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| VIII. |
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 | CHAPTER VIII. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
207
CHAPTER VIII.
169.
[Jesus, I come to Thee]
Behold, there came a leper and worshipped, &c.
—viii. 2.
Jesus, I come to Thee
In humble faith and prayer,
My loathsome leprosy
With conscious shame declare,
I own the greatness of my fall,
And at Thy feet for mercy call.
In humble faith and prayer,
My loathsome leprosy
With conscious shame declare,
I own the greatness of my fall,
And at Thy feet for mercy call.
Thy grace invisible,
(If Thou Thy grace exert,)
Can all my sickness heal,
My sinfulness convert;
Thy power can make itself obey'd,
And save the soul Thy hands have made.
(If Thou Thy grace exert,)
Can all my sickness heal,
My sinfulness convert;
Thy power can make itself obey'd,
And save the soul Thy hands have made.
But shall I doubt Thy will,
Acknowledging Thy power?
Thou art a Saviour still,
Whom prostrate I adore,
Till by Thine healing touch I prove
My Saviour is almighty love.
Acknowledging Thy power?
Thou art a Saviour still,
Whom prostrate I adore,
Till by Thine healing touch I prove
My Saviour is almighty love.
170.
[Thou canst not want the power]
Thou canst not want the power,
Almighty as Thou art,
Thou canst not want the will this hour
To purify my heart:
Thou must be ready, Lord,
The evil to remove,
For O, to all who trust Thy word
Thou art both power and love.
Almighty as Thou art,
Thou canst not want the will this hour
To purify my heart:
Thou must be ready, Lord,
The evil to remove,
For O, to all who trust Thy word
Thou art both power and love.
Myself I cannot heal,
Or put away my sin,
And nature's unregenerate will.
Refuses to be clean.
I never shall consent
To' accept the grace Divine
Unless Thy will omnipotent
O'errule and conquer mine.
Or put away my sin,
And nature's unregenerate will.
Refuses to be clean.
208
To' accept the grace Divine
Unless Thy will omnipotent
O'errule and conquer mine.
But hope I have in Thee,
(Hope springing from despair,)
Thou canst, Thou wilt my Saviour be
Who didst my nature share;
Who suffer'dst for my sin,
Thou wilt remove the load,
And re-create me pure within
Through Thine all-hallowing blood.
(Hope springing from despair,)
Thou canst, Thou wilt my Saviour be
Who didst my nature share;
Who suffer'dst for my sin,
Thou wilt remove the load,
And re-create me pure within
Through Thine all-hallowing blood.
Thou wilt; but why not now?
So ignorant and blind,
In darkness at Thy feet I bow,
And wait Thy love to find:
Manner and time I leave;
But graven on Thy heart,
I look Thy fulness to receive,
And see Thee as Thou art.
So ignorant and blind,
In darkness at Thy feet I bow,
And wait Thy love to find:
Manner and time I leave;
But graven on Thy heart,
I look Thy fulness to receive,
And see Thee as Thou art.
171.
[Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst from sin]
Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.
—viii. 2.
Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst from sin
Make both my life and nature clean:
Lord, if Thou canst, Thou wilt exert
The powers that purify my heart.
Make both my life and nature clean:
Lord, if Thou canst, Thou wilt exert
The powers that purify my heart.
Self-loathing at Thy feet I lie,
Till Thou Thy hallowing blood apply,
And purged from inbred sin I prove
The virtue of almighty love.
Till Thou Thy hallowing blood apply,
And purged from inbred sin I prove
The virtue of almighty love.
209
The blessings which through faith I claim
I find them, Jesus, in Thy name;
Salvation in Thy name is given,
Forgiveness, holiness, and heaven.
I find them, Jesus, in Thy name;
Salvation in Thy name is given,
Forgiveness, holiness, and heaven.
Now then put forth Thy hand of grace,
And meet to see Thy blissful face
My spotless soul from earth remove,
To triumph with Thy saints above.
And meet to see Thy blissful face
My spotless soul from earth remove,
To triumph with Thy saints above.
172.
[Thou wouldst that I should holy be]
I will; be thou clean.
—viii. 3.
Thou wouldst that I should holy be,
Partaker of Thy purity;
O bid this leprosy depart,
Apply Thy blood to cleanse my heart.
173.
[O might Thy word take place]
O might Thy word take place,
Thy hallowing word in me;
Partaker of Thy grace,
And spotless purity;
O bid this leprosy depart,
Apply Thy blood to cleanse my heart.
