Wesley Corpus

O bid it all depart This unbelief of heart, All my mountain-sins remove, Wrath, concupiscence, and pride, Cast them out by perfect love, Save me, who for me hast dy'd. 38Manuscript precursors of this hymn appear in MS Cheshunt, 135-36; MS Clarke, 154-55; and MS Shent, 117a-117b. 39"Sin" changed to "sins" in 6th edn. (1761) and following. 40"Sufferings" changed to "suffering" in 6th edn. (1761) and following. Page 34 This, this is all my plea, Thy blood was shed for me, Shed, to wash my conscience clean, Shed to purify my heart, Shed to purge me from all sin, Shed to make me as thou art. O that the cleansing tide Were now, e'en now apply'd; Plunge me in the crimson flood, Drown my sins in the Red Sea, Bring me now, e'en now to God, Swallow up my soul in thee! Hymn XXV. The Musician's. Thou God of harmony and love, Whose name transports the saints above, And lulls the ravish'd spheres, On thee in feeble strains I call, And mix my humble voice with all The heavenly choristers. If well I know the tuneful art To captivate a human heart, The glory, Lord, be thine: A servant41 of thy blessed will I here devote my utmost skill, To sound the praise divine. With Tubal's wretched sons no more I prostitute my sacred power To please the fiends beneath, Or modulate the wanton lay, Or smooth with musick's hand the way To everlasting death. 41Ori., "steward"; changed in errata and all later editions. Page 35 Suffice for this the season past: I come, great God, to learn at last The lesson of thy grace, Teach me the new, the gospel song, And let my hand, my heart, my tongue Move only to thy praise. Thine own musician, Lord, inspire, And let my consecrated lyre Repeat the psalmist's part: His Son and thine reveal in me, And fill with sacred melody The fibres of my heart. So shall I charm the list'ning throng, And draw the living stones along By Jesus' tuneful name: The living stones shall dance, shall rise, And form a city in the skies, The New Jerusalem! O might I with thy saints aspire, The meanest of that dazzl'ing quire Who chant thy42 praise above, Mixt with the bright musician-band, May I an heavenly harper stand, And sing the song of love.