Wesley Corpus

Lowly I wept, and strongly vow'd : But ah ! the feebleness of man ! Have I not vow'd and wept in vain ? 2 Return, O Lord of Hosts, return ! Behold thy servant in distress ; My faithlessness again I mourn ; Again forgive my faithlessness ; And to thine arms my spirit take, And bless me for the Saviour's sake. 3 In pity of the soul thou lov'st, Now bid the sin thou hat'st expire ; Let me desire what thou approv'st, Thou dost approve what I desire ; And thou wilt deign to call me thine, And I will dare to call thee mine. 4 This day the Covenant I sign, The bond of sure and promised peace ; Nor can I doubt its power divine, Since seal'd with Jesu's blood it is ; That blood T take, that blood alone, And make the cov'nant peace mine own. 5 But, that my faith no more may know Or change, or interval, or end, Help me in all thy paths to go, And now, as e'er, my voice attend, And gladden me with answers mild, And commune, Father, with thy child ! b/4 Miscellaneous Hymns. After the Renewal of the Covenant. 1 ( HOW shall a sinner perform The vows he hath vow'd to the Lord ? A sinful and impotent worm, How can I be true to my word ? I tremble at what I have done : O send me thy help from above ; The power of thy Spirit make known, The virtue of Jesus's love ! 2 My solemn engagements are vain, My promises empty as air ; My vows, I shall break them again, And plunge in eternal despair ; Unless my omnipotent God The sense of his goodness impart, And shed by his Spirit abroad The love of himself in my heart. 3 O Lover of sinners, extend To me thy compassionate grace ; Appear my affliction to end, Afford me a glimpse of thy face! That light shall enkindle in me A flame of reciprocal love ; And then I shall cleave unto thee, And then I shall never remove. 4 O come to a mourner in pain, Thy peace in my conscience reveal ! And then I shall love thee again, And sing of the goodness I feel : Constrain'd by the grace of my Lord,