Wesley Corpus

Page 27 Give to my soul with filial fears, The love that all heaven's host inspires: That all my powers with all their might In thy sole glory may unite. Thee will I love, my joy, my crown; Thee will I love, my Lord, my God; Thee will I love beneath thy frown Or smile, thy scepter or thy rod; What tho' my flesh and heart decay? Thee shall I love in endless day! Hymn XXVI.38 Shall I, for fear of feeble man, Thy Spirit's course in me restrain? Or undismay'd in deed and word Be a true witness of39 my Lord? Aw'd by a mortal's frown, shall I Conceal the word of God most high? How then before thee shall I dare To stand, or how thine anger bear? Shall I, to sooth th' unholy throng, Soften thy truths, and smooth my tongue? To gain earth's gilded toys, or flee The cross, endur'd, my God, by thee? What then is he, whose scorn I dread? Whose wrath or hate make40 me afraid? A man! An heir of death! A slave To sin! A bubble on the wave! Yea, let man rage; since thou wilt spread Thy shadowing wings around my head: Since in all pain thy tender love Will still my sure41 refreshment prove. 38Source: Johann Joseph Winckler. First appeared in CPH (1738), 65-66. Appears here via HSP (1739), 39"Of" is Charles Wesley's replacement for "to" in HSP (1739). 40"Make" is Charles Wesley's replacement for "makes" in HSP (1739). 41"Sure" is Charles Wesley's replacement for "sweet" in HSP (1739). John Wesley adopts this change in Hymns (1780). Page 28 Saviour of men, thy searching eye Doth all mine inmost soul descry: Doth ought on earth my wishes raise? Or the world's pleasures, or its praise? The love of Christ doth me constrain To seek the wandring souls of men: With cries, entreaties, tears, to save, To snatch them from the gaping grave. For this let men revile my name, No cross I shun, I fear no shame: All hail, reproach, and welcome pain! Only thy terrors, Lord, restrain. My life, my blood, I here present! If for thy truth they may be spent, Fulfil thy sov'reign counsel Lord: Thy will be done, thy name ador'd!