 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
[ON THE LOSS OF HIS FRIENDS]
XXIX. ON THE LOSS OF HIS FRIENDS.
Hymn 1.
Take these broken reeds away!
On the Rock of Ages I
Calmly now my spirit stay,
Now on Christ alone rely,
Every other prop resign,
Sure the Sinners' Friend is mine.
On the Rock of Ages I
Calmly now my spirit stay,
Now on Christ alone rely,
Every other prop resign,
Sure the Sinners' Friend is mine.
Fly, my friends, with treacherous speed,
Melt as snow before the sun,
Leave me at my greatest need,
Leave me to my God alone,
To my help which cannot fail,
To my Friend unchangeable.
Melt as snow before the sun,
Leave me at my greatest need,
Leave me to my God alone,
To my help which cannot fail,
To my Friend unchangeable.
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O! how constant is my Lord,
While I to His promise cleave!
True, and faithful to His word,
Me my Lord will never leave,
None shall us by violence part,
None shall tear me from His heart.
While I to His promise cleave!
True, and faithful to His word,
Me my Lord will never leave,
None shall us by violence part,
None shall tear me from His heart.
Keep me then, my Lord, my Love,
Keep me close to Thy own breast,
Till Thou take me up above,
Till I gain the heavenly rest,
Seated on Thy glorious throne,
With Thyself for ever one.
Keep me close to Thy own breast,
Till Thou take me up above,
Till I gain the heavenly rest,
Seated on Thy glorious throne,
With Thyself for ever one.
XXX. THE SAME.
Hymn 2.
[Glory to the awful God!]
Glory to the awful God!
Object of Thy kindest care,
Thankful I adore Thy rod,
Bless Thee for the griefs I bear,
Griefs which all my steps attend,
Hasten on the joyful end.
Object of Thy kindest care,
Thankful I adore Thy rod,
Bless Thee for the griefs I bear,
Griefs which all my steps attend,
Hasten on the joyful end.
O how wonderful Thy love,
Most benign, when most severe!
All Thy rivals to remove,
All my hopes of comfort here,
Forcing me to feel, and see,
All on earth is vanity.
Most benign, when most severe!
All Thy rivals to remove,
All my hopes of comfort here,
Forcing me to feel, and see,
All on earth is vanity.
Long as in the vale I live,
Calmly in the vale I mourn,
Thankfully my lot receive,
Till I to Thy arms return;
Harden'd in my grief, till I
Sink into Thy arms, and die.
Calmly in the vale I mourn,
Thankfully my lot receive,
Till I to Thy arms return;
Harden'd in my grief, till I
Sink into Thy arms, and die.
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Till that welcome hour I see,
Brood I o'er my hoarded grief,
Hug my sacred misery,
Wretched above all relief,
Smile I with superior pain,
Earth, and all its joys disdain.
Brood I o'er my hoarded grief,
Hug my sacred misery,
Wretched above all relief,
Smile I with superior pain,
Earth, and all its joys disdain.
What a mighty blessing this!
Peace on earth I cannot know,
Cannot taste a moment's bliss,
Stripp'd of all I prized below;
Shall I of my loss complain?
Only heaven is greater gain.
Peace on earth I cannot know,
Cannot taste a moment's bliss,
Stripp'd of all I prized below;
Shall I of my loss complain?
Only heaven is greater gain.
XXXI. THE SAME.
Hymn 3.
[Disconsolate tenant of clay]
Disconsolate tenant of clay,
In solemn assurance arise,
Thy treasure of sorrow survey,
And look through it all to the skies:
That heavenly house is prepared
For all who are sufferers here,
And wait the return of their Lord,
And long for His day to appear.
In solemn assurance arise,
Thy treasure of sorrow survey,
And look through it all to the skies:
That heavenly house is prepared
For all who are sufferers here,
And wait the return of their Lord,
And long for His day to appear.
Who suffer in Jesus's shame,
Shall triumph in Jesus's love:
A child of affliction I claim
My sure habitation above;
My seal of election is this,
His marks in my body I bear;
My fulness of infinite bliss,
My crown of rejoicing is there.
