 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
 | VI. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
ANOTHER.
[O that I was as heretofore]
O that I was as heretofore,
When, warm in my first love,
I only lived my Lord to' adore,
And seek the things above!
When, warm in my first love,
I only lived my Lord to' adore,
And seek the things above!
Upon my head His candle shone;
And, lavish of His grace,
With cords of love He drew me on,
And half unveil'd His face.
And, lavish of His grace,
With cords of love He drew me on,
And half unveil'd His face.
Butter and honey did I eat;
And, lifted up on high,
I saw the clouds beneath my feet,
And rode upon the sky.
And, lifted up on high,
I saw the clouds beneath my feet,
And rode upon the sky.
121
Far, far above all earthly things
Triumphantly I rode;
I soar'd to heaven on eagle's wings,
And found, and talk'd with God.
Triumphantly I rode;
I soar'd to heaven on eagle's wings,
And found, and talk'd with God.
Where am I now? from what a height
Of happiness cast down!
The glory swallow'd up in night,
And faded is the crown.
Of happiness cast down!
The glory swallow'd up in night,
And faded is the crown.
My first estate I could not keep;
Fallen through pride I am;
Implunged in sin's profoundest deep,
And lost in guilty shame.
Fallen through pride I am;
Implunged in sin's profoundest deep,
And lost in guilty shame.
Forlorn, forsaken, and alone,
Naked and void of God,
My feeble soul can scarcely groan
A dying Ichabod!
Naked and void of God,
My feeble soul can scarcely groan
A dying Ichabod!
Ah! woe is me! my joy is fled,
Vanish'd my glorious boast,
My hope cut off, my life is dead,
My paradise is lost!
Vanish'd my glorious boast,
My hope cut off, my life is dead,
My paradise is lost!
Through the wide world of sin and woe,
A banish'd man, I roam;
But cannot find my rest below,
But cannot wander home.
A banish'd man, I roam;
But cannot find my rest below,
But cannot wander home.
O God, Thou art my home, my rest,
For which I sigh in pain:
How shall I 'scape into Thy breast?
My Eden how regain?
For which I sigh in pain:
How shall I 'scape into Thy breast?
My Eden how regain?
Vengeance Divine is always near;
Where'er my steps I turn,
I see the Cherubim appear,
I see Thine anger burn.
Where'er my steps I turn,
I see the Cherubim appear,
I see Thine anger burn.
122
When, longing oft to be restored,
I would to Eden flee,
Thine anger, as a flaming sword,
Preserves the sacred tree.
I would to Eden flee,
Thine anger, as a flaming sword,
Preserves the sacred tree.
What shall I do? 'Tis worse than death
To live without Thy grace;
I yield, I yield Thee up my breath,
So I may see Thy face.
To live without Thy grace;
I yield, I yield Thee up my breath,
So I may see Thy face.
A sinner in Thine hands I am;
No farther let me fly,
But rush upon that sword of flame,
And in Thy presence die.
No farther let me fly,
But rush upon that sword of flame,
And in Thy presence die.
Nothing, alas! have I to plead,
I am not fit to live:
Yet if Thy justice strike me dead,
Thy mercy shall revive.
I am not fit to live:
Yet if Thy justice strike me dead,
Thy mercy shall revive.
This is the way to find my Lord;
Thyself hast made it known:
Be it according to Thy word:
On me Thy will be done.
Thyself hast made it known:
Be it according to Thy word:
On me Thy will be done.
Slay me, and I shall live indeed,
With Thy dead men arise,
From all the life of nature freed,
In love's sweet paradise.
With Thy dead men arise,
From all the life of nature freed,
In love's sweet paradise.
Now, Lord, Thy death, Thy life bring in,
While at Thy feet I bow;
Enter at once, and cast out sin,
Destroy, and save me now.
While at Thy feet I bow;
Enter at once, and cast out sin,
Destroy, and save me now.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |