Wesley Corpus

O what a loathsome hypocrite Am I! A child of wrath and sin, An heir of hell, a son of night, An outward saint, a fiend within, A painted tomb, a whited wall, A worm, a sinner stript of all. Lay to thy63 hand, O God of grace; O God, the work is worthy thee; See at thy feet of all our race The chief, the vilest sinner see, And let me all thy mercy prove, Thy64 utmost miracle of love. Speak; and an holy thing and clean Shall strangely be brought out of me, My Ethiop-soul shall change her skin, Redeem'd from all iniquity, I, even I shall then proclaim, The wonders wrought by Jesu's name. Thee I shall then forever praise, In spirit and in truth adore, While all I am declares thy grace, And born of God I sin no more, 62Ori., "if"; corrected in errata. 63"Thy" changed to "thine" in 2nd edn. (1745) and following. 64"Thy" changed to "thine" in 2nd edn. (1745) and following. Page 80 The pure and heavenly nature share, And fruit unto perfection bear. Part IV. Saviour from sin, I wait to prove That Jesus is thy healing name, To lose,65 when perfected in love, Whate'er I have, or can, or am; I stay me on thy faithful word, The servant shall be as his Lord. Answer that gracious end in me For which thy precious life was given, Redeem from all iniquity, Restore, and make me meet for heaven; Unless thou purge my every stain, Thy suffering, and my faith is vain. 'Tis not a bare release from sin, Its guilt and pain, my soul requires, I want a spirit of power within, Thee, Jesus, thee my heart desires, And pants, and breaks to be renew'd, And wash'd in thy66 all-cleansing blood. Didst thou not in the flesh appear, Sin to condemn, and man to save? That perfect love might cast out fear, That I thy mind in me might have, In holiness shew forth thy praise, And serve thee all my sinless days. Didst thou not die, that I might live No longer to myself, but thee? Might body, soul, and spirit give To him who gave himself for me? Come then, my Master and my God, Take the dear purchase of thy blood. 65Ori., "love"; corrected in errata. 66"Thy" changed to "thine" in 2nd edn. (1745) and following.