , How highly favour'd hast Thou been ! Upborn by Faith to Glory's Height , The Saviour-GOD thine Eyes have seen , Thy Heart has felt its Sins forgiv'n , And tastes Anticipated Heav'n . VII . Still may his Love thy Fortress be And make Thee still his darling Care , Settle , confirm , and stablish Thee , On Eagle's Wings thy Spirit bear : Fill Thee with Heav'n , and ever shed His choicest Blessings on thy Head . VIII . Thus may He comfort Thee below , Thus may He all his Graces give : Him but in part Thou here canst know : Yet here by Faith submit to live ; Help Me to fight my Passage thro' , Nor seize thy Heav'n , till I may too . IX . Or if the Sov'reign wise Decree First number Thee among the Blest , ( The only Good I'd envy Thee ) Translating to an earlier Rest ; Near in thy latest Hour may I Instruct , and learn of Thee , to die . X. Mixt with the Quires that hover round And all th' Adverse Pow'rs controul , Angel of Peace may I be found To animate thy parting Soul , Point out the Crown , and smooth thy Way To Regions of Eternal Day . XI . Fir'd with the Thought , I see Thee now Triumphant meet the King of Fears ! Stedfast thy Heart , serene thy Brow ; Divinely confident appears Thy mounting Soul , and spreads abroad , And swells to be dissolv'd in GOD . XII . Is this the Soul so late weigh'd down By Cares and Sins , by Griefs and Pains ! Whither are all thy Terrors gone ? JESUS for Thee the Vict'ry gains ; And Death , and Sin and Satan yield To Faith's unconquerable Shield . XIII . Blest be the GOD , that calls Thee home ; Faithful to Thee his Mercies prove : Thro' Death's dark Vale he bids Thee come , And more than conquer in his Love ; Robes Thee in Righteousness Divine , And makes the Crown of Glory Thine !