The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Except the Lord conduct the plan,
Our best-concerted schemes are vain,
And never can succeed;
We spend our wretched strength for nought:
But if our works in God are wrought,
They shall be bless'd indeed.

Lord, if Thou didst Thyself inspire
Our hearts with this intense desire
Thy goodness to proclaim,
Thy glory if we now intend;
O let our deed begin and end
Complete in Jesus' name.

In Jesus' name behold we meet!
Far from an evil world retreat,
And all its frantic ways,

One only thing resolved to know,
And square our useful lives below
By reason and by grace.

Not in the tombs we pine to dwell,
Not in the dark monastic cell
By vows and grates confined;
Freely to all ourselves we give,
Constrain'd by Jesu's love to live
The servants of mankind.

Now Jesus, now, Thy love impart,
To govern each devoted heart,
And fit us for Thy will;
Deep founded in the truth of grace,
Build up our rising church, and place
The city on the hill.

O let our faith and love abound,
O let our lives to all around
With purest lustre shine,
That all, but us, our works may see,
And give the glory, Lord, to Thee,
The heavenly Light Divine.

XXXIX. [Come Wisdom, Power, and Grace Divine]

Come Wisdom, Power, and Grace Divine,
Come Jesus, in Thy name to join
An happy chosen band,
Who fain would prove Thine utmost will,
And all Thy righteous laws fulfil
In love's benign command.

If pure essential love Thou art,
Thy nature into every heart,
Thy loving self inspire,
Bid all our simple souls be one,
United in a bond unknown,
Baptized with heavenly fire.

Still may we to our Centre tend,
To spread Thy praise our common end,
To help each other on,
Companions through the wilderness,
To share a moment's pain, and seize
An everlasting crown.

Jesus, our tender'd souls prepare,
Infuse the softest, social care,
The warmest charity,
The bowels of our bleeding Lamb,
The virtues of Thy wondrous name,
The heart which was in Thee.

Supply what every member wants,
To found the fellowship of saints,
Thy Spirit, Lord, supply;
So shall we all Thy love receive,
Together to Thy glory live,
And to Thy glory die.

XL.

[O Saviour, cast a gracious smile]

O Saviour, cast a gracious smile,
Our gloomy guilt, and selfish guile,
And shy mistrust remove,

The true simplicity impart,
To fashion every passive heart,
And mould it into love.

Our naked hearts to Thee we raise;
Whate'er obstructs Thy work of grace
For ever drive it hence:
Exert Thine all-subduing power,
And each regenerate soul restore
To childlike innocence.

Soon as in Thee we gain a part,
Our spirit purged from nature's art
Appears by grace forgiven,
We then pursue our sole design,
To lose our melting will in Thine,
And want no other heaven.

O that we now the power might feel
To do on earth Thy blessed will
As angels do above!
In Thee the Life, the Truth, the Way,
To walk, and perfectly obey
Thy sweet constraining love!

Jesus, fulfil our one desire,
And spread the spark of living fire
Through every hallow'd breast,
Bless with Divine conformity,
And give us now to find in Thee
Our everlasting Rest.

XLI.

[How happy we whom grace unites]

How happy we whom grace unites
In Jesus' precious name,
Whom mercy's secret call invites
To banquet with the Lamb!

We see our kind Supporter's hand,
And joyfully adore,
And hastening to the heavenly land,
We send our hearts before.

Jesus shall there our hearts secure
And keep our life above,
As sure as Christ is God, as sure
As Christ our God is love.

And when He has prepared our place,
Our Lord again shall come—
Come, Lord, and show Thy glorious face,
And look Thy pilgrims home!

XLII.

[Holy Lamb, who Thee confess]

Holy Lamb, who Thee confess,
Followers of Thy holiness,
Thee they ever keep in view,
Ever ask,—What shall we do?

Govern'd by Thine only will,
All Thy words we would fulfil,
Would in all Thy footsteps go,
Walk as Jesus walk'd below.

While Thou didst on earth appear,
Servant to Thy servants here,
Mindful of Thy place above,
All Thy life was prayer and love.

Such our whole employment be,
Works of faith and charity,
Works of love on man bestow'd,
Secret intercourse with God.

Early in the temple met
Let us still our Maker greet,
Nightly to the mount repair,
Join our praying Pattern there:

There by wrestling faith obtain
Power to work for God again,
Power His image to retrieve,
Power like Thee our Lord to live.

Vessels, instruments of grace,
Pass we thus our happy days
'Twixt the mount and multitude,
Doing or receiving good:

Glad to pray, and labour on,
Till our earthly course is run,
Till we on the sacred tree
Bow the head, and die like Thee.

XLIII.

[Come, Thou all-inspiring Spirit]

Come, Thou all-inspiring Spirit,
Into every longing heart,
Bought for us by Jesus' merit
Now Thy blissful Self impart:

Sign our uncontested pardon,
Wash us in the' atoning blood,
Make our souls a water'd garden,
Fill our spotless souls with God.

If Thou gav'st the' enlarged desire
Which for Thee we ever feel,
Now our panting hearts inspire,
Now our cancell'd sin reveal:
Claim us for Thine habitation,
Dwell within our hallow'd breast,
Seal us heirs of full salvation
Fitted for our heavenly rest.

Give us quietly to tarry
Till for all Thy glory meet,
Waiting like attentive Mary,
Happy at our Saviour's feet;
Keep us from the world unspotted,
From all earthly passions free,
Wholly to Thyself devoted,
Fix'd to live and die for Thee.

Wrestling on in mighty prayer,
Lord, we will not let Thee go,
Till Thou all Thy mind declare,
All Thy grace on us bestow;
Peace, the seal of sin forgiven,
Joy, and perfect love impart,
Present, everlasting heaven,
All Thou hast, and all Thou art.

XLIV.

[Head of the Church, appear, appear]

Head of the Church, appear, appear,
Assembled with Thy members here,
Who in Thy name and Spirit meet,
And tremble at Thy wounded feet.

O'ercome, o'erwhelm'd with mercy's power,
We meekly wonder and adore,
With silent awe Thy goodness prove,
Or triumph in Thy dying love.

Whene'er Thou dost Thy love reveal,
Unutterable bliss we feel,
We feel the virtue of Thy name
In holy fear, and humble shame.

Constrain'd by pure delight we own
The everlasting life begun,
Glory anticipate in grace,
And heaven in Thy smiling face.

University of Virginia Library

FOR A FAMILY OF BELIEVERS.

XXXVIII.

[Except the Lord conduct the plan]

XXXIX.

[Come Wisdom, Power, and Grace Divine]

XL.