Wesley Corpus

Now explain thy whole design, From my earliest infancy Why didst thou my will incline, Draw my simple heart to thee? Wherefore did I haunt the shade, Sad, disconsolate, alone, Ever of thy frown afraid, Wretched for a God unknown? Shew me what I wanted then, Give me what I still require, Fairer than the sons of men, Me with thy pure love inspire; Thou my long-sought happiness, Sum of my desires thou art, Breathe the Spirit of thy grace, Breathe thyself into my heart. Full of trembling expectation, Feeling much, and fearing more, Author, God of my salvation, I thy timely aid implore: 15A manuscript version of this hymn, in Sarah Wesley's hand, is found in MS Travail, 4-5. Page 51 Suffering Son of man, be near me, All my sufferings to sustain, By thy sorer griefs to chear me, By thy more than mortal pain. Call to mind that unknown anguish In thy days of flesh below, When thy troubled soul did languish Under a whole world of woe, When thou didst our curse inherit, Groan beneath our guilty load, Burthen'd with a wounded spirit, Bruis'd by all the wrath of God. By thy most severe temptation In that dark satanic hour, By thy last mysterious passion Screen me from the adverse power: By thy fainting in the garden, By thy bloody sweat I pray, Write upon my heart the pardon, Take my sins and fears away. By the travail of thy Spirit, By thine outcry on the tree, By thine agonizing merit In my pangs remember me! By thy death I thee conjure, A weak, dying soul befriend, Make me patient to endure, Make me faithful to the end. Help my loving Lord and Saviour! Sav'd before, I implore Thy continued favour. Page 52 Still on thee I cast my care, Thou art still pleas'd to feel What thy members bear. With our weakness and temptation Touch'd thou art; feels thy heart Exquisite compassion. Well thou knowst the fear and sorrow Which I know, sunk in woe, Trembling for to-morrow; Trembling, lest without thy power, Feeble I faint and die In my coming hour: Tried above what I can bear Lest I yield, lose my shield, Void of faith and prayer. Let me now thy help secure, Saviour then strength ordain, Help me then t' endure.