Wesley Corpus

O that I always may On thee my spirit stay! Poor and needy as I am, Thou dost for my vileness care; Thou hast call'd me by my name; Thou wilt all my burdens bear. Thou art the sinner's friend, I on thy love depend; Help for all is laid on thee; Faith and hope in thee I have; As my day, my strength shall be, Thou shalt7 to the utmost save. Arm me with thy great power, And come the fiery hour! Then I in thy strength shall say, (Feeblest of thy servants I) I, tho' all men fall away, I will never thee deny. Ready, thro' grace, I am To suffer for thy name; When thou dost thyself bestow On so poor a worm as me, I shall then to prison go, Gladly go to death with thee. Happy souls that Christ obey, They are safe, and only they; Hidden is their life above, All wrapt up in Jesus' love. When his judgments are abroad, By his timely warnings aw'd, 7Ori., "shall"; corrected in 2nd edn. (1745). Page 14 They to him their spirits give, Closer to their Saviour cleave. Neither wars nor plagues they fear, Still their life and peace is near; Undisturb'd by storms they rest, Harbour'd in his quiet breast. Calm on tumult's wheel they sit, Trample death beneath their feet; Own their all o'er-ruling Lord, Smile at the destroyer's sword. They its threatning point defy, They behold the fiend pass by, Sprinkled by the Lamb of God, Arm'd and cover'd with his blood. Thanks to the atoning Lamb, We are shelter'd in his name; We our Lord begin to know, Ransom'd from the world below. While we walk with him in light, Neither men nor fiends affright; Us, whom Jesus' blood doth arm Kill they may, but cannot harm. O that all our friends might feel, How secure in Christ we dwell, O that all our foes might prove God, a pard'ning God of love! Brethren, the end is near, Our Lord shall soon appear: These the days of vengeance be, Rumour'd ills the land distress; Wars on wars ye hear and see, Ushering in the Prince of Peace. Page 15 His judgments are abroad, Forerunners of our God; Nation against nation fights, Kingdoms against kingdoms rise; Signs above, and fearful sights Speak the anger of the skies.