With truth we benefactors call
Princes and kings, who born for all
Delight the worthy to reward,
But punish with the last regret,
As awful ministers of fate
Intrusted with Jehovah’s sword:
Who their authority maintain,
That justice and the laws may reign,
That man may to his God submit;
Who glory in their people’s good,
To pride and passion’s power subdued,
And cast their crowns at Jesus’ feet.
With truth we benefactors call
Hymnal/Album: Originally titled: “‘They that exercise authority are called benefactors.'—[Luke 22,] v. 25.” This hymn appears in the 1766 manuscript “MS Luke.” This manuscript is part of the collection of the Methodist Archive and Research Centre in The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester (accession number MA 1977/575, Charles Wesley Notebooks Box 3). Accessed through the website of The Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition, Duke Divinity School. Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 11 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1871), page 285.
Publishing: Public Domain