Wesley Corpus

Wither my strength, destroy my will, Stain all the glory of my pride, My appetites, and passions kill, Be to my whole of self applied, Implunge me in the depth beneath, And speak to all my nature death. 25Ori., "Put me on my ..."; changed in 2nd edn. (1745) to "Put on me my"; and to above in 3rd edn. (1756). 26"Thy" changed to "thine" in 2nd edn. (1745) and following. Page 46 O that I now with all could part, Cut off the hand, pluck out the eye! Jesus, thou greater than my heart, Thy27 efficacious death apply, Now for thyself prepare the way, Breathe, and the sinful Adam slay. Thou know'st what keeps me out of thee, Naked I in thine eyes appear, Reveal the thing I would not see, Th' accursed thing that harbours here, O tear it hence, altho' the smart, The killing anguish break my heart. Thou see'st, alas! I am not dead, My nature's life in me is whole, Again the rebel lifts his head, And self bears down my struggling soul, This thorn, I feel it in my side Th' unconquerable strength of pride. Still do I live, not Christ but I, The inbred sin I groan to bear, Jesu, with thee I long to die, The suffering of thy cross to share, Sweet fellowship with thee to have: Bury me, Saviour, in thy grave. There31 let me lay my burthen down In sweet forgetfulness of care, The cross shall bring me to the crown, The dead thy praises shall declare, When all renew'd in love I shine, Partaker of the32 life divine. 27"Thy" changed to "Thine" in 2nd edn. (1745) only. 28Ori., "6"; a misprint. 29Ori., "7"; a misprint. 30Ori., "8"; a misprint. 31Ori., "Then"; corrected in errata. 32"The" changed to "a" in 2nd edn. (1745) only. Page 47 In Temptation. Jesu, hear a sinner's prayer, Lo! I flee unto thee, Cast on thee my care. If, O Lord, I have found favour In thy sight, be my might, Be my loving Saviour. To my soul in sore temptation Let thine aid be convey'd Shew me thy salvation. Christ the tempted, hear my crying, Sinner's friend, succour send, See, my soul is dying. Lord, I cannot cease from sinning, Till thou art in my heart, Ending as beginning. Every moment am I falling Into hell, till thou seal My effectual calling.