Wesley Corpus

Cover'd with conscious shame, And griev'd, O Lord, I am, Page 26 Praise to most unworthy me That my fellow-worms should give: Praise belongs to none but thee, Praise let God alone receive. Shall I, his creature I, By sinful robbery, Take the honour and esteem To my glorious Maker due? No; I leave it all to him, Him from whom my life I drew. Father, accept thine own Thro' Jesus Christ thy Son: Honour, glory, power is thine, Mine, (if thou vouchsafe the grace) With that heavenly quire to join, In thine everlasting praise. Hymn XXIX. Rejoice in the Lord, rejoice evermore! Who gave us the word, shall give us the power: His grace is a treasure, which when we obtain, Obedience is pleasure, and duty is gain. The pleasure and gain of them that believe, The reason of man can never conceive: Too big for expression the comfort and peace, 'Tis present possession of heavenly bliss. Who share it above, they never can lose His heavenly love, or forfeit, like us, Immanuel's favour, and therefore they rest Wrapt up in their Saviour, and perfectly blest. Hymn XXX. But we by divers ways May fall from Jesu's grace, Page 27 Let him every moment go, Lose our treasure and reward; Watch we then against our foe, Stand forever on our guard. With reverential joy Let us our time employ, Joy at Jesu's hands receive, Temper'd with a serious fear, Humbly, circumspectly live, Sin, the world, and hell so near. Dangers and snares abound, And ever close us round, Numberless, malicious powers Fight against us night and day, Satan as a lion roars, Watching to devour his prey. But our Almighty Lord Shall still his help afford, Arm us with his patient mind, 'Till we see our conflicts past, Perfect joy and safety find, More than conquerors at last. Hymn XXXI. Before Reading the Scriptures. O that I, like Timothy, Might the holy scriptures know From mine earliest infancy, 'Till for God mature I grow Made unto salvation wise, Ready for the glorious prize. Jesus, all redeeming Lord, Full of truth, and full of grace, Make me understand thy word, Teach me in my youthful days Page 28 Wonders in thy word to see, Wise thro' faith which is in thee.