Wesley Corpus

I hold thee with a trembling hand, I will not let thee go, Till stedfastly by faith I stand, And all thy goodness know. When shall I see the welcome hour That plants my God in me! Spirit of health, and life, and power, And perfect liberty! Page 157 Jesu, thy all-victorious love Shed in my heart abroad; Then shall my feet no longer rove Rooted and fixt in God. Love only can the conquest win, The strength of sin subdue, (Mine own unconquerable sin) And form my soul anew. Love can bow down the stubborn neck, The stone to flesh convert, Soften, and melt, and pierce, and break An adamantine heart. O! That in me the sacred fire Might now begin to glow, Burn up the dross of base desire, And make the mountains flow! O that it now from heaven might fall, And all my sins consume! Come, Holy Ghost, for thee I call, Spirit of burning come! Refining fire, go through my heart, Illuminate my soul, Scatter thy life through every part, And sanctify the whole. Page 158 Sorrow and self shall then expire, While entred into rest, I only live my God t' admire, My God forever blest. No longer then my heart shall mourn, While purified by grace, I only for his glory burn, And always see his face. My stedfast soul, from falling free, Can now no longer move; Jesus is all the world to me, And all my heart is love. Matthew v. 4. "Blessed are they that mourn."67 Gracious soul, to whom are given Holy hungrings after heaven, Restless breathings, earnest moans, Deep, unutterable groans, Agonies of strong desire, Love's supprest, unconscious fire; Turn again to God thy rest, Jesus hath pronounc'd thee blest: Humbly to thy Jesus turn Comforter of all that mourn: Happy mourner, hear, and see, Claim the promise made to thee. 67This hymn appeared first in the 2nd edn. of HSP (1739), 100-102; it was then moved to this collection. Page 159 Lift to him thy weeping eye, Heaven behind the cloud descry: If with Christ thou suffer here, When his glory shall appear, Christ his suffering son shall own; Thine the cross, and thine the crown.