Wesley Corpus

He can; but hath he said, He will? His word must his design explain; Or doth he thus with sinners deal, And give the tree before the grain? He wills us long in grace to grow, He bids us step by step proceed: And on we to perfection go, 'Till made in all things like our head. "Let all your things be done with charity." 1 Cor. xvi. 14. All our best performances Without love can never please; All our pains are misemploy'd, Worthless in the sight of God; But the touch of love divine, Makes our meanest actions shine, Casts us in a finer mould, Turns our nature's dross to gold. Gracious Lord, implant in me That celestial charity, Let my every word and deed From a loving heart proceed, Hence may all my tempers rise, Then accept my sacrifice, Then in all my nature own The pure Spirit of thy Son. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha." 1 Cor. xvi. 22. That wretched man accurst am I, 'Till Jesus doth his blood apply, My misery to remove: Convinc'd of unbelief I groan, For whom I never yet have known I cannot, cannot love. Page 298 But, Lord, my heart is known to thee, Who lov'dst, and gav'st thyself for me, To purge my guilty stain, To save me from the curse of sin, My poor obdurate heart to win, And make me love again. I long to love my bleeding Lord, And listening for the gracious word, Still at thy cross I bow; Thyself as crucified display, And thus constrain my soul to say, Thou knowst I love thee now! Hymn 569. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 2 Cor. iii. 17. Come then, and dwell in me, Spirit of power within, And bring the glorious liberty From sorrow, fear, and sin: The seed of sin's disease, Spirit of health, remove, Spirit of finish'd holiness, Spirit of perfect love.