Shall triumph in Jesus's love:
A child of affliction I claim
My sure habitation above;
My seal of election is this,
His marks in my body I bear;
My fulness of infinite bliss,
My crown of rejoicing is there.
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There all the tempestuous blast
Of bitter affliction is o'er,
The spirit is landed at last,
And sorrow and shame are no more,
Temptation and trouble are gone,
The trial is all at an end—
And there I shall cease to bemoan
The loss of my brother, and friend.
Of bitter affliction is o'er,
The spirit is landed at last,
And sorrow and shame are no more,
Temptation and trouble are gone,
The trial is all at an end—
And there I shall cease to bemoan
The loss of my brother, and friend.
'Tis there I shall meet him again
Whose burden through life I must bear,
No longer the cause of my pain,
No longer a fugitive there:
Here only the world could divide,
Here only the tempter could part,
And turn the unwary aside,
And poison the innocent heart.
Whose burden through life I must bear,
No longer the cause of my pain,
No longer a fugitive there:
Here only the world could divide,
Here only the tempter could part,
And turn the unwary aside,
And poison the innocent heart.
Then let me with meekness attend
The word that shall summon me home,
The days of my pilgrimage end,
And bury my griefs in the tomb;
The tears shall be wiped from my eyes,
When him I behold with the blest,
Who hasten'd my soul to the skies,
And follow'd me into my rest.
The word that shall summon me home,
The days of my pilgrimage end,
And bury my griefs in the tomb;
The tears shall be wiped from my eyes,
When him I behold with the blest,
Who hasten'd my soul to the skies,
And follow'd me into my rest.
XXXII. THE SAME.
Hymn 4.
[O my best, my only Friend]
O my best, my only Friend,
Ever constant, kind, and true,
Let my days of mourning end,
Let me bid the world adieu,
From its vice and vanity
Take, O take me up to Thee.
Ever constant, kind, and true,
Let my days of mourning end,
Let me bid the world adieu,
From its vice and vanity
Take, O take me up to Thee.
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Weary of my friends below,
Friends that quickly melt away,
Friends, that faint to share my woe,
Friends, that promise and betray,
Let me quit the faithless kind,
Truth in Thee alone to find.
Friends that quickly melt away,
Friends, that faint to share my woe,
Friends, that promise and betray,
Let me quit the faithless kind,
Truth in Thee alone to find.
O that now my spirit might fail,
Suddenly from earth remove!
Snatch me from the weeping vale,
Bear me to the world above:
There at rest the weary are,
Vex'd with no false brethren there.
Suddenly from earth remove!
Snatch me from the weeping vale,
Bear me to the world above:
There at rest the weary are,
Vex'd with no false brethren there.
Jesu, Lord, when shall it be?
End of all my wishes Thou,
Set my struggling spirit free,
Hasten to my rescue now:
Bid me to the mountain fly,
Get me up this hour, and die.
End of all my wishes Thou,
Set my struggling spirit free,
Hasten to my rescue now:
Bid me to the mountain fly,
Get me up this hour, and die.
XXXIII. THE SAME.
Hymn 5.
[Or if Thy great will ordain]
Or if Thy great will ordain
In the vale my longer stay,
Let me cease from wretched man,
Cast the broken reed away,
Give my vainest labour o'er,
Look for faith in man no more.
In the vale my longer stay,
Let me cease from wretched man,
Cast the broken reed away,
Give my vainest labour o'er,
Look for faith in man no more.
Pass away the empty shade,
Idle dream of friendship here,
Let the fond idea fade,
Let the vapour disappear:
Human friends, I give you up,
Thou, O Christ, art all my hope.
Idle dream of friendship here,
Let the fond idea fade,
Let the vapour disappear:
Human friends, I give you up,
Thou, O Christ, art all my hope.
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Only Thou canst never be
Wearied out with my complaint:
Crush'd by my own misery,
Oft as at Thy feet I faint,
Thou my grief dost more than share,
Thou dost all my burden bear.
