Wesley Corpus

Only thou God of power, Thou God of love attend, In that decisive hour, When pain with life68 shall end: Thou only bear my burthen, And help my last distress, And give me back my pardon, And bid me die in peace. O for thy Jesus' merit, The forfeiture restore, And land my fainting spirit On yonder happy shore, 66John Wesley underlined "sacred misery" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 67John Wesley underlined this line in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 68John Wesley underlined "with life" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). Page 64 In safety waft me over, And harbour in thy breast, And let me there recover Mine everlasting rest. Desiring Death. Hymn IV.69 To the fountain of thy blood With trembling haste I fly, Wash me, O my pardning God, From crimes of deepest die, Purge my every crimson stain, And give my burthen'd conscience ease, Turn me to my rest again, And bid me die in peace. None of all thy gifts below Do I, O Lord, desire, Grant me but thy love to know, And quietly expire, From my sin's, my body's chain This weary wretched soul release, Turn me, c. If thou canst, the whole remit Of what I feel, and fear, Send me up out of the pit Of temporal despair: All the sad arrears of pain Discharge by thy own righteousness, Turn me, c. Let the punishment suffice I have already borne, Wipe the sorrow from my eyes, And bid me now return; 69A manuscript precursor of this hymn appears in MS Occasional Hymns, 79-80. Page 65 Me a wretched sinful man Redeem from all my sinfulness: Turn me, c. Weak, and coward as I am, I dare no longer live: Hide me from my grief, and shame, And to thyself receive: Might I now the port obtain, Might all these storms and sorrows cease! Turn me, c. Plunge me in the purple tide Of thy atoning blood, Take me, Lord, into thy side, And bring me pure to God: If thou hast not died in vain, The purchase of thy passion seize, Turn me to my rest again, And bid me die in peace. Desiring Death. Hymn V. At Laying Down.70