Wesley Corpus

When shall I lay down my head On my softest, earthen bed, Have the rest I fain would have, Sink into the quiet grave! When shall I my haven find, Leave my cares, and griefs behind, Gain the good for which I weep, Close mine eyes in lasting sleep! Might I now escape away, Quit the tenement of clay, Take my unsuspected flight, Steal into the world of light. 70A manuscript precursor of this hymn appears in MS Occasional Hymns, 31-32. Page 66 Only this do I desire, Change, and O! My soul require, Come, my Lord, and Saviour come, Now prepare, and take me home. Now pronounce the welcome word, Pardon, and receive me, Lord, Now the hallowing blood apply, Bid me lay me down, and die. Work a sudden work of grace, Cut it short in righteousness, Liken'd to the saints in light, Call me hence this happy night. Save me now from all my fears, Let me pour my latest tears, Ere71 I see th' approaching morn, Bid my spirit to God return; Breathless leave this heavy clod, Faint into the arms of God, Glide in blissful dreams away, Wake in everlasting day. Desiring Death. Hymn VI.72 Thou wretched man of sorrow, Whose eyes all day73 o'erflow, Indulge thy74 grief, and borrow The night for farther woe; In ceaseless lamentation75 Thy solemn moments spend, And groan thy76 expectation, That pain with life shall end. 71Ori., "E're"; but clearly meant in sense of "before." 72A manuscript precursor to this hymn can be found in Charles Wesley's letter to Sarah Gwynne Jr (March 73John Wesley underlined "all day" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 74John Wesley underlined "indulge thy" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 75John Wesley underlined "ceaseless lamentation" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 76John Wesley underlined "groan thy" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). Page 67 'Till then in fixt despair77 Of all relief I live, My utmost burthen bear, And now retire to grieve, To taste my only pleasure,78 In secret sighs complain, Augment my mournful treasure,79 And aggravate my80 pain. To pain, and grief inur'd I from the womb have been, And all the rage endur'd, And all the shame of sin, Wandred my forty years Throughout the desart wide, And in ten thousand fears Ten thousand deaths have died.