Wearied out with my complaint:
Crush'd by my own misery,
Oft as at Thy feet I faint,
Thou my grief dost more than share,
Thou dost all my burden bear.
Never will Thy patience fail,
Never leave me in distress,
Though my enemies prevail,
Though my miseries increase,
Though Thou dost my follies see,
Though my faults are known to Thee.
Never leave me in distress,
Though my enemies prevail,
Though my miseries increase,
Though Thou dost my follies see,
Though my faults are known to Thee.
Weak, and wayward as I am,
Naked, indigent, and blind,
Thou dost hide my guilty shame,
Kindly cast my sins behind,
Freely my backslidings heal,
Love the faithless sinner still.
Naked, indigent, and blind,
Thou dost hide my guilty shame,
Kindly cast my sins behind,
Freely my backslidings heal,
Love the faithless sinner still.
Sinning on so oft, so long,
Though I did Thy Spirit grieve,
Patient Love endured the wrong,
Love refused His spoils to leave;
Though I would from Thee depart,
Love pursued, and broke my heart.
Though I did Thy Spirit grieve,
Patient Love endured the wrong,
Love refused His spoils to leave;
Though I would from Thee depart,
Love pursued, and broke my heart.
Let me then on Thee rely,
All Thy faithful mercies prove,
Till I meet Thee in the sky,
Till I join the church above,
Love me, love me to the end,
Be my everlasting Friend.
All Thy faithful mercies prove,
Till I meet Thee in the sky,
Till I join the church above,
Love me, love me to the end,
Be my everlasting Friend.
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XXXIV. THE SAME.
Hymn 6.
[O my condescending Lord]
O my condescending Lord,
How hast Thou to earth stoop'd down!
Sinners vile and self-abhorr'd
Thou dost for Thy brethren own;
O the grace on man bestow'd,
Man is call'd the friend of God!
How hast Thou to earth stoop'd down!
Sinners vile and self-abhorr'd
Thou dost for Thy brethren own;
O the grace on man bestow'd,
Man is call'd the friend of God!
What can I desire beside?
Jesus for my friend I claim,
Jesus is my faithful guide,
Happy in His love I am,
Fulness of delight I prove
In His all-sufficient love.
Jesus for my friend I claim,
Jesus is my faithful guide,
Happy in His love I am,
Fulness of delight I prove
In His all-sufficient love.
From the faithless sons of men,
Saviour, to Thy arms I flee,
Sweetly on Thy bosom lean,
Find my happiness in Thee,
Happiness that cannot fail,
Gloriously unchangeable.
Saviour, to Thy arms I flee,
Sweetly on Thy bosom lean,
Find my happiness in Thee,
Happiness that cannot fail,
Gloriously unchangeable.
While I thus my soul recline
On my dear Redeemer's breast,
Need I for the creature pine,
Fondly seek a farther rest,
Still for human friendship sue,
Stoop, ye worms of earth, to you!
On my dear Redeemer's breast,
Need I for the creature pine,
Fondly seek a farther rest,
Still for human friendship sue,
Stoop, ye worms of earth, to you!
Jesus, Thee alone I know,
Monarch of my simple heart,
Thou my only friend below,
Thou my heavenly portion art,
Here, and in eternity,
Thou art all in all to me.
Monarch of my simple heart,
Thou my only friend below,
Thou my heavenly portion art,
Here, and in eternity,
Thou art all in all to me.
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XXXV. THE SAME.
Hymn 7.
[Father, take Thy plague away]
Father, take Thy plague away,
And give me back my peace,
In the dark and cloudy day
I show Thee my distress:
Fear, rebuke, and blasphemy
Beset my soul on every side:
See, the helpless sinner see,
For whom Thy Son hath died.
And give me back my peace,
In the dark and cloudy day
I show Thee my distress:
Fear, rebuke, and blasphemy
Beset my soul on every side:
See, the helpless sinner see,
For whom Thy Son hath died.
