Wesley Corpus

Wretch that I am, while unrenew'd Can I appear, O righteous God, A sinner in thy sight! Nay, but I trust thy blood shall cleanse My soul, before thou take it hence, And wash my garments white. When thou hast12 spoke my nature clean, When I have thy salvation seen, O Lord my righteousness, And clasp'd thee in my loving heart, Pronounce the welcome word, Depart, And let me die in peace. 12Ori., "has"; corrected in the errata. Page 265 Part III.13 A wretched slave of sin, to thee Thou sinner's friend, I ever cry, Pity, and end my misery, Forgive, renew, and let me die. Ah! let it not my Lord displease That I to thee my wishes breathe; Hear, Jesus, hear, my soul release, And let me find an early death. I groan to be redeem'd from sin; When shall the dear deliverance come! Open thine arms, and take me in, Receive thy pardon'd exile home. Alas for me! constrain'd to dwell Among the horrid sons of night! Snatch from this neighbourhood of hell, Translate me to the realms of light. Eager I urge my sole request; Wilt thou not, Lord, therewith comply? Take me into thy people's rest, And bid me get me up, and die. Impatient for my change I wait, For death I sigh, for death I mourn; Whom thou hast made, again create, And let my spirit to God return. 13A manuscript precursor of Part III appears in MS Richmond Tracts, 8-9; and MS Thirty, 80-81. Page 266 This vale of tears and misery, This earth, I know, is not my place: O that I were dissolv'd in thee, O that I might behold thy face! My life to thee I fain would give, And be where thou my Saviour art; Better it is to die than live; O speak, and bid my soul depart. Receive my soul which gasps for death, My soul redeem'd by thy own blood, And let me now resign my breath, And sink into the arms of God! Desiring to Be Dissolv'd.14 Welcome weariness and pain, Pledges of relief and ease! Loss of strength to me is gain, Let my wretched days decrease, All my days shall soon be past, Pain and grief shall bring the last.