Wesley Corpus

Jesus, I at thy throne appear, For those who have not known thy grace, To me alas, by nature near, But far from thee and righteousness! As dead in trespasses to day, As I was yesterday, they rest: But thou hast stir'd me up to pray, And wilt accept thine own request. Page 139 I ask for them the life of faith, Who never sinn'd that deadly sin: O could I snatch from second death, Divinely wise their souls to win; To time my every kind advice! Or, if my words they will not hear, To set my life before their eyes, And in thy character appear! Help me to put thy bowels on, From proud contempt and anger free, By meekest zeal to bear them down, By faith, and fervent charity: To serve, and succour them, and tend, For evil benefits return, And bear their manners to the end, As thou hast all my manners borne. I now for their awakening stay, And hoping against hope abide, To see them cast their sins away, And fall before the crucified: I trust thine instrument to prove For saving souls redeem'd by thee: But patience first and humble love Must have its perfect work in me. For a Family in Want. Father, who knowst the things we need, Before thy children cry, Give us this day our daily bread, As manna from the sky. By providential love bestow'd Thy blessings we receive, And satisfied with scanty food Miraculously live. Page 140 We live, but not by bread alone, Without distracting care, A life invisible, unknown, A life of faith and prayer: We on thy only word depend Who nothing here possess, Reliev'd by the unfailing friend Of indigent distress. The portion of the poor thou art, Who thy commands obey, And trust thou never wilt depart, But keep us to that day; When borne aloft on angels' wings As Lazarus we rest, Inthron'd with Jesus' priests and kings At heaven's eternal feast. Before Work. Come, let us anew Our calling pursue, Go forth with the sun, And rejoice as a giant our circuit to run: Whom Jesus commands To work with our hands, Obeying his word, We a service perform to our heavenly Lord.