Wesley Corpus

Lay thy hand upon my soul, Bruise me with thy righteous rod, Wound and never make me whole, 'Till my spirit returns to God, Grant me then the late relief, Save me as th' expiring thief. 51Ori., "goaler" (in both editions); a misprint. Page 75 Then remember me for good Passing thro' the mortal vale, Shew me thy atoning blood, While my strength and spirit fail, Give my gasping soul to see Jesus crucified for me! On the margin of the grave, In that last decisive hour, Let me find thy power to save, All thy sanctifying power, See thee with my closing eyes, Die into thy paradise. Penitential Hymns. Hymn II.52 Will the pardning God despise A poor mourner's sacrifice, One who brings his all to thee, All his sin and misery! Saviour, see my troubled breast, Heaving, panting after rest, Jesu, mark my hollow eye, Never clos'd, and never dry. Listen to my plaintive moans, Deep uninterrupted groans, Keep not silence at my tears, Quiet all my griefs and fears. Good Physician, shew thine art, Bind thou up my broken heart; Aches it not for thee, my God, Pants to feel thy balmy blood? 52A manuscript precursor of this hymn appears in MS Occasional Hymns, 60-61. Page 76 Gushing from thy wounded side Might I feel it now applied, Wouldst thou in my last53 distress Heal, and bid me die in peace! Jesus, answer all thy name, Save me from my fear, and shame, Sunk in desp'rate misery, Sinner's friend, remember me. By thy bonds my soul release, By thy pain mine anguish ease, By thy bloody sweat, I pray, Wash my inbred sin away. Quicken by thy parting breath, By thy life-inspiring death, Save me, by thy burial save, Hide me in thy quiet grave. Skreen my faint devoted head, Write me free among the dead, With thy pardning mercy blest Take me to my endless rest. Penitential Hymns. Hymn III. Jesu, I call thee by the name On which my hopes would fain rely: Undone without thy help I am, Without thy help for ever die. Throughout my fallen soul I feel Thy only name hath power to save: Quench with thy blood this inbred hell, Redeem me from th' infernal grave. 53Ori., "lost"; corrected in errata and 2nd edn. (1755). Page 77