Earth and hell their counsel take
Thy servant to devour,
Do not, Lord, my soul forsake,
Nor leave me to their power;
Be not Thou mine enemy,
Nor in Thy fierce displeasure chide;
See, the helpless sinner see,
For whom Thy Son hath died.
Thy servant to devour,
Do not, Lord, my soul forsake,
Nor leave me to their power;
Be not Thou mine enemy,
Nor in Thy fierce displeasure chide;
See, the helpless sinner see,
For whom Thy Son hath died.
Let the gathering storm descend;
Let the triumphant foe
Sweep away my dearest friend,
My every good below,
Vent his utmost rage on me,
So Thou my God art pacified;
See, the helpless sinner see,
For whom Thy Son hath died.
Let the triumphant foe
Sweep away my dearest friend,
My every good below,
Vent his utmost rage on me,
So Thou my God art pacified;
See, the helpless sinner see,
For whom Thy Son hath died.
Lord, I will not deprecate
The utmost sufferings here,
Let the world condemn, and hate,
If Thou in mercy clear:
Let them set their brand on me,
So Thou pronounce me justified;
See, the helpless sinner see,
For whom Thy Son hath died.
The utmost sufferings here,
Let the world condemn, and hate,
If Thou in mercy clear:
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So Thou pronounce me justified;
See, the helpless sinner see,
For whom Thy Son hath died.
XXXVI. THE SAME. FOR MIDNIGHT.
Hymn 8.
At this solemn noon of night,
Lo! I rise to sing Thy praise,
All Thy judgments, Lord, are right,
True, and holy all Thy ways:
Dark, and grievous though they be,
Just are all Thy ways to me.
Lo! I rise to sing Thy praise,
All Thy judgments, Lord, are right,
True, and holy all Thy ways:
Dark, and grievous though they be,
Just are all Thy ways to me.
Glory to the God unknown!
Chasten'd from my infant years,
Thy afflictive love I own,
Mingle praises with my tears,
Bless Thee for my troubles past,
Calmly wait to feel the last.
Chasten'd from my infant years,
Thy afflictive love I own,
Mingle praises with my tears,
Bless Thee for my troubles past,
Calmly wait to feel the last.
Thee I awfully adore,
Bruised by Thy severest rod;
Strengthen me to suffer more,
Still increase my heaviest load,
Child of sorrow from the womb
Send me weeping to the tomb.
Bruised by Thy severest rod;
Strengthen me to suffer more,
Still increase my heaviest load,
Child of sorrow from the womb
Send me weeping to the tomb.
Still in weariness, and pain,
Will I a sad vigil keep;
Lift my mournful eyes again,
Only wake, to pray, and weep;
To my midnight task return,
Bless Thee for my power to mourn.
Will I a sad vigil keep;
Lift my mournful eyes again,
Only wake, to pray, and weep;
To my midnight task return,
Bless Thee for my power to mourn.
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O how gracious is Thy love,
Thus to strip me of my joy!
All my comforts to remove,
All my idols to destroy,
Forced by stress of misery
Happiness to seek in Thee.
Thus to strip me of my joy!
All my comforts to remove,
All my idols to destroy,
Forced by stress of misery
Happiness to seek in Thee.
Wounded in the tenderest part,
Spoil'd of all my friends below,
Can I thank Thee from my heart,
Bless the Hand that deals the blow?
Lord, beneath Thy hand I bow;
What Thou dost I know not now.
Spoil'd of all my friends below,
Can I thank Thee from my heart,
Bless the Hand that deals the blow?
Lord, beneath Thy hand I bow;
What Thou dost I know not now.
Yet I can Thy mercy praise,
Doom'd my chastening here to feel
That I with the godless race
May not be adjudged to hell;
Lord, for this my thanks receive,
Wretched out of hell, I live.
Doom'd my chastening here to feel
That I with the godless race
May not be adjudged to hell;
Lord, for this my thanks receive,
Wretched out of hell, I live.
