Wesley Corpus

With darkness palpable opprest, Father, I would thy grace request, But what, and when, and how I leave, And wait thy time and way to give: I neither speech nor utterance find, But, Lord, thou know'st thy Spirit's mind, Thou know'st my surety on the tree, And all he purchas'd there for me. "Behold, I am vile!" Job xl. 4. Where is the just, unblemish'd man Who held his righteousness so fast? Unable longer to maintain Th' unequal fight, he yields at last! Jehovah to the creature shewn Confounds his boast and virtuous pride, And now he knows that God alone Is just, and vile are all beside. Page 250 "Behold I am vile, what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth." Job xl. 4. Great God, unknown, invisible, Appear, my confidence t' abase, To make me all my vileness feel, And blush at my own righteousness: Thy glorious face in Christ display, And silenc'd by thy mercy's power, My hand upon my mouth I lay, And never boast, or murmur more. "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee." Job xlii. 5. Of thee, O Lord, I oft have heard, Of what thine arm hath done, And taught by man, I blindly fear'd, And serv'd a God unknown: But when thy presence in my heart Doth unbelief remove, I taste, and see how good thou art, Inspir'd by humble love. "Wherefore I abhor myself." Job xlii. 6. Appear, great God, appear to me, That by myself abhor'd, Asham'd I may forever be Before my glorious Lord: That only sight can pride abase, Can force me to submit, Which makes archangels veil their face, And tremble at thy feet? "After the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, he said to Eliphaz, My wrath is kindled against thee and thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath." Job xlii. 7. First, the great Almighty Lord Condemn'd his righteous pride, Then the sinner self-abhor'd He chear'd and justified, Page 251 Then the humbled worm he rais'd, The sinner sav'd by grace alone, Took his servant's part, and prais'd, And claim'd him for his own.