Wesley Corpus

Page 4 Myself I now confess and feel Sole author of my total ill; I left my guide to happiness, I lost the true internal peace, Nor can my soul retrieve its rest, 'Till lodg'd again in Jesu's breast. "Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee." Jer. ii. 19. By my own backslidings I Terribly reprov'd have been, Long, as at the point to die, Groan'd and added sin to sin: Sin's reward in sin I gain, Left its evil fruits to feel, Fear, astonishment, and pain, Late remorse, and present hell. "Know therefore, and see, that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee." Jer. ii. 19. Chasten'd thus, O Lord, I know, By thy judgments' light I see, Sin is bitterness of woe, Hell is to depart from thee: When from thee I would withdraw, Cast out of my heart thy fear, Then the worm began to gnaw, Then the fire was kindled here. "For of old time I have broken thy yoke." Jer. ii. 20. Yes, thou didst my soul release, (This fills up my guilt and pain,) From the bands of wickedness, From my old oppressor's chain! Yes, my dear redeeming Lord, Once I felt thy gracious power, Heard the sweet forgiving word "Go in peace, and sin no more." Page 5 Never more will I transgress, Such was then my solemn vow; Yet I quickly lost thy grace Sliding back I know not how: Farther still from God I rov'd, Sunk in vile idolatry, Every worldly thing I lov'd, Clave to sin, and fled from thee. After all that I have done, Favour may I yet obtain? Wilt thou own me for thy son, Take me to thy arms again? Ready to restore my peace If thou every moment art, Now command my sin to cease, Break, and now renew my heart. "Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number." Jer. ii. 32. A maid cannot forget her dress, A bride her ornaments forego, Yet must we, Lord, with shame confess, Vainest of all thy works below, Call'd by thy name, thy people we Have all our lives forgotten thee!