Wesley Corpus

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, For good remember me, Me whom thou hast caus'd to trust For more than life in thee: With me in the fire remain, 'Till like burnish'd gold I shine, Meet, thro' consecrated pain, To see the face divine. Cast on the fidelity Of my redeeming Lord, I shall his salvation see, According to his word: Credence to his word I give: My Saviour in distresses past Will not now his handmaid leave, But bring me thro' the last. Better than my boding fears To me thou oft hast prov'd, Oft observ'd my silent tears, And challeng'd thy belov'd; 19In the original letter this reads "pains" rather than "pangs." 20The original letter reads "passive strength" rather than "suffering strength." Page 55 Mercy to my rescue flew, And death ungrasp'd his fainting prey, Pain before thy face withdrew, And sorrow fled away. Now as yesterday the same, In all my troubles nigh, Jesus, on thy word and name I stedfastly rely: Sure as now the grief I feel, The promis'd joy I soon shall have, Sav'd again to sinners tell Thy power and will to save. To thy blessed will resign'd, And stay'd on thee alone, I thy perfect strength shall find, Thy faithful mercies own, Compast round with songs of praise My all to my Deliverer give, Spread the miracle of grace, And for thy glory live. Father, and friend of human kind, Supporter of this tottering clay, I rest on thee my feeble mind, On thee my shrinking flesh I stay, And, call'd thy chastisement to bear, Pour out a calmly pensive prayer. My life I know secur'd above, Hid in those gracious hands divine, But O, my heavier care remove, And claim my unborn child for thine, The burthen of my womb receive, Thine, only thine to die, or live. 21A manuscript version of this hymn, in Sarah Wesley's hand, is found in MS Travail, 8-9. Page 56 If fore-ordain'd to see the light, It bursts into a world of woe, Seize the young sinner as thy right, Before it good or evil know, And cleanse in the baptismal flood, And wash my babe thro' Jesus' blood.