Wesley Corpus

Soon as thou wilt the world forsake, The world becomes thy mortal foe, Vengeance on their old slave they take, And Pharaoh will not let thee go; Thou hast the mark, the foul disgrace, Resolv'd with sin no more to dwell, And heav'n-ward if thou turn thy face, Thou bear'st the wrath of earth and hell. "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures." 2 Tim. iii. 15. If children may the scripture know, Explain it, Lord, to mine, And let them in the wisdom grow, The tender fear divine; While in thy word thy voice they hear, And use the grace bestow'd, Let it throughout their lives appear That they are taught of God. Page 337 "The scriptures are able to make thee wise unto salvation, thro' faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. iii. 15. If faith in our dear dying Lord The sacred instrument applies, The virtue of his hallowing word Shall make us to salvation wise, Wise our high calling's prize t' attain, And everlasting glory gain. Jesus, the Spirit of faith bestow, Who only can thy book unseal, And give me all thy will to know, And give me all thy mind to feel, Fill'd with the wisdom from above, The purity of heavenly love. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. Inspirer of the ancient seers, Who wrote from thee the sacred page The same thro' all succeeding years, To us, in our degenerate age, The Spirit of thy word impart, And breathe the life into our heart. The word if thou vouchsafe to give, We find its efficacious power, The saving benefit receive, And taught aright our God t' adore, The living sentiment we feel, Conform'd to all thy righteous will. While now thine oracles we read, With earnest prayer, and strong desire, O let thy Spirit from thee proceed, Our souls to waken and inspire, Page 338 Our weakness help, our darkness chase, And guide us by the light of grace.