Wesley Corpus

Where is the helpless sinner's friend? Where is the weary wanderer's rest? Wilt thou not bid my sorrows end? Wilt thou not calm my troubled breast, And shew forth all thy gracious art, And stamp forgiveness on my heart? I know not how thy love will deal With such a poor, backsliding soul; Yet let me hope thy blood to feel, Hope against hope to be made whole, And humbly still thy grace desire, And weeping at thy feet expire. Page 130 Hymns for One Fallen from Grace. Hymn XVIII. O mercy divine! When shall it be mine! 'Tis mercy alone Can ransom a soul so entirely undone! So fallen from grace, So far from his face Who brought me to God, And sprinkled me once with his life-giving blood! Base wretch that I am! With sorrow and shame The sin I confess Which robb'd me of all my sweet comfort and peace. Ah, how could I grieve His Spirit, and leave A Saviour so kind, Who labour'd so long a lost sinner to find? I follow'd an heart Ever prone to depart From Jesus my Lord, And threw off his yoke, and rejected his word. I thwarted his will, My own to fulfil, To nature gave way, And suffer'd my lusts to recover their sway. I left my first zeal, And insensibly fell, Page 131 And started aside, Betray'd into passion by slackness and pride: My folly return'd To Egypt, and burn'd For sensual delight, And did my adorable Saviour despite. Thro' selfish desire I made him retire, (Though loath to depart) And leave a divided idolatrous heart. He left me alone In nature sunk down, 'Till awaken'd again I felt all the weight of mine enemy's chain. I felt it; and still My burthen I feel, My punishment bear, And hardly to hope for forgiveness I dare. So soon I abuse His mercy, and lose The tendering power, Plung'd deeper in sin and distress than before. Ah, what shall I do? He only must shew Whose pity can find A cause in himself to be gracious and kind. Whose mercies exceed My offences, and plead Unwearied for me; Whose love is a boundless and bottomless sea. My refuge is this Unexhausted abyss; Page 132 Forsaken of all, Lord, into thy ocean of mercy I fall.