Wesley Corpus

O God, thy faithfulness I plead, My present help in time of need, My great Deliverer thou, Haste to mine aid, thine ear incline, And rescue this poor soul of mine, I claim the promise now. 108John Wesley substituted "spotless" for "sinless" in manuscript in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1755). 109Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 153-54; and MS Shent, 79a-79b. Page 186 Thou wilt not leave me in the snare, Tempted above what I can bear, With no salvation nigh: I may escape, thou sayst I may; I need not fall the tempter's prey, I need not sin, and die. For thy own truth, and mercy sake, Thou wilt with the temptation make A way t' escape the sin: Thou wilt in danger's latest hour Shew forth the greatness of thy power, And bring thy succours in. Where is the way? Ah! Shew me where? That I the mercy may declare, The power that sets me free: How can I my destruction shun? How can I from my nature run? Answer, O God, for me. One only way the erring mind Of man, short-sighted man could find From inbred sin to fly; Stronger than love (I fondly thought) Death, only death, must cut the knot Which love could not untie. But thou, my Lord, art rich110 in grace, Thy love can find a thousand ways, To foolish man unknown; My soul upon thy love I cast, I rest me, 'till the storm is past, Upon thy love alone. Thy faithful, wise, and mighty love Shall ev'ry obstacle remove, 110Charles Wesley changed "rich" to "nigh" in All in All (1761). Page 187 And make an open way; Thy love shall burst the shades of death, And bear me from the gulph beneath To everlasting day. Lord, I believe thee true and good, My only trust is in thy blood; I hear it speak for me; And if my soul is in thy hands, And if thy word for ever stands, I shall not fall from thee. In Temptation. Hymn VII.111 To whom but thee, thou bleeding Lamb, Should I for help apply? Still in the toils of death I am, And sin is always nigh. But thou, my Lord, art nigher still Throughout the fiery hour, To rescue me from my own will, 'Till I can sin no more.