Wesley Corpus

Fondly my foolish heart essays T' augment the source of perfect bliss, Love's all-sufficient sea to raise With drops of creature-happiness. O love! Thy sov'reign aid impart, And guard the gifts thyself hast giv'n: My portion thou, my treasure art, And life, and happiness, and heav'n. Would ought with thee my wishes share, Tho' dear as life the idol be, The idol from my breast I'll tear, Resolv'd to seek my all from thee. Page 150 Whate'er I fondly counted mine, To thee, my Lord, I here restore: Gladly I all for thee resign: Give me thyself, I ask no more! Justified, But Not Sanctified.47 My God (if I may call thee mine From heav'n and thee remov'd so far) Draw nigh; thy pitying ear incline, And cast not out my languid pray'r. Gently the weak thou lov'st to lead, Thou lov'st to prop the feeble knee, O break not then a bruised reed, Nor quench the smoaking flax in me. Buried in sin, thy voice I hear, And burst the barriers of my tomb, In all the marks of death appear, Forth at thy call, tho' bound, I come. Give me, O give me fully, Lord, Thy resurrection's pow'r to know; Free me indeed; repeat48 the word, And loose my bands, and let me go. Fain would I go to thee my God, Thy mercies and my wants to tell: I feel my pardon seal'd in blood; Saviour, thy love I wait to feel. 47This hymn is retitled "Another" in the 4th edn. (1743) and 5th edn. (1756); perhaps reflecting Wesley's distinction between "initial sanctification," which accompanies justification, and "entire sanctification." 48"Repeat" changed to "pronounce" in 2nd edn. (1739) only. Page 151 Freed from the pow'r of cancel'd sin; When shall my soul triumphant prove? Why breaks not out the fire within In flames of joy and praise and love? When shall my eye affect my heart, Sweetly dissolv'd in gracious tears? Ah, Lord, the stone to flesh convert! And till thy lovely face appears, Still may I at thy footstool keep, And watch the smile of op'ning heav'n: Much would I pray, and love, and weep; I would; for I have much forgiv'n.