Wesley Corpus

Long did thy loving Spirit strive, To win me over to my good; The spark of grace was kept alive, For years amidst temptation's flood: I now have sinn'd it all away, And ended is my gracious day. An alien from the life divine, The covenant of promis'd grace, Saviour, no more I call thee mine; An outcast from thy blissful face, Without or faith, or joy, or hope I give (but must I give) thee up! Yes: with my shield of faith I part, My hope is lost in just despair, Love is not in my stony41 heart, It cannot be, while sin is there; My vain pretensions sin disproves; He cannot sin who Jesus loves. No choice, endeavour, or desire, Motion, or will have I to turn; Extinguish'd is the trembling fire, Which once in me began to burn: What have I now whereof to boast? My all is gone, my God is lost. See then the sinner stript of all, A foe, and hater of his God, Despairing, self-condemn'd I fall, Of every spark of goodness void; 41Ori., "stong"; corrected in errata. Page 60 I cannot now for mercy groan, Or offer thee an heart of stone. My mouth is stopt, and guilty now, Before my judge I am become, Lo! At thy judgment-seat I bow, O God of love, pronounce my doom, And if thy yearning heart permit, Now, Saviour, slay me at thy feet! The Backslider. Surely in the Lord we have Both strength and righteousness; Jesus mighty is to save The sinner in distress: Jesu's blood on which we stay, Cleanses us from every stain, Takes the guilt of sin away, Nor lets the power remain. Why then, O my Saviour, why (If mine indeed thou art) Am I thus? A sinner I, And still unclean of heart? Why doth sin my heart divide? Whence this grievous tyranny, All this hell of self and pride, If thou hast sprinkled me? Did I not believe and feel Through faith my sins forgiven? Was I not caught up from hell, And strangely rais'd to heaven? Yes; I once could call thee mine, Felt my Saviour's blood applied, Cloath'd in righteousness divine, I once was justified. Page 61