Wesley Corpus

Too long this corruptible clay Clouded the ethereal ray, And press'd my spirit down, A gainer now by every loss, I find in weariness a cross, That lifts me to a crown. Of pain I now advantage make, Meekly bear it for his sake, Who suffer'd death for me: To suffer death for him I wait, And pain shall open wide the gate Of immortality. O blessed hope of lasting peace! Let me lawfully decrease, And sensibly decay: Welcome whate'er my Lord ordain, Disease, or weariness, or pain, To hasten me away. I come, with eager joy I come To my everlasting home, Where toil and sorrow end, Where all my stores of grief83 shall fail, And I no more in groans bewail My poor departed84 friend. 82A manuscript precursor of this hymn appears in MS Occasional Hymns, 38-39. 83John Wesley underlined "all my stores of grief" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). 84John Wesley underlined "poor departed" in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756). Page 70 In that Jerusalem above All is harmony and love, And joy without a sting: The tears are banish'd from our eyes, And not a single sigh can rise, Where saints forever sing. O might I, from this dungeon freed, Now lay down my weary head, My mournful soul resign, This moment meet th' appointed day, And faint, and sink, and die away Into the arms divine. Desiring Death. Hymn VIII.85 Jesu, help thy fallen creature! Conque'ror of the world thou art, Stronger than the fiend, and greater Than this poor rebellious heart: Power, I know, to thee is given, Power to sentence or release, Power to shut, or open heaven; Thou alone hast all the keys. Open then, in great compassion, Open mercy's door to me, Out of mighty tribulation Bring me forth thy face to see; O cut short my days of mourning, Quickly to my rescue come, Let me suddenly returning Reach my everlasting home. 85A manuscript precursor of this hymn appears in MS Occasional Hymns, 39-40. Page 71 Hear me, Lord, myself bemoaning, Banish'd from my native place, Languishing for God, and groaning To appear before thy face: From this bodily oppression Set my earnest spirit free, Give me now the full possession, Let me now thy glory see.