Wesley Corpus

The love which brought thee from the skies, And made thy soul a sacrifice, Jesu, on me bestow; Or let me, Lord, my life resign That these, who once were counted thine, Again thy voice may know. Shepherd, appear, the great the good, And O! Once more remove our load, Repeat our sins forgiven, And mark the sheep with thy new name, And ascertain our lawful claim To pardon, grace, and heaven. Hymns for a Preacher of the Gospel. Hymn VII. My Lord, by sinners crucified, By me ten thousand times denied, (And yet thy bowels move, And yet thy heart relents for me) Alas! What shall I answer thee, When ask'd, if thee I love? How shall I in thy presence dare Th' abominable crime declare, Or speak the horrid word? And yet compell'd I am to own, And cry with an heart-breaking groan, I do not love thee, Lord! My basest want of love I feel: The most apostate fiend in hell Is not so vile as I: A man, a sufferer for my sake, Thou never didst their nature take, Nor didst for devils die. Page 294 'Twas I that caus'd thy mortal pain, And made thee bow the head, in vain, And waste thy precious blood: For O! This base ungrateful heart! I linger still with all to part, I cannot love my God. Not all thy passion's bleeding power, Before the acceptable hour, This flinty breast can move: Yet may I not to thee appeal? Thou knowst I would thy goodness feel, I would my Saviour love. Jesus, pronounce the softning word, And make me fully willing, Lord, The blessing to receive; My faithless heart in love renew, And then I shall, I shall prove true, And to thy glory live. Then shall my tongue delight to own The wonders thou for me hast done, The blessings thou hast given, And gladly tell thee o'er and o'er, Thou knowst, O Lord, I love thee more Than all thy earth and heaven. Then shall I labour to approve My firm inviolable love, Obedient to my God, And guide with all my power, and keep The tender lambs, and yeaning sheep, Which cost my Lord his blood.