Wesley Corpus

O might we put thine image on, That robe of spotless love receive! Cloath'd with the Spirit of thy Son We could not then our Father leave, Nor couldst thou from our mind depart, Forever dwelling in our heart. "In thy skirts is found the blood of innocents." Jer. ii. 34. The blood of innocents I bear, Of all to sin intic'd by me, Of souls an hoary murtherer! But lo, I to the city flee, Page 6 I plunge me in the fountain pure Which purges my blood-guiltiness, And bids me live with God secure, And bids me die in perfect peace. "Will thou not from this time cry unto me, my father, c." Jer. iii. 4, 5. Yes, from this instant now I will To my offended Father cry: My base ingratitude I feel, Vilest of all thy children I, Not worthy to be call'd thy son, Yet will I thee my Father own. Guide of my youth hast thou not been, And rescued me from passion's power, Ten thousand times preserv'd from sin, Nor let the greedy gulph devour? And wilt thou now thy wrath retain, Nor ever love thy child again? Ah, canst thou find it in thy heart To give me up so long pursued! Ah, canst thou finally depart, And leave thy creature in his blood, Leave me out of thy presence cast, To perish in my sins at last! If thou hast will'd me to return, If weeping at thy feet I fall, The prodigal in justice spurn, Or pity and forgive me all, In answer to my friend above, In honour of his bleeding love. "Return thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, c." Jer. iii. 12, 13. Be it according to thy word, Merciful unto all, O Lord, Page 7 Be merciful to me: Avert the wrath I deprecate, Nor crush me with thy judgments' weight, Who would return to thee. Thy wrath shall not forever last, If pain'd at my pollutions past, I groan to be made clean: And lo, I now with grief confess My inward parts are wickedness, And all my life is sin.