Wesley Corpus

If my blood could atone For what I have done, Even now would I spend it, and groan my last groan: But my dying were vain, Only Jesus's pain, Only Jesus's blood can wash out the foul stain. Its virtue I tried, When I felt it applied, And knew that for me my Redeemer had died. But I quickly gave way In the cloudy dark day, And fell to temptation an indolent prey. That covenant-blood Under foot I have trod, And again I have murder'd the meek Son of God: My sin I declare, My punishment bear, And quake on the edge of eternal despair. And shall I complain Of a moment of pain, Which here for my sins I am doom'd to sustain? No, Lord, I submit, And fall at thy feet, Only let me not sink to the bottomless pit. I bow to the rod, To my temporal load, And fall into the hands of a merciful God: Page 84 Thy justice revere, But with anguish and fear I beg I may have all my punishment here. With tears of desire, I humbly require, That in wailing for sin, all my breath may expire: Only while I remove To the country above, O bless me at last with the taste of thy love. Penitential Hymns. Hymn VIII. Ah! Woe (eternal woe) is me To sin and Satan join'd! What shall I do, or say to thee Preserver of mankind? My firmest promises are void, My strictest vows are vain, Again I have myself destroy'd, For I have sinn'd again. And shall I dare mine eyes lift up, And still for mercy sue? What possibility of hope That I should e'er prove true? Thou knowst, I every means have tried, And all in Jesus' name, Fasted, and pray'd, and wept, and cried, But still remain the same. Rivers of real tears I shed, (And still mine eyes run o'er) And prostrate at thine altar pray'd That I might sin no more. Page 85 I burn'd with sin-detesting zeal, My solemn vows renew'd, And long'd, thou knowst, I long'd to seal, The covenant with my blood.