The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

In Thee, O Lord, I trust,
And in Thy saving name;
Faithful, and to Thy promise just,
O rid me of my shame!
O never, never leave
A sinner to his sin,
Who would Thy gracious word receive,
And longs to be made clean!

In condescending love
Incline Thine ear to me;
Send down the answer from above,
And haste to set me free:
Be Thou my rock, my tower,
To which I still may fly;
Redeem me, Saviour, by Thy power,
Redeem me, or I die!

Thee, Lord, I humbly claim,
My rock, my fortress Thou!
Act for the honour of Thy name,
And save, O save me now!
Jesus, my spirit stay,
And bring me to Thy breast,
And guide me in Thyself the way
To mine eternal rest.

Draw me out of the snare
My foes have laid for me;
Thou art my strength; I cast my care,
My burden, all on Thee!

Into Thy hands, O God,
My spirit I commend;
And Thou, who bought'st me with Thy blood,
Shalt love me to the end.

Who vainly trust in lies,
Their ways I have abhorr'd;
My faith for sure relief applies
To my redeeming Lord.
On Him alone I trust,
The Rock that cannot move;
My joy, my glory, and my boast
Are in Thy pardoning love.

For Thou my soul hast known
When plunged in griefs and fears;
Thy pity mark'd my every groan,
And noted all my tears;
Thou hast not shut me up
With my old enemy,
But brought me forth, enlarged my hope,
And bid me walk in Thee.

Have mercy then once more,
And save me in distress!
I groan beneath the fatal power
Of inbred wickedness!
Despised and hated I,
And shunn'd by friends and foes,
With trembling haste my neighbours fly
From my infectious woes!

Mine eye with sorrow fails,
My flesh and strength decay,
My soul, while sin again prevails,
Dissolves and dies away.

By all despised, forgot,
As long deceased I am;
A vessel marr'd,—a thing of nought,—
A worm without a name!

The many-headed beast,—
I heard exclaim aloud,—
With furious rage which could not rest,
They all my ruin vow'd.
By force my soul they tried,
By cunning, to devour;—
I saw their snares on every side,
And trembled at their power.

PART II.

But trusting in the word,
The word of grace alone,
“Thou art,” I said, “my God and Lord,
I claim Thee for mine own.
Thou know'st the' appointed hour,
My times I leave to Thee;
Redeem me from the' oppressor's power,
From all my sins set free.

“Upon Thy servant make
Thy blissful face to shine;
And save, for Thine own mercy's sake,
This helpless soul of mine.
Ah! do not let me fall,
O'erwhelm'd with endless shame!
For still in my distress I call,
O Jesus, on Thy name!”

How vast the mercy's store
Thou hast for them prepared,
Who Thee with filial fear adore,
And wait their full reward!
Before they hence remove,
Who trust in Thee alone
Enjoy a paradise of love,
A heaven on earth begun.

Them in Thy secret place
Thou shalt securely hide,
Far from the persecuting race,
The furious sons of pride.
Thy presence shall defend,
And their pavilion be;
Till all the storms and conflicts end,
Their life is hid in Thee.

Bless'd be the Saviour-God,
Whose gracious power I prove!
His goodness He to me hath show'd,
His miracles of love.
Shut up in self and pride,
Satan's stronghold I was,
My prison doors He open'd wide,
And saved me by His grace.

For in my heart I said,
“I am forgotten quite,
Cut off from all relief and aid,
And cast out of Thy sight!”
Yet did Thy pity spare
A wretch condemn'd to die,
Heard all my agonizing prayer,
And answer'd all my cry.

O all ye saints of His,
Love your redeeming Lord!
He keeps the souls in perfect peace
Whose trust is in His word.
The' Avenger of all those
Whose sins provoke His ire,
He fills the measure of their woes
In everlasting fire.

But ye that hope in Him,
Be strong, be of good cheer,
Your souls He fully shall redeem,
And make you perfect here;
His constant mind impart,
His image from above,
And 'stablish each believing heart
In everlasting love.

University of Virginia Library

PSALM XXXI.

[In Thee, O Lord, I trust]

PART I.

PART II.