Happy the saints of former days

Verse 1
Happy the saints of former days
Who first continued in the word, (John 8:31, Acts 2:42)
A simple lowly loving race, (Eph. 4:2)
True followers of their lamb-like Lord. (Isa. 53:7, John 1:29, Eph. 5:1-2, I Thess. 1:6, I Pet. 2:21-23, Rev. 14:4)

Verse 2
In holy fellowship they liv’d, (Acts 2:42, I John 1:7)
Nor would from the commandment move, (Deut. 5:32, Ps. 119:10, John 13:34-35)
But every joyful day receiv’d
The tokens of expiring love. (Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23, John 15:13, Acts 2:46, I Cor. 11:23-26)

Verse 3
Not then above their Master wise, (Matt. 10:24-25, Luke 6:40, John 13:16)
They simply[1] in his paths remain’d, (Ps. 17:5, Ps. 23:3, I Pet. 2:21, I John 2:6)
And call’d to mind his sacrifice (Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23, I Cor. 11:23-26, Heb. 9:26)
With stedfast faith and love unfeign’d. (II Cor. 6:6, Col. 2:5, I Pet. 5:9)

Verse 4
From house to house they broke the bread (Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46, Acts 20:7)
Impregnated with life divine, (John 6:51, John 6:53-56)
And drank the Spirit of their head (Col. 1:18)
Transmitted in the sacred wine.

Verse 5
With Jesu’s constant presence blest, (Matt. 18:20, Matt. 28:20, Luke 24:35)
While duteous to his dying word,
They kept the eucharistick feast, (Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23, I Cor. 5:8, I Cor. 11:23-26)
And supp’d in Eden with their Lord.

Verse 6
Throughout their spotless lives was seen
The virtue of this heavenly food, (Ps. 78:24-25, John 6:50, John 6:57-58)
Superior to the sons of men
They soar’d aloft, and walk’d with God. (Gen. 5:22-24, Gen. 6:9, Isa. 40:31)

Verse 7
O what a flame of sacred love
Was kindled by the altar’s fire! (Lev. 6:12-13)
They liv’d on earth like those above,
Glad rivals of the heavenly choir.

Verse 8
Strong in the strength herewith receiv’d,
And mindful of the crucified; (I Cor. 1:23, I Cor. 2:2)
His confessors for him they liv’d, (Matt. 10:32, Luke 12:8)
For him his faithful martyrs dyed. (Acts 22:20, Rom. 14:7-8, Rev. 2:13, Rev. 12:11)

Verse 9
Their souls from chains of flesh releas’d,
By torture from their bodies driven (Heb. 11:35-37)
With violent faith the kingdom seiz’d,
And fought and forc’d their way to heaven. (Matt. 11:12)

Verse 10
Where is the pure primeval flame,
Which in their faithful bosom glow’d?
Where are the followers of the Lamb, (Rev. 14:4)
The dying witnesses for God?

Verse 11
Why is the faithful seed decreas’d, (Jer. 2:21)
The life of God extinct and dead? (Eph. 4:18)
The daily sacrifice is ceas’d, (Ex. 29:38, Dan. 8:11, Dan. 11:31, Dan. 12:11)
And charity to heaven is fled.

Verse 12
Sad mutual causes of decay,
Slackness and vice together move, (Heb. 6:11-12)
Grown cold we cast the means away,
And quench’d our latest spark of love. (Matt. 24:12, Rev. 2:4-5)

Verse 13
The sacred signs thou didst ordain,
Our pleasant things are all laid waste; (Isa. 64:11, Lam. 1:10)
To men of lips and hearts profane,
To dogs and swine, and heathen cast. (Lam. 1:10, Matt. 7:6)

Verse 14
Thine holy ordinance contemn’d (I Sam. 2:17, Mal. 1:12)
Hath let the flood of evil in,
And those who by thy name are nam’d, (II Chron. 7:14, Jer. 14:9)
The sinners unbaptiz’d out-sin.

Verse 15
But canst thou not thy work revive
Once more in our degenerate years? (Hab. 3:2)
O wouldst thou with thy rebels strive, (Gen. 6:3)
And melt them into gracious tears!

Verse 16
O wouldst thou to thy church return!
For which the faithful remnant sighs,
For which the drooping nations mourn, (Isa. 24:4)
Restore the daily sacrifice. (Dan. 8:11, Dan. 11:31, Dan. 12:11)

Verse 17
Return, and with thy servants sit,
Lord of the sacramental feast, (Matt. 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-23, I Cor. 11:23-26)
And satiate us with heavenly meat, (Ps. 78:24-25, John 6:51, John 6:55, I Cor. 10:3-4)
And make the world thy happy guest. (Isa. 25:6, Matt. 22:10, Luke 14:23)

Verse 18
Now let the spouse, reclin’d on thee,
Come up out of the wilderness, (Song of Solomon 8:5)
From every spot, and wrinkle free, (Eph. 5:25-27)
And wash’d, and perfected in grace. (Song of Solomon 4:7, I Cor. 6:11, Col. 1:28, Heb. 10:14)

Verse 19
Thou hear’st the pleading Spirit’s groan,
Thou knowst the groaning Spirit’s will: (Rom. 8:26-27)
Come in thy gracious kingdom down,
And all thy ransom’d servants seal. (II Cor. 1:22, Eph. 1:13, Eph. 4:30, Rev. 7:3)

Verse 20
Come quickly, Lord, the Spirit cries,
The number of thy saints compleat, (Rom. 11:25, Rev. 6:11)
Come quickly, Lord, the bride replies, (Rev. 22:7, Rev. 22:17, Rev. 22:20)
And make us all for glory meet. (Rom. 9:23, Col. 1:12)

Verse 21
Erect thy tabernacle here, (Lev. 26:11, Ezek. 37:27, Rev. 21:3)
The New Jerusalem send down, (Rev. 3:12, Rev. 21:2)
Thyself amidst thy saints appear, (Col. 3:4)
And seat us on thy dazling throne. (Rev. 3:21)

Verse 22
Begin the great millennial day, (II Pet. 3:8, Rev. 20:4, Rev. 20:6)
Now, Saviour, with a shout descend, (I Thess. 4:16)
Thy standard in the heavens display,
And bring thy joy which ne’er shall end! (Ps. 16:11, Isa. 35:10, Isa. 51:11, John 16:22)

[1] Wesley changed “simply” to “simple” in 1771.