The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Omnipotent, omniscient Lord,
Present in heaven, and earth, and hell,
Spirit and soul-dividing Word,
Searcher of hearts unsearchable,
Behold us with Thine eyes of flame,
And tell me what by grace I am.

314

We would not our own souls deceive,
Or fondly rest in grace begun:
Thy wise discerning unction give,
And make us know as we are known;
Search, and try out our hearts, and reins,
And show if sin in us remains.

Thy thoughts and ways are not as ours,
Thou only know'st what is in man;
Even now we taste the heavenly powers;
But tell us, are we born again?
Are we redeem'd from inbred sin?
What saith the Oracle within?

Shine on the work Thyself hast wrought,
If Thou hast wrought the work in me:
Or show us, if we know Thee not:
Am I, my God, stopp'd short of Thee?
The powerful, quick conviction dart,
And shine in every naked heart.

Thou wouldst not have Thy children stray,
Thou never canst mislead the blind;
If brought into Thy perfect way,
O let us now the Witness find,
And shout to hear Thy speaking blood,
And echo to the voice of God.

Touching this thing we all agree,
Father, to ask in Jesu's name,
That each his true estate may see:
In faith we now the promise claim;
Now, now for Jesu's sake reveal
Our inward heaven, or inward hell.

315

Send forth Thy pure, unerring light,
Jesus, the Truth, the Life, the Way,
And guide our helpless spirits right,
That all may see Thy perfect day,
May all Thy glorious fulness prove,
The depth of everlasting love.

CXXIV. ANOTHER.

Hymn 22.

[Come, Thou omniscient Son of Man]

Come, Thou omniscient Son of Man,
Display Thy sifting power;
Come with the winnowing Spirit's fan,
And throughly purge the floor.

The chaff of sin, the' accursed thing
Far from our souls be driven;
The wheat into Thy garner bring,
And lay us up for heaven.

Now let us by Thy word be tried,
Search out our reins and heart;
Spirit and soul, O Lord, divide,
And joints and marrow part.

Look through us with Thine eyes of flame,
The clouds and darkness chase;
And show me what by sin I am,
And what I am by grace.

We would not of ourselves conceive
Above what Thou hast done;
But still to Thee the matter leave,
Till Thou shalt make it known.

316

We would not, Lord, ourselves conceal,
But walk in open day;
We pray Thee, all our sin reveal,
And purge it all away.

Whate'er offends Thy glorious eyes
Far from our hearts remove,
As dust before the whirlwind flies,
Disperse it by Thy love.

Then let us all Thy fulness know,
From every sin set free:
Saved, to the utmost saved below,
And perfectly like Thee.

University of Virginia Library

[FOR ANY WHO THINK THEY HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED.]

CXXIII. THE SAME. FOR ANY WHO THINK THEY HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED.

Hymn 21.

CXXIV. ANOTHER.

Hymn 22.

[Come, Thou omniscient Son of Man]