Wesley Corpus

In this howling wilderness On Calvary's steep top, Made a curse our souls to bless Thou once was lifted up; Stricken there by Moses' rod, Wounded with a deadly blow; Gushing streams of life o'erflow'd The thirsty world below. Rivers of salvation still Along the desart roll, Rivers to refresh and heal The fainting sin-sick13 soul; Still the fountain of thy blood Stands for sinners open'd wide, Now, e'en now, my Lord, and God, I wash me in thy side. Now, e'en now we all plunge in And drink the purple wave, This the antidote of sin, 'Tis this our souls shall save: With the life of Jesus fed, Lo! From strength to strength we rise, Follow'd by our Rock, and led To meet him in the skies. 12"Thy dying" changed to "thy death to" in 3rd edn. (1751), 4th edn. (1757), and 5th edn. (1762). 13"Sin-sick" changed to "sinking" in 2nd edn. (1747); and in 6th edn. (1771) and following. Page 22 II. As it is a Sign and a Means of Grace. Hymn XXVIII. Author of our salvation thee With lowly thankful hearts we praise Author of this great mystery, Figure and means of saving grace. The sacred true effectual sign Thy body and thy blood it shews, The glorious instrument divine Thy mercy and thy strength bestows. We see the blood that seals our peace, Thy pard'ning mercy we receive: The bread doth visibly express The strength thro' which our spirits live. Our spirits drink a fresh supply, And eat the bread so freely given, Till borne on eagles' wings we fly, And banquet with our Lord in heaven. Hymn XXIX. O thou who this mysterious bread Didst in Emmaus break, Return herewith our souls to feed And to thy followers speak. Page 23 Unseal the volume of thy grace, Apply the gospel-word, Open our eyes to see thy face, Our hearts to know the Lord. Of thee we commune still, and mourn Till thou the veil remove, Talk with us, and our hearts shall burn With flames of fervent love. Inkindle now the heavenly zeal, And make thy mercy known, And give our pardon'd souls to feel That God and love are one. Hymn XXX.14 Jesu, at whose supreme command We thus approach to God, Before us in thy vesture stand, Thy vesture dipt in blood.