Wesley Corpus

On thy bleeding passion staid, On thy faithful mercy cast, By my sin so long delay'd, Thee I shall receive at last; In my loving heart receive, Which thou didst so dearly buy; Here an happy moment live, Sure of life eternal die. Grant me this, I ask no more: Then the balmy grace exert, Then bestow the loving power, When my soul and body part; In the bond of perfectness Knit my loving soul to thee, Then indulg'd to die in peace, God I shall for ever see. Hymn III. How foolish was my hope and vain, That age would conquer sin, My nature's enmity restrain, And end the war within; Would tame my passion's wild excess, The slighted world o'erthrow, Page 6 The fiend's malicious rage repress, And weary out the foe! Because his time to tempt and try Is short, he tempts the more, And hunts me on the wing to fly Beyond his baleful power; His utmost rage and strength exerts, Before I 'scape away, And strives by all his hellish arts My parting soul to slay. My heart he turns to earthly things, From which I soon shall go, And closer to the world it clings, And seeks its rest below: By base mistrust impell'd to spare, I cloak the sordid vice, And, in the garb of prudent care, Applaud my avarice. My stiff-neck'd stubborness of will By time is not subdued, My carnal mind is carnal still, And enmity to God: With years infirmities increase, While strength and patience fails, And countless ills my spirit oppress, And peevish flesh prevails. The sin which long beset my soul, Would re-usurp the sway, Reason's enfeebled powers controul, And force me still t' obey: With shame indignantly I groan, With lifted heart and eyes, I smite my aged breast, and own That anger never dies. Page 7 What must a dying sinner do, From sin to be set free? Merciful God, and strong, and true, I gasp for help to thee: O let my utter helplessness Thy kind compassion move! I cannot, Lord, from sinning cease, Till I begin to love. O might thy love on me bestow'd The love of sin expel, O'ercome the world, cast down their god, With all the powers of hell! The works of Satan to destroy, Jesus, in me appear; In peace, and righteousness, and joy, Restore thy kingdom here.