Wesley Corpus

Here, only here thy love must save; I cannot thank thee in the grave, Or tell thy pard'ning grace: Who dies unpurg'd for ever dies, The sinner, as he falls he lies Shut up in his own place. Weary of my unanswer'd groans; Yet still with never-ceasing moans I languish for relief, With tears I wash my couch and bed, My strength is spent, my beauty fled, My life worn out with grief. But shall I to my foes give place? Or in the name of Jesus, chase My troublers all away? In Jesu's name, I say, depart Devils and sins; nor vex my heart, For God hath heard me pray. The Lord hath heard my groans and tears, The Lord shall still accept my prayers, And all my foes o'erthrow, Shall conquer, and destroy them too, And make ev'n me a creature new, A sinless12 saint below. Psalm XIII.13 How long wilt thou forget me, Lord, Wilt thou forever hide thy face? Leave me unchang'd, and unrestor'd, An alien from thy14 life of grace! How long shall I inquire within, And seek thee in my heart in vain, Vex'd with the dire remains of sin, Gaul'd with the tyrant's iron chain. How long shall Satan's rage prevail? (I ask thee with a fault'ring tongue) Page 10 15Ori., "spark"; corrected in errata. See at thy feet my Spirit fail, And hear me feebly groan, How long! Hear me, O Lord, my God, and weigh My sorrows in the scale of love, Lighten mine eyes, restore the day, The darkness from my soul remove. Open my faith's inlighten'd eyes, O snatch me from the gulph beneath, Save, or my gasping spirit dies, Dies with an everlasting death. Ah! Suffer not my foe to boast His vict'ry o'er a child of thine, Nor let the proud Philistine's host In Satan's hellish triumph join. Will they not charge my fall on thee, Will they not dare my God to blame? My God, forbid the blasphemy, Be jealous for thy glorious name. Thou wilt, thou wilt! My hope returns, A sudden spirit15 of faith I feel, My heart in fervent wishes burns, And God shall there forever dwell. My trust is in thy gracious power, I glory in salvation near, Rejoice in hope of that glad hour When perfect love shall cast out fear.