Wesley Corpus

Page 42 Silent and alone I sit, Fall by turns at Jesu's feet, Lay my mouth as in the dust, Find him merciful and just, Joyful in affliction prove All his ways are truth and love! "The Lord will not cast off for ever." Lam. iii. 31. Long an outcast from my Lord, A deep revolter I On thy never-failing word In darkness will rely; 'Till thy favour I retrieve The promise to myself I take, Me thou wilt not always grieve, Thou wilt not quite forsake. "But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, according to the multitude of his mercies." Lam. iii. 32. For the hiding of thy face If longer still I mourn, In the riches of thy grace Thou wilt at last return; I my Lord again shall see, Thy multitude of mercies prove, Lose my sin and misery In depths of dying love. "He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." Lam. iii. 33. Slowly doth thine anger rise To give thy creature pain, Forc'd to trouble and chastise A rebel child of man; Page 43 But thy mercy flies apace A mourner's pardon to restore, Wipes the sorrow from my face, And bids me sin no more. "Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?" Lam. iii. 39. Why should a sinful man complain, Indulg'd with a reprieve, Guilty of death and endless pain, Yet suffer'd still to live! I dare not murmur at the rod, Whate'er on earth I feel, But praise the mercies of my God, Which keep me out of hell. Conscious of what my sins demand, I bow to my distress, Adore a Father's gentle hand, Whose chastisements are grace: And if I answer the intent Of his afflicting love, I'll praise him for my punishment In endless songs above. "The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us that we have sinned." Lam. v. 16. Father, I now my sin confess, The cause of all my sad distress Compell'd alas to know: Spoil'd of my crown by sin I am; It turns my glory into shame And everlasting woe. I feel the meaning of this pain, To thee against myself complain My own destroyer I: Unless thou take my sin away, Unless my bosom-foe thou slay, I faint, despair, and die. Page 44