Of his earthly all bereft
Should a living man complain?
Or have I a blessing left?
Take that blessing back again,
Now my latest good remove,
Give me but at last Thy love.
Should a living man complain?
Or have I a blessing left?
Take that blessing back again,
Now my latest good remove,
Give me but at last Thy love.
XXXVII. THE SAME.
Hymn 9.
[O bitter, bitter loss!]
O bitter, bitter loss!
My bosom friend is gone,
My life, and comfort was
Wrapp'd up in him alone:
My eyes' and heart's desire is fled,
The intercourse is o'er,
My bosom friend to me is dead,
He loves my soul no more.
My bosom friend is gone,
My life, and comfort was
Wrapp'd up in him alone:
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The intercourse is o'er,
My bosom friend to me is dead,
He loves my soul no more.
To Satan's malice left,
By human furies torn,
Of all my joys bereft,
For none but this I mourn;
As Rachel obstinately grieve,
Disconsolate in woe,
Nor will I ever more receive
Comfort in things below.
By human furies torn,
Of all my joys bereft,
For none but this I mourn;
As Rachel obstinately grieve,
Disconsolate in woe,
Nor will I ever more receive
Comfort in things below.
I lift my broken heart
To Him that reigns above:
O would He once impart
The medicine of His love!
His only love can be my balm,
My wounded spirit ease;
His only voice the storm can calm,
And bid my sorrows cease.
To Him that reigns above:
O would He once impart
The medicine of His love!
His only love can be my balm,
My wounded spirit ease;
His only voice the storm can calm,
And bid my sorrows cease.
O wouldst Thou, Lord, appear,
And answer to my cry,
Thy hopeless mourner cheer,
Thy balmy blood apply.
From Thee, the God of pardoning love,
I never would depart,
But seek my whole delight above,
And give Thee all my heart.
And answer to my cry,
Thy hopeless mourner cheer,
Thy balmy blood apply.
From Thee, the God of pardoning love,
I never would depart,
But seek my whole delight above,
And give Thee all my heart.
Were I from all my pain
Miraculously freed,
Might I receive again
My Isaac from the dead,
He still should on Thine altar lie,
Till both translated were,
And met each other in the sky,
And met the Saviour there!
Miraculously freed,
Might I receive again
My Isaac from the dead,
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Till both translated were,
And met each other in the sky,
And met the Saviour there!
XXXVIII. THE SAME. JONAH'S GOURD.
Hymn 10.
Where is the gourd, that sudden rose
To screen a weary pilgrim's head,
To' assuage the violence of my woes,
And bless me with its cooling shade,
Make all my cares, and sorrows cease,
And turn my anguish into ease?
To screen a weary pilgrim's head,
To' assuage the violence of my woes,
And bless me with its cooling shade,
Make all my cares, and sorrows cease,
And turn my anguish into ease?
A worm hath smote my verdant bower,
And lo! how soon it fades away!
It could not stand the morning hour,
Or bear the scorching heat of day:
My wither'd joy, alas, is fled,
My fence is gone—my friend is dead.
And lo! how soon it fades away!
It could not stand the morning hour,
Or bear the scorching heat of day:
My wither'd joy, alas, is fled,
My fence is gone—my friend is dead.
Dead, dead are all my hopes below,
On earth I look for no relief:
No pause, or interval of woe,
No respite, or suspense of grief;
My short-lived happiness is o'er,
And human friendship is no more.
On earth I look for no relief:
No pause, or interval of woe,
No respite, or suspense of grief;
My short-lived happiness is o'er,
And human friendship is no more.
The fiery sun's directest ray,
The vehement wind's severest blast,
Beat on me in this evil day:
O might I now complain my last,
Now, now lay down my fainting head,
And weary sink among the dead!
The vehement wind's severest blast,
Beat on me in this evil day:
O might I now complain my last,
Now, now lay down my fainting head,
And weary sink among the dead!
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Better for me to die, than live
An useless life of grief and pain:
O wouldst Thou, Lord, my spirit receive!
