Wesley Corpus

O Almighty Lord, we own Thine awful righteousness, Make in us thy goodness known, Who all our sins confess, Us who tremble at the rod, And meekly to the judgment bow, O remember us for good Who sue for mercy now! Lamb of God, who bear'st away All the sins of all mankind, Bow a nation to thy sway While we may acceptance find, Page 51 Let us thankfully embrace The last offers of thy grace. Thou thy messengers hast sent Joyful tidings to proclaim, Willing we should all repent, Know salvation in thy name, Feel our sins by grace forgiven, Find in thee the way to heaven. Jesu, roll away the stone, Good Physician shew thine art, Make thine healing virtue known, Break the unbelieving heart, Soften the obdurate crowd, Melt the rebels by thy blood. Let thy dying love constrain Those that disregard thy frown, Sink the mountain to a plain, Bring the pride of sinners down, By thy bloody cross subdue, Tell them, I have died for you! Or if yet they will not turn In their acceptable day, Will not look on thee and mourn, Will not cast their sins away, Them at last by judgments shake, By thy thunder's voice awake. Force our hardned souls to fear, Visit with affliction's rod, Let us have our chastening here, Fall into the hands of God; Scourge, but make not a full end, Punish us, but, Lord, amend. Let th' effect of Jacob's pain Be to purge his sin away, Let the stock take root again, Flourish in a gospel-day, Page 52 Forth in gracious blossoms shoot, Fill the earth with golden fruit. If the ruin be decreed, Turn it to thy people's good, Still preserve the holy seed, Arm us with thy sprinkled blood, Till the utmost grace we prove, Perfect in all-patient love. Zephaniah i. 12, c.; ii. 1, 2. The day, the dreadful day draws nigh, When God in judgment shall appear, Shall by his laws his people try, And prove with scrutiny severe The sinners settled on their lees, And punish all that dwell at ease. The men whose hearts deny his love, His guardian love and righteous sway, Who say "Secure he sits above, And lets us each pursue our way, Nor will he e'er our deeds regard, Or punish mortals, or reward."