University of Virginia Library

previous section The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley
next section

HYMN VI.

[Righteous Lord, Thy people spare!]

Righteous Lord, Thy people spare!
Lo! we turn at last to Thee,
Humbly the correction bear
Of our past iniquity,
Own the cause of our distress,
Mournfully our sins confess.
We Thy judgments have abhorr'd,
We Thy covenant have broke,
Daringly denied our Lord,
Cast away His easy yoke,
Would not cast our sins away,
Would not know our gracious day.
Therefore is the plague begun,
Therefore doth it still proceed;
Wrath Divine by means unknown,
Wrath Divine hath done the deed,
Made the stalls and pastures void,
God our cattle hath destroy'd.
Heavier woes He keeps in store,
If we still refuse to turn,
Dare His anger's utmost power,
All His lingering pity scorn;
40

But beneath Thy hand we bow,
Stay Thy plague, and save us now.
Jesu, save us from our sins,
Save us from our plague of heart,
All of unbelief convince,
All unto Thyself convert;
Let our sin-sick spirits find
Thee the Healer of mankind.
No delight Thy goodness hath
In the death of him who dies;
Grant us then the living faith,
Faith that on Thy blood relies,
Faith that all Thy grace receives,
Faith that all Thy fulness gives.
previous section The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley
next section