Wesley Corpus

Where is my God, my joy, my hope, The dear desire of nations where? Jesus, to thee my soul looks up, To thee directs her morning prayer, 5John Wesley added the note "This is not the proper meaning of the expression" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1755). 6A manuscript precursor of this hymn appears in MS Thirty, 60-61. Page 203 And spreads her arms of faith abroad, T' embrace my hope, my joy, my God. Mine eyes prevent the morning ray, Looking, and longing for thy word: Come, O my Jesus, come away, And let my heart receive its Lord; Which pants, and struggles to be free, And breaks to be detain'd from thee. Appear in me, bright Morning-Star, And scatter all the shades of night; I saw thee once, and came from far; But quickly lost thy transient light; And now again in darkness pine, 'Till thou throughout my nature shine. In patient hope I now give heed To the sure word of promis'd grace, Whose rays a feeble lustre shed, Faint-glimmering thro' the darksom place, Till thou thy glorious light impart, And rise, the Day-Star, in my heart. Come, Lord, be manifested here, And all the devil's works destroy, Now without sin in me appear, And fill with everlasting joy; Thy beatific face display; Thy presence is the perfect day. Hymns for Believers. Hymn V.7 For the Evening. Thou, Lord, art rich in grace to all, Attend my earnest cry, With lifted hands and heart I call, And look to feel thee nigh. 7A manuscript precursor of this hymn appears in MS Thirty, 128. Page 204 O that my prayers might now to thee As clouds of incense rise, And let my thanks accepted be, My evening sacrifice. Not unto me, O Lord, the praise, But to thy name I give, If kept by thine almighty grace, Still unconsum'd I live. Thro' thee, my God, thro' thee alone I incorrupt have been, Thou hast thy power in weakness shewn Withholding me from sin. Restrain'd from my own wickedness, Thy out-stretch'd arm I see, And bless thee for my faith's increase, And closer cleave to thee. With humble thankfulness I own, Sufficient is thy grace, Thou who from sin hast kept me one, Canst keep me all my days. Hymns for Believers. Hymn VI. At Lying Down.