But purge it first from every stain,
From all my foes, and friends set free,
And then receive me up to Thee.
An useless life of grief and pain:
O wouldst Thou, Lord, my spirit receive!
But purge it first from every stain,
From all my foes, and friends set free,
And then receive me up to Thee.
XXXIX. THE SAME.
Hymn 11.
[O 'tis enough! my God, my God]
O 'tis enough! my God, my God,
Thy hand withhold, Thy wrath forbear;
Spare, for I hear the speaking rod,
Thy prodigal in mercy spare,
And in Thy gracious arms embrace,
And kiss the sorrow from my face.
Thy hand withhold, Thy wrath forbear;
Spare, for I hear the speaking rod,
Thy prodigal in mercy spare,
And in Thy gracious arms embrace,
And kiss the sorrow from my face.
My every idol I resign,
By Thy afflicting love compell'd;
Jesu, the victory is Thine,
Hardly at last I yield, I yield
With every creature-good to part,
I give Thee all this worthless heart.
By Thy afflicting love compell'd;
Jesu, the victory is Thine,
Hardly at last I yield, I yield
With every creature-good to part,
I give Thee all this worthless heart.
With solemn dread my life, my fame,
My friend I on Thy altar lay,
All human help, and hope disclaim,
And meekly wait the welcome day,
That shall my weary soul release,
And lull me in eternal peace.
My friend I on Thy altar lay,
All human help, and hope disclaim,
And meekly wait the welcome day,
That shall my weary soul release,
And lull me in eternal peace.
O might I now Thy goodness taste,
And know the pardoning God is mine,
Calmly lament, and groan my last,
Into Thy hands my soul resign,
And plunge into the depths above,
The ocean of Thy heavenly love!
And know the pardoning God is mine,
Calmly lament, and groan my last,
Into Thy hands my soul resign,
And plunge into the depths above,
The ocean of Thy heavenly love!
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XL. THE SAME.
Hymn 12.
[Why should a living child of man]
Why should a living child of man
Beneath the scourge repine,
Or dare with impious grief to' arraign
The righteousness Divine?
Why should I murmur at my load,
And farther still rebel,
So lightly chasten'd by my God,
And not thrust down to hell?
Beneath the scourge repine,
Or dare with impious grief to' arraign
The righteousness Divine?
Why should I murmur at my load,
And farther still rebel,
So lightly chasten'd by my God,
And not thrust down to hell?
What are the sorest plagues I bear
To those the damn'd sustain?
What is my temporal despair
To their eternal pain?
My sins demand their dreadful hire,
My sins for vengeance call,
And short of that infernal fire
'Tis grace and mercy all.
To those the damn'd sustain?
What is my temporal despair
To their eternal pain?
My sins demand their dreadful hire,
My sins for vengeance call,
And short of that infernal fire
'Tis grace and mercy all.
What though my soul with shame is fill'd,
My heart o'erwhelm'd with dread,
What though my tender joys are kill'd,
And every comfort fled;
What though my darling Isaac I
Am forced to offer up,
And live, when all my blessings die,
And drink the bitterest cup:
My heart o'erwhelm'd with dread,
What though my tender joys are kill'd,
And every comfort fled;
What though my darling Isaac I
Am forced to offer up,
And live, when all my blessings die,
And drink the bitterest cup:
Shall I resent my slighted love,
Or mourn my murder'd fame,
Worthy the hate of all above,
And everlasting shame!
The loss of one weak, faithless friend,
Still, still shall I bemoan,
When God, whose favours never end,
May yet be all my own?
Or mourn my murder'd fame,
Worthy the hate of all above,
And everlasting shame!
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Still, still shall I bemoan,
When God, whose favours never end,
May yet be all my own?
God of my life, to Thy decree
I humbly now submit,
Accept my punishment from Thee,
And tremble at Thy feet:
Whate'er Thy will inflicts I take,
Till all Thy plagues are past;
But while my soul I render back,
O give me peace at last.
