Wesley Corpus

Forgive us for thy mercy sake, Our multitude of sins forgive, And for thine own possession take, And bid us to thy glory live, Live in thy sight, and gladly prove Our faith by our obedient love. The cov'enant of forgiveness seal, And all thy mighty wonders shew, Our inbred enemies expel, And conquering them to conquer go, 'Till all of self69 and pride is slain, And not one evil thought remain. O put it in our inward parts The living law of perfect love, Write the new precept on our hearts; We cannot then from thee remove, Who in thy glorious image shine Thy people, and forever thine. Hymns for a Preacher of the Gospel. Hymn VI. Shepherd of souls, if thou indeed Hast rais'd me up thy flock to feed, (Thy meanest servant me) O may I all their burthens share, And gently in my bosom bear The lambs redeem'd by thee. Thy Spirit send me from above, Spirit of meek long-suffering love, 69John Wesley substituted "wrath" for "self" in manuscript in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1755). Page 292 Of all-sufficient grace; Endue me with thy constant mind, So good, so obstinately kind To our rebellious race. A faithful steward of my Lord, Give me to minister thy word, And in thy steps to tread; By every sore temptation tried, By sufferings fully qualified Thy ailing flock to lead. O may thy bowels yearn in me, Whene'er a wandring sheep I see, 'Till thou that sheep retrieve, And let me in thy Spirit cry Why, sinner, wilt thou perish, why When Jesus bids thee live? My bosom fill with soft distress, With sympathizing tenderness For every tempted soul: Still would I grieve, and suffer still, And all their pain and sickness feel, 'Till thou hast made them whole. But chiefly would I make my moan, And deep beneath the burthen groan Of those who did run well, But fainted in their evil day, And swerving from the narrow way By pride, or passion fell. Here let me pour out all my tears, And spend in prayer my mournful years, That these may rise renew'd Who have, like me, their Lord denied, That these again may feel applied Thine all-atoning blood. Page 293