Wesley Corpus

God of love, his doom prevent, Lengthening out his gracious day: Give the rebel to relent, Force his stubborn heart to pray: Pray thyself that he may live: Slay him first; and then forgive. Let him now unclose his eyes, Turn'd from Satan's power to thee, See th' atoning sacrifice, Hear the blood that pleads for me; Pleads for both, that sav'd by grace Both may see thy glorious face. Page 137 For an Unconverted Wife. Restorer of the sinsick race, Thy balmy power exert, And turn by unresisted grace My dear companion's heart: One flesh whom thou hast made of two, (For thy own nature's sake, In proof that thou art good and true,) In thee one spirit make. In every hour of near access I bear her to the throne, And wrestle on, 'till thou impress On her thy name unknown: An interest if in thee I have, And feel thy Spirit's life, O let the faithful husband save The unbelieving wife. Instruct me, Saviour, when to yield With mitigated zeal, And when by true affection steel'd To stand invincible: Arm'd with the meekness of my Lord, The wisdom from above, Give me to win without the word, And conquer her by love. Thy boundless charity divine Into my bosom breathe, And gladly I my life resign, To save her soul from death; Give up my residue of days, That she may live forgiven, And run with joy the Christian race, And follow me to heaven. Page 138 For an Undutiful Son. Father of everlasting grace, Who hast the prodigal forgiven, Folded me in thy kind embrace, And gladdend all thy house in heaven; Again thy mercy's depths make known, And save my poor rebellious son. Far from thy family remov'd, With eyes of soft compassion see A soul for Jesus' sake belov'd, And look the wanderer back to thee, Incline his stubborn heart to grieve, And, when he turns his face, forgive. I cannot, Lord, of him despair, Hoping myself for final bliss, Trusting in Jesus' blood and prayer, That powerful Advocate of his, That only sinless Son of thine, Who asks eternal life for mine. Faith echoes to his prayer above, And reaches now thy pitying ear: The rebel shall thy mercy prove, Adorn'd in the best robe appear, And see his heavenly Father's face, And feast for ever on thy grace. For Unconverted Relations.