Wesley Corpus

Childish now alas we are, Void of faith and watchful care, After all our teachers' pains, Little good in us remains. Soon our best desires decay, As a cloud they pass away, Light receiv'd, the serious thought, Soon, and easily forgot. O how fickle is our mind, More inconstant than the wind, Suddenly our goodness fails, Levity again prevails. Strong and fervent for an hour, Then we cast away the power, Lose insensibly our zeal, Care for neither heaven nor hell. Jesus, Lord, we cry to thee, Help our soul's infirmity, Great unchangeable I AM, Make us evermore the same. Page 33 5Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt 64-65; MS Clarke 71-72; and MS Richmond, 47. Plant in us thy constant mind, To thy cross our spirit bind, That we may no longer rove, Ground and stablish us in love. Love that makes us creatures new, Only love can keep us true, Perfect love that casts out sin, Perfect love is God within. God within our hearts reside, Then we shall in God abide, Always firm and faithful prove, Fixt in everlasting love. Hymn XXXVIII.5 Let children proclaim their Saviour and King! To Jesus's name hosannas we sing, Our best adoration to Jesus we give, Who purchas'd salvation for all to receive. The meek Lamb of God from heaven came down, And ransom'd with blood, and made us his own; He suffer'd to save us from sin and from thrall, And Jesus shall have us, who purchas'd us all. To him will we give our earliest days, And thankfully live, to publish his praise, Our lives shall confess him who came from above, Our tongues, they shall bless him, and tell of his love. In innocent songs his coming we shout: Should we hold our tongues, the stones would cry out: But him without ceasing we all will proclaim, And ever be blessing our Jesus's name. Page 34 6Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Clarke, 140-41; and MS Richmond, 47-48. Hymn XXXIX.6 O Saviour of all, We come at thy call, In the morning of life at thy feet do we fall. Thy mercy is free; Our helplessness see, And let little children be brought unto thee.