Wesley Corpus

Before ye lose your stumbling feet, And on the dreary mountains fall, Shrink from the dark unfathom'd pit, On Jesu's name for mercy call, Snatch, save us from the gulph beneath, The horrors of eternal death. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" Jer. xiii. 23. Can the Ethiop change his skin? His spots the leopard lose? Can a soul inur'd to sin The paths of virtue choose? Yes, my kind Almighty Lord, At thy transforming word they may; I at thy transforming word Repent, believe, obey. "Wilt thou not be made clean?" Jer. xiii. 27. No: I would not hitherto With my uncleanness part, Still complain'd of sin, nor knew I hugg'd it in my heart; I thine hallowing will withstood: Thou wast ready long ago; Waitest now t' apply thy blood, And wash me white as snow. "Wilt thou not be made clean? When shall it once be?" Jer. xiii. 27. When I use the proffer'd power, And to the fountain fly, Thou wilt in that self-same hour Forgive, and sanctify; Partly sanctify me then; And if I at thy cross abide, Wash my inmost nature clean, And take me to thy side. Page 19 "When shall it once be?" Jer. xiii. 27. Now, even now, I yield, I yield With all my sins to part; Jesus, speak my pardon seal'd, And purify my heart, Purge this love of sin away, Then I into nothing fall, Then I see the perfect day, And Christ is all in all. "O the hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldst thou be as a stranger in the land, c." Jer. xiv. 8, 9. Hope of thy church and Saviour, hear! In all our past distresses near, In all our faith's decays, Why shouldst thou at a distance stand, Now as a stranger in the land, And hide thine angry face? Or if thy people to revive, Thy Spirit doth for a season strive, And visit us in love, Why dost thou vanish from our sight, A guest that tarrieth but a night, Impatient to remove? Canst thou at sin astonish'd be, At Israel's incredulity, And not know what to do? Why should omnipotence give place, Or cease its miracles of grace In such a land to shew?