Wesley Corpus

Volume 3 (1780): 397-98 An Old Man's Prayer.13 Jesus, my hope of heav'nly rest, Indulge me in my last request, If thy desires in mine I feel, And ask according to thy will. Ah, make me, ere I hence remove Meet to partake the joys above, To triumph with the sons of grace, And, pure in heart, behold thy face. Soon as the mighty change I know, Through life, through death, in peace I go: Now, Lord, thy gracious work begin, Forgive, and finish all my sin. Redeem'd from passion and from pride, In thee my blameless spirit hide; Thyself my glorious earnest be, My present immortality. Thou only canst my soul prepare, And stamp me with thy character; Thy new mysterious name impart, Thy nature spread throughout my heart. Then am I ready for my Lord, I wait the kind transporting word, Thine utmost truth and mercy prove, And die, to see the God I love. 13Appears in MS Preparation for Death, 22. Volume 3 (1780): 398-99 Another14 An Old Man's Prayer. Lo, on the margin of the grave, Jesus, omnipotent to save, On thee for help I call: Sinking into the dust of death, Oh might I find thine arms beneath, And on thy bosom fall! Reject me not because I fear, But rather a lost sinner hear Who trembles at thy word: The pow'r of faith I do not prove, And by the Spirit of thy love I cannot call thee Lord. Without that sense of pardoning grace, Without that real holiness, Oh! Where shall I appear? They only can contemplate thee, And face to face their Saviour see Who bear thy character. Thy favour how shall I obtain Or how the heav'nly image gain In spotless love renew'd? Answer thou heav'nly Man of Woe, The proofs of thy affection show, And wash me in thy blood. The blood which did my pardon buy That, only that can sanctify This poor polluted heart: Cleans'd in thy blood my soul shall shine, Adorn'd with right'ousness divine, And ready to depart. Remembring then thy mortal pain, Receive me sav'd, and born again, Thy dearly-purchased prize: Through faith to full salvation keep, Till in thine arms I fall asleep, And wake in paradise. 14Appears in MS Preparation for Death, 23-24.