Wesley Corpus

In vain for redemption I look; My hope in a Saviour unknown, It passes away like a brook Dried up in a moment and gone! But God cannot finally fail; The fountain of life from above Shall rise in the depth of the vale, Shall flow with a current of love. "The heart is desperately wicked." Jer. xvii. 9. Not all the mortal sons of grace, Not all the angels can Correct his desperate wickedness, Or mend the heart of man: But Jesus in the perfect day Creating power shall shew, Take the old heart of sin away, And dwell within the new. "Who can know it? I the Lord." Jer. xvii. 9, 10. With man this is impossible, Himself aright to know, God only can the depths reveal Of our infernal woe: Thou dost in purity delight, Most holy, Lord, thou art, And yet thou bear'st that hideous sight A naked, human heart. "Who can know it? I the Lord." Jer. xvii. 9, 10. Omniscient God, to man declare His heart unsearchable, And shew us, as our souls can bear, A glimpse of our own hell, Page 22 That glad out of ourselves to run, And take the blessing given, We in thy manifested Son May find our present heaven. "The heart is deceitful above all things." Jer. xvii. 9. How often, Lord, have I believ'd Myself instead of thee, Ten thousand, thousand times deceiv'd By my credulity! In every victory of grace I thought the conflict o'er, So strong my hill of holiness, I can be mov'd no more. But oh, how desperately proud9 My wretched heart unknown, Which told me "I am fill'd with God, And all the work is done!" It whisper'd "I am sav'd from sin, And need no farther care, If now I feel it not within, It is no longer there." Yet surely, Lord, I may expect Thy promises fulfill'd, Thine image stamp'd on thine elect, Thy truth and mercy seal'd: Thou wilt in that appointed day Thy Spirit's might employ, Thrust out the foe, its relicks slay, And finally destroy. Thy sanctifying word is sure; Thy word concerning me Shall make me free indeed, and pure From all iniquity. 9John Wesley drew an exclamation point in the margin of his personal copy after this line.