Wesley Corpus

Lord, if thou didst thyself inspire Our hearts with this intense desire Thy goodness to proclaim, Thy glory if we now intend; O let our deed begin and end Compleat in Jesus' name. In Jesus' name behold we meet! Far from an evil world retreat, And all its frantic ways, One only thing resolv'd to know, And square our useful lives below By reason and by grace. Not in the tombs we pine to dwell, Not in the dark monastic cell By vows and grates confin'd; Freely to all ourselves we give, Constrain'd by Jesu's love to live The servants of mankind. Now Jesus, now, thy love impart, To govern each devoted heart, And fit us for thy will, Deep founded in the truth of grace Build up our rising church, and place The city on the hill. O let our faith and love abound, O let our lives to all around With purest lustre shine, That all, but us, our works may see, And give the glory, Lord, to thee, The heavenly light divine. Page 39 Come wisdom, power, and grace divine, Come Jesus, in thy name to join An happy chosen band, Who fain would prove thine utmost will, And all thy righteous laws fulfil In love's benign command. If pure essential love thou art, Thy nature into every heart, Thy loving self inspire, Bid all our simple souls be one, United in a bond unknown, Baptiz'd with heavenly fire. Still may we to our center tend, To spread thy praise our common end, To help each other on, Companions thro' the wilderness, To share a moment's pain, and seize An everlasting crown. Jesus, our tender'd souls prepare, Infuse the softest, social care, The warmest charity, The bowels of our bleeding Lamb, The virtues of thy wondrous name, The heart which was in thee. Supply what every member wants, To found the fellowship of saints, Thy Spirit, Lord, supply, So shall we all thy love receive, Together to thy glory live, And to thy glory die. 3A shorthand copy of this hymn in CW's hand appears in MS Spencer, 22 (with no variants). Page 40 O Saviour, cast a gracious smile, Our gloomy guilt, and selfish guile, And shy mistrust remove, The true simplicity impart, To fashion every passive heart, And mould it into love.