Wesley Corpus

I now thy love's design perceive; Me to myself thy love hath shewn, Thou didst in love thy servant leave,17 To come again and claim thine own, To save, when all my griefs were past, And do me endless good at last. "Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end." Deut. viii. 16. A novice, to myself unknown, That endless good I could not19 prove, Or, when my race was scarce begun, Attain the goal of perfect love:20 But on thy promise I depend To bless me at my latter end. 17John Wesley underlined "in love thy servant leave" in his personal copy, commenting "Never" in margin. 18Ori., "294"; a misprint. 19John Wesley underlined "could not" in his personal copy. 20John Wesley underlined "perfect love" in his personal copy, commenting in the margin "Whenever God pleases." Page 96 Saviour, my latter end is come, Now to my parting soul appear, The root, the man of sin consume, And let me sink to nothing here, Resorb'd into perfection's sea, And lost, forever lost in thee! "Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth." Deut. viii. 18. Think thou busy, prosperous man, From whence thy goods increase, All thy diligence were vain, If God refus'd to bless: Wealth thou dost thro' him acquire, That all thy soul may heavenward move, Wing'd with infinite desire Of Jesu's richest love. "Understand, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee as a consuming fire, c." Deut. ix. 3. Jesus, taught by thee we know The wonders of thy name, Thou before our face dost go As a consuming flame: Burn with fire unquenchable Our foes whom thou dost first o'ercome, Sin out of our hearts expel, And root and branch consume. "He shall destroy them, so shalt thou destroy them." Deut. ix. 3. Faith lays hold on thy great might, And forth to battle goes, Arm'd herewith we put to flight, And triumph o'er our foes.