Wesley Corpus

Father of mercies, hear my cry, This, only this is all my plea, Jesus the just hath bow'd the sky, Thy Son hath died, hath died for me. Jesus hath undertook my cause, Finish'd the great redeeming plan, Humbled to death my Saviour was, And stoop'd to raise his creature man. By love, meer pitying love, inclin'd He caught my nature in its fall, A common head of all mankind, Assum'd the flesh, and guilt of all. 1Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 139-40; MS Clarke, 158-59; and MS Shent, 114a-114b. Page 151 Father, thou knowst he bought my peace, My life, and health, and liberty, My present, and eternal bliss; He purchas'd all thou art for me. Assur'd thy fulness to receive, With earnest, calm desire I wait, For all thou hast in Christ to give, The glories of my first estate. I trust thy image to regain, Whate'er thou hast to sinners given, All, all I shall in Christ obtain, Pardon, and paradise, and heaven. Hymns for Those that Wait for Full Redemption. Hymn IV.2 Happy soul, that safe from harms Rests within his shepherd's arms! Who his quiet shall molest, Who shall violate his rest? Jesus doth his spirit bear, Jesus takes his every care, He who found the wandring sheep, Jesus still delights to keep. Dogs, and wolves in vain appear, Roaring lions still are near, Ravening wolves unmov'd he sees Howling in the wilderness. Calm he eyes them from above, Safe in his protector's love, There he rests, and undismay'd Drops his arms, and hangs his head. 2Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 65-66; MS Clarke, 72-73; and MS Shent, 115a-115b. Page 152 O that I might so believe, Stedfastly to Jesus cleave, On his only love rely, Smile at the destroyer nigh! Free from sin, and servile fear, Have my Jesus ever near, All his care rejoice to prove, All his paradise of love. Jesu, seek thy wandring sheep, Bring me back, and lead, and keep, Take on thee my every care, Bear me, on thy bosom bear. Let me know my shepherd's voice, More, and more in thee rejoice; More, and more of thee receive, Ever in thy Spirit live: Live, 'till all thy life I know, Perfect in my Lord below Gladly then from earth remove, Gather'd to the fold above.