Wesley Corpus

Jesus our refuge in distress, Our helper hitherto, We now with joyful hearts confess That thou art good and true: Thro' importunity of prayer We have the blessing won, And thee in songs of praise declare The healer of our son. Thou didst in tender mercy look On our fond heart's desire: The fever, check'd by thy rebuke, Did at thy touch retire: The glory, Lord, to thee alone, Not to the means we give: Thyself the saving work hast done, And by thy love we live. The living, they thy love shall praise, The living, they shall sing The God and giver of all grace, Our Saviour, friend, and King: Our Isaac too to health restor'd Shall the thanksgiving join, And live to magnify his Lord His ransomer divine. O that thou would'st thy power exert, The gracious wonder do, Put the new song into his heart, The song for ever new! Now let thy brooding Spirit move On his awakening soul, Infuse the principle of love, And make the sinner whole. Page 112 Better than life thy favour is: Be it on him bestow'd: We only ask'd his life for this, That he may live for God, Wholly devoted to thy will, May run his Christian race, And all his work on earth fulfil, And then behold thy face. For a Sick Child Relapsed. To whom should I in grief complain, To whom for help in trouble fly? Nature hath took th' alarm again, Touch'd is the apple of mine eye, His danger with my fears return, And stricken in the child I mourn. Thou God of unexhausted grace, Thou Father of compassions hear, And while I humbly seek thy face, Thyself in my behalf appear, Forgive the sin thy pity sees, Forgive, and bid me go in peace. Why should my faultring tongue disown The weakness of my fluttering heart? Thou read'st it in the stifled groan, The fond regret, the lingering smart, My fears and flowing sorrows tell I lov'd the child, alas, too well! Child of my age so late bestow'd, So lovely in a father's sight, So kindly promising for God, My comfort, joy, and whole delight: For him I seem'd to live in pain, And track'd my steps to earth again. Page 113