Wesley Corpus

Greaten my contracted mind, Saviour thou of all mankind; What in man thy grace could move? O the riches of thy love!76 Let thy love possess me whole, Let it take up all my soul; True magnificence impart, Purify, and fill my heart. I despise all earthly things Offspring to the King of kings, God I for my Father claim, Jesus is my brother's name. Heaven is mine inheritance, I shall soon remove from hence, As the stars in glory shine, Christ and God, and all is mine. Hymn III.77 Come let us join the hosts above, Now in our earliest78 days, Remember our Creator's love, And lisp our Father's praise. 75"Noble" changed to "sacred" in Hymns for Children (1763). 76Stanza 11 omitted from this hymn in Hymns for Children (1747). 77Ori., "Part III"; a misprint. 78"Earliest" changed to "youngest" in Hymns for Children (1763). Page 198 His majesty will not despise The day of feeble things; Grateful the songs of children rise, And please the King of kings. We all his kind protection share, Within his arms we rest; The sucklings are his tenderest care, While hanging on the breast. We praise him with a stammering tongue, While under his defence, He smiles to hear the artless song Of childish innocence. He loves to be remember'd thus, And honour'd for his grace, Out of the mouth of babes like us His wisdom perfects praise. Glory to God, and praise, and power, Honour, and thanks be given: Children, and cherubim adore The Lord of earth and heaven. Hymn IV. O happy state of infancy, Stranger79 to guilty fears, We live from sin and sorrow free In these our tender years. Jesus the Lord our shepherd is, And did our souls redeem, Our present and eternal bliss Are both secur'd in him. His mercy every sinner claims, For all his flock he cares: 79"Stranger" changed to "Strangers" in Hymns for Children (1763). Page 199 The sheep he gently leads, the lambs He in his bosom bears. Loving he is to all his sons Who hearken to his call; But us, his weak, his little ones, He loves us best of all. If unto us our friends are good, 'Twas he their hearts inclin'd, He bids our fathers give us food, And makes our mothers kind.