Wesley Corpus

O may we in thy footsteps go, Thee, only thee resolv'd to know, To slaughter in thy Spirit led, Conform'd in all things to our head. 10A manuscript precursor of this hymn appears in MS Thirty, 220. Page 24 Give us thy strength, O God of love, And hide our better life above, Then on our side at last appear, And lo, we come to suffer here. Ah! Woe is me, constrain'd to dwell Among the sons of night, Poor sinners dropping into hell, Who hate the gospel-light. Wild as the untam'd Arab's race Who from their Saviour fly, And trample on his pard'ning grace, And all his threats defy. Yet here alas! In pain I live, Where Satan keeps his seat, And day by day for those I grieve Who will to sin submit. With gushing eyes their deeds I see, Shut up in Sodom I, And ask with him who ransom'd me, "Why will ye sin and die?" Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, Display thy saving power, Thy mercy let these out-casts find, And know their gracious hour. Ah! Give them, Lord, a longer space, Nor suddenly consume, But let them take the proffer'd grace, And flee the wrath to come. O wouldst thou cast a pitying look (All goodness as thou art) Like that which faithless Peter's broke, Or my obdurate heart. Who thee beneath their feet have trod, And crucified afresh, Page 25 Touch with thine all-victorious blood, And turn the stone to flesh. Open their eyes, and ears to see Thy cross, to hear thy cries: Sinner, thy Saviour weeps for thee, For thee he weeps, and dies. All the day long he meekly stands His rebels to receive, And shews his wounds, and spreads his hands, And bids you turn and live. Turn, and your sins of deepest dye11 He will with blood efface, Ev'n now he waits his blood t' apply; Be sav'd, be sav'd by grace. Be sav'd from hell, from sin, and fear: He speaks you now forgiven, Walk before God, be perfect here, And then come up to heaven. Jesus, our help in time of need, Thy suffering servants see, Who would in all thy footsteps tread, And bear the cross with thee. Stand by us in this evil hour, Our feeble souls defend, And in our weakness shew thy power, And keep us to the end.