Wesley Corpus

Far from the paths of men, to thee I solemnly retire; See thou, who dost in secret see, And grant my heart's desire. Thy grace I languish to receive, The Sp'rit of love and power, Blameless before thy face to live, To live, and sin no more. Fain would I all thy goodness feel, And know my sins forgiven, And do on earth thy perfect will, As angels do in heaven. O Father, glorify thy Son, And grant what I require, For Jesu's sake the gift send down, And answer me by fire. Kindle the flame of love within, Which may to heaven ascend, And now the work in64 grace begin, Which shall in glory end. Hymn XL. To: "The Lord my pasture shall prepare." O wondrous power of faithful prayer, What tongue can tell th' almighty grace, God's hands or bound or open are, As Moses or Elias prays: Let Moses in the Spirit groan, And God cries out, "Let me alone! 64"In" changed to "of" in 4th edn. (1755) and following. Page 50 "Let me alone, that all my wrath May rise, the wicked to consume: While justice hears thy praying faith, It cannot seal the rebel's doom, My Son is in my servant's prayer, And Jesus forces me to spare." O blessed word65 of gospel-grace Which now we for our Israel plead! A faithless and backsliding race, Whom thou hast out of Egypt freed: O do not then in wrath chastise, Nor let thy whole displeasure rise. Father, we ask in Jesu's name, In Jesu's power and Spirit pray. Divert thy vengeful thunder's aim, O turn thy threat'ning wrath away, Our guilt and punishment remove, And magnify thy pard'ning love. Or if thy hand be lifted up, Now let it on thy rebels fall, Unless thy yearning bowels stop The stroke, and Jesus prays for all, Unless thou hear'st his Spirit groan Who will not let thy wrath alone. Dost thou not see our lab'ring heart Big with unutterable prayer? Thou shalt, thou must thy wrath avert, And spare whom Jesus bids thee spare. His death demands that we should live, And still the victim gasps, Forgive!