Thy hallowing word in me;
Partaker of Thy grace,
And spotless purity;
O bid this leprosy depart,
Apply Thy blood to cleanse my heart.
I wait the word Divine,
Sinner be heal'd, be pure,
One sovereign word of Thine
Confirms the pardon sure,
Cleanses my guilt-infected soul,
And makes my dying spirit whole.
Sinner be heal'd, be pure,
One sovereign word of Thine
Confirms the pardon sure,
Cleanses my guilt-infected soul,
And makes my dying spirit whole.
174.
[My painful sin and misery]
Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
—viii. 3.
My painful sin and misery
In humble prayer I own to Thee,
Who know'st what I endure,
Who bidd'st me now believe Thy word,
And wait the coming of my Lord
My leprous soul to cure.
In humble prayer I own to Thee,
Who know'st what I endure,
Who bidd'st me now believe Thy word,
And wait the coming of my Lord
My leprous soul to cure.
210
With shame and sorrow I confess
The depth of my unworthiness;
Yet O, Thyself reveal,
By one kind word of pardoning love
My impotence to good remove,
My bent to evil heal.
The depth of my unworthiness;
Yet O, Thyself reveal,
By one kind word of pardoning love
My impotence to good remove,
My bent to evil heal.
According to my faith bestow'd
By Thee, the true eternal God,
It shall to me be done;
I shall the healthful mind receive,
Restored to perfect soundness live
And serve my Lord alone.
By Thee, the true eternal God,
It shall to me be done;
I shall the healthful mind receive,
Restored to perfect soundness live
And serve my Lord alone.
175.
[Whene'er Thou dost Thy grace bestow]
See thou tell no man.
—viii. 4.
Whene'er Thou dost Thy grace bestow,
Lest proudly I the blessing show,
A second grace impart,
“Tell it to none”—with vain delight,
“Tell it to none,”—in mercy write
Upon my broken heart.
176.
[Order'd by Thee, O Lord, I go]
Go, . . . show thyself to the priest.
—viii. 4.
Order'd by Thee, O Lord, I go,
And to the priest myself I show
Changed by a touch of Thine,
That when the priest Thy witness sees,
Convinced, he may himself confess
My Healer is Divine.
177.
[Saviour hear a sinner's prayer]
There came unto Him a centurion, &c.
—viii. 5, 6.
Saviour hear a sinner's prayer:
A poor paralytic I
Unto Thee my case declare,
Grievously tormented cry;
211
Simply I my want confess,
Tell Thee what Thou knew'st before,
I have need of healing grace.
178.
[O how gracious is my Lord]
I will come and heal him.
—viii. 7.
O how gracious is my Lord,
Listening for a sigh or word!
When He hears the sinner's cry,
O how ready to reply!
“Jesus, come, Thy servant heal,”
Jesus answers me, “I will.”
179.
[Will the' almighty God of grace]
Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest, &c.
—viii. 8.
Will the' almighty God of grace
Take up His abode with me,
Me, who all my sins confess,
All my imbecility?
When Thou dost so greatly stoop,
When Thou into me art given,
Purify by faith and hope,
Then transport Thy house to heaven.
180.
[Yes, I steadfastly believe]
Speak the word only, and my servant, &c.
—viii. 8.
Yes, I steadfastly believe
Absolute in power Thou art,
Canst by one kind word forgive,
Heal my feebleness of heart:
Strength unknown Thy word supplies,
Clothes the weak with vigour new;
Speak, and out of sin I rise;
Speak, and I can all things do.
212
181.
[But doth it, Lord, Thy wonder raise]
Jesus . . . marvelled.
—viii. 10.
But doth it, Lord, Thy wonder raise,
The faith Thou hast Thyself bestow'd?
O what a mystery of grace!
The Man in Christ admires the God!
Thou wonder'st at Thy Father's deeds,
That we may praise what He hath done,
From whom our every good proceeds,
And all receive through faith alone.
182.
[Who in the faith of Abraham tread]
Many shall come from the east and west, &c.
—viii. 11.
Who in the faith of Abraham tread,
Like Isaac unto death obey,
With God, like wrestling Jacob plead,
And wait to see my Saviour's day,
I shall with them in heaven sit down,
And wear a patriarchal crown.
183.
[What Christian crowds the kingdom lose]
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast, &c.
—viii. 12.