I humbly now submit,
Accept my punishment from Thee,
And tremble at Thy feet:
Whate'er Thy will inflicts I take,
Till all Thy plagues are past;
But while my soul I render back,
O give me peace at last.
XLI. THE SAME. THANKSGIVING TO GOD FOR HIS DISAPPOINTMENTS.
Hymn 13.
God of my life, how good, how wise
Thy judgments on my soul have been!
They were but mercies in disguise,
The painful remedies of sin:
How different now Thy ways appear,
Most merciful when most severe!
Thy judgments on my soul have been!
They were but mercies in disguise,
The painful remedies of sin:
How different now Thy ways appear,
Most merciful when most severe!
Since first the maze of life I trod,
Hast Thou not hedged about my way,
My worldly vain designs withstood,
And robb'd my passions of their prey,
Withheld the fuel from the fire,
And cross'd my every fond desire?
Hast Thou not hedged about my way,
My worldly vain designs withstood,
And robb'd my passions of their prey,
Withheld the fuel from the fire,
And cross'd my every fond desire?
Trouble, and loss, and grief, and pain
Have crowded all my forty years;
I never could my wish obtain,
And own at last with joyful tears
The man whom God delights to bless,
He never curses with success.
Have crowded all my forty years;
I never could my wish obtain,
And own at last with joyful tears
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He never curses with success.
How oft didst Thou my soul withhold,
And baffle my pursuit of fame,
And mortify my lust of gold,
And blast me in my surest aim,
Withdraw my animal delight,
And starve my grovelling appetite!
And baffle my pursuit of fame,
And mortify my lust of gold,
And blast me in my surest aim,
Withdraw my animal delight,
And starve my grovelling appetite!
Thy goodness, obstinate to save,
Hath all my airy schemes o'erthrown,
My will Thou wouldst not let me have;
With blushing thankfulness I own
I envied oft the swine their meat,
But could not gain the husks to eat.
Hath all my airy schemes o'erthrown,
My will Thou wouldst not let me have;
With blushing thankfulness I own
I envied oft the swine their meat,
But could not gain the husks to eat.
Thou wouldst not let Thy captive go,
Or leave me to my carnal will,
Thy love forbad my rest below,
Thy patient love pursued me still,
And forced me from my sin to part,
And tore the idol from my heart.
Or leave me to my carnal will,
Thy love forbad my rest below,
Thy patient love pursued me still,
And forced me from my sin to part,
And tore the idol from my heart.
Joy of mine eyes, and more beloved
(Forgive me, gracious God!) than Thee,
Thy sudden stroke far off removed,
And stopp'd my vile idolatry,
And drove me from the idol's shrine,
And cast me at the feet Divine.
(Forgive me, gracious God!) than Thee,
Thy sudden stroke far off removed,
And stopp'd my vile idolatry,
And drove me from the idol's shrine,
And cast me at the feet Divine.
But can I now the loss lament,
Or murmur at Thy friendly blow?
Thy friendly blow my spirit hath rent,
From every seeming good below;
Thrice happy loss, which makes me see
My happiness is all in Thee.
Or murmur at Thy friendly blow?
Thy friendly blow my spirit hath rent,
From every seeming good below;
Thrice happy loss, which makes me see
My happiness is all in Thee.
195
How shall I bless Thy thwarting love,
So near in my temptation's hour!
It flew my ruin to remove,
It snatch'd me from my nature's power,
Broke off my grasp of creature good,
And plunged me in the' atoning blood.
So near in my temptation's hour!
It flew my ruin to remove,
It snatch'd me from my nature's power,
Broke off my grasp of creature good,
And plunged me in the' atoning blood.
See then at last I all resign,
I yield me up Thy lawful prey:
Take this poor, long-sought soul of mine,
And bear me in Thine arms away,
Whence I may never more remove,
Secure in Thy eternal love.
I yield me up Thy lawful prey:
Take this poor, long-sought soul of mine,
And bear me in Thine arms away,
Whence I may never more remove,
Secure in Thy eternal love.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |