Wesley Corpus

Who are these but sinners poor, Conscious of their lost estate, Sin-sick souls, who for their cure On the Good Physician wait; Fallen who bewail their fall, Proffer'd mercy who embrace, Listning to the gospel-call, Longing to be saved by grace. For his mate the turtle moans, For his God the sinner sighs; Hark, the music of their groans, Humble groans that pierce the skies! Surely God their sorrows hears, Every accent, every look, Treasures up their gracious tears, Notes their sufferings in his book. He who hath their cure begun, Will he now despise their pain? Can he leave his work undone, Bring them to the birth in vain? No; we all who seek shall find, We who ask shall all receive, Be to Christ in spirit join'd, Free from sin forever live. After Preaching to the Newcastle Colliers. Hymn IV.78 See how great a flame aspires, Kindled by a spark of grace! Jesu's love the nations fires, Sets the kingdoms on a blaze. 78Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 51; MS Clarke, 57-58; MS Shent, 137b; and MS Thirty, 210-11. Page 316 To bring fire on earth he came; Kindled in some hearts it is; O that all might catch the flame, All partake the glorious bliss! When he first the work begun, Small and feeble was his day; Now the word doth swiftly run, Now it wins its widening way, More and more it spreads, and grows, Ever mighty to prevail, Sin's strong-holds it now o'erthrows, Shakes the trembling gates of hell. Sons of God, your Saviour praise, He the door hath open'd wide, He hath giv'n the word of grace; Jesu's word is glorified: Jesus mighty to redeem, He alone the work hath wrought, Worthy is the work of him, Him who spake a world from nought. Saw ye not the cloud arise Little as an human hand? Now it spreads along the skies, Hangs o'er all the thirsty land! Lo! The promise of a shower Drops already from above; But the Lord shall shortly pour All the Spirit of his love. Before Preaching to the Colliers in Leicestershire.79 Jesu, thou all-redeeming Lord, Thy blessing we implore, 79Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 9-10; MS Clarke, 10-11; and MS Shent, 102a-103a. Page 317 Open the door to preach thy word, The great, effectual door.