The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

My heart, to every vice inclined,
The sinner's closest sin bewrays;
The fear of God he casts behind,
He hides himself among the trees;
Self-soothing in his lost estate,
Sleeps on secure, and wakes too late.

His words are all deceit and lies;
He hatches mischief on his bed;
No longer to salvation wise:
In every thought, and word, and deed,
He cleaves to sin, and sin alone;
Evil and he, I find, are one.

But Thou, O Lord, art full of grace;
Above the clouds Thy mercies rise;
Steadfast Thy truth and faithfulness,
Thy word of promise never dies;
Nor earth can shake, nor hell remove,
The base of Thine eternal love.

Unsearchable Thy judgments are,
A boundless, bottomless abyss!
But, lo! Thy providential care
O'er all Thy works extended is:
In Thee the creatures live and move,
And are: all glory to Thy love!

Thy love sustains the world it made;
Thy love preserves both man and beast;
Beneath Thy wing's almighty shade
The sons of men securely rest;
And those who haunt the hallow'd place
Shall banquet on Thy richest grace.

Their souls shall drink the crystal stream
Which ever issues from Thy throne:
Fountain of joy and bliss supreme,
Eternal life and Thou art one;
To us, to all, so freely given,
The Light of life, the Heaven of heaven!

Stay, then, with those that know Thy peace,
The simple men of heart sincere;
From all their foes and sins release,
From pride and lust redeem them here;
Thine utmost saving grace extend,
And love, O love them to the end!

The prayer is seal'd: we now foresee
The downfall of our inbred foes:
Jesus hath got the victory,
His own right hand our sins o'erthrows,
Destroys their being with their power:
They die, they fall to rise no more.

University of Virginia Library

PSALM XXXVI.

[My heart, to every vice inclined]