Wesley Corpus

Melt happy soul, in Jesu's blood, Sink down into the wounds of God, And there forever dwell: I now have found my rest again, The spring of life, the balm of pain In Jesu's wounds I feel. 22This is a very free paraphrase of 753 (by Christian Friedrich Richter) in Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, ed. Das Gesang-Buch der Gemeine in Herrn-Huth (Halle: Wäysenhaus, 1737), 681-82.It was clearly done by Charles, as evidenced by its presence in MS Cheshunt, 199-201; MS Clarke, 199-201; and MS Shent, 176a-177a. Page 276 Thirsty so long, and weak and faint, I here enjoy whate'er I want, The sweet refreshing tide Brings life and peace to dying souls; And still the gushing comfort rolls From Jesu's wounded side. Swift as the panting hart I fly, I find the fountain always nigh, And heavenly sweetness prove, Pardon, and power, and joy, and peace, And pure delight, and perfect bliss, And everlasting love. The world can no refreshment give: Shall I its deadly draughts receive, Scoup'd from the hellish lake? Nay, but I turn to the pure flood Which issues from the throne of God, And living water take. Soon as I taste the liquid life, Sorrow expires, and pain, and strife, And suffering is no more: My inmost soul refresh'd I feel, And fill'd with joy unspeakable The bleeding Lamb adore. I now the broken cisterns leave; My all of good from God receive, Page 277 And drink the crystal stream: The crystal stream doth freely flow Thro' hearts which only Jesus know, And ever pant for him. Jesus alone can I require, No mixture of impure desire Shall in my bosom move: I fix on him my single eye, His love shall all my wants supply, His all-sufficient love. How vast the happiness I feel, When Jesus doth himself reveal, And his pure love impart, Holy delight, and heavenly hope, And everlasting joy springs23 up And overflows my heart. He pours his Spirit into my soul, The thirsty land becomes a pool, I taste the unknown peace Such as the world will not believe; No carnal heart can e'er conceive Th' unutterable bliss. Light in thy only light I see, Thee, and myself I know thro' thee, 23Charles Wesley changed "springs" to "spring" in All in All (1761).