What Christian crowds the kingdom lose,
Which heathens and barbarians gain!
The church's sons their Head refuse,
They will not in His glory reign,
Will not the cross and crown receive,
Or die with Christ, with Christ to live.
Which heathens and barbarians gain!
The church's sons their Head refuse,
They will not in His glory reign,
Will not the cross and crown receive,
Or die with Christ, with Christ to live.
A moment's joy they dearly buy,
Consign'd to endless pains in hell,
Gnaw'd by the worm that cannot die,
Scorch'd by the fire unquenchable,
Who might have sung on seraphs' thrones,
They justly pour eternal groans.
Consign'd to endless pains in hell,
Gnaw'd by the worm that cannot die,
Scorch'd by the fire unquenchable,
Who might have sung on seraphs' thrones,
They justly pour eternal groans.
184.
[As I have believed, O Lord]
As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.
—viii. 13.
As I have believed, O Lord,
It shall be done to me,
213
From all iniquity;
Freed from sin's tormenting pain,
When re-begotten from above,
I shall in Thyself regain
The perfect health of love.
185.
[Lord, I believe Thy sprinkled blood]
He touched her hand, and the fever left her.
—viii. 15.
Lord, I believe Thy sprinkled blood
Can quench the fever's fiercest fire:
My thirst of praise, and creature-good,
Now let it at Thy touch retire,
Now let me rise, through faith restored,
And serve the servants of my Lord.
186.
[The scorching fever of desire]
The scorching fever of desire,
Never, never will retire,
Till Christ approach the soul,
By purity of heavenly love
Its foul concupiscence remove,
And touch the sinner whole.
Never, never will retire,
Till Christ approach the soul,
By purity of heavenly love
Its foul concupiscence remove,
And touch the sinner whole.
But when He undertakes to heal
Passions most incurable,
Languor and slothfulness
With every evil habit flies;
And lo, redeem'd from sin I rise
To tend the sons of grace.
Passions most incurable,
Languor and slothfulness
With every evil habit flies;
And lo, redeem'd from sin I rise
To tend the sons of grace.
187.
[How great the goodness of our Lord]
He . . . healed all that were sick.
—viii. 16.
How great the goodness of our Lord,
Not to reject one sin-sick soul!
How great the virtue of His word
Pronouncing every patient whole!
214
From sin's inveterate malady
The' omnipotent Physician's care
Shall by His grace recover me.
188.
[The truth of each prophetic word]
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken, &c.
—viii. 17.
The truth of each prophetic word
Fulfill'd in Christ we see;
Our sins from us to Him transferr'd
He carried on the tree:
Charged with the universal load
In that vindictive day,
The' atoning Lamb, the dying God
Bore all our sins away.
Fulfill'd in Christ we see;
Our sins from us to Him transferr'd
He carried on the tree:
Charged with the universal load
In that vindictive day,
The' atoning Lamb, the dying God
Bore all our sins away.
Jesus, the soul's and body's ills
Thou only canst remove,
Thy blood the wounded conscience heals,
Applied by sovereign love:
O might Thy wounds the balm impart
For which alone I sigh!
Heal the diseases of my heart,
And let my body die.
Thou only canst remove,
Thy blood the wounded conscience heals,
Applied by sovereign love:
O might Thy wounds the balm impart
For which alone I sigh!
Heal the diseases of my heart,
And let my body die.
189.
[Was ever charity like Thine!]
Was ever charity like Thine!Lord, when it doth in me remain,
With pure benevolence Divine
I claim the whole of human pain;
Join'd to the wretched for Thy sake,
My spirit answers groan for groan,
Their griefs on me by love I take,
And pity makes them all my own.
215
190.
[Away this soft, luxurious pride!]
The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air, &c.
—viii. 20.
Away this soft, luxurious pride!
A pilgrim rather let me rove,
Poor with the Son of Man abide,
And have no comfort, but His love!
191.
[Poorest of men, with comfort see]
Poorest of men, with comfort see
Thy God more indigent than thee;
He had not where to rest:
But if thou in His footsteps tread,
He bids thee lean thy weary head
On thy Redeemer's breast.
Thy God more indigent than thee;
He had not where to rest:
But if thou in His footsteps tread,
He bids thee lean thy weary head
On thy Redeemer's breast.
Ye rich who bear the Christian name,
Behold with self-abasing shame
Your God by heaven adored,
Ye who increased with goods appear,
O how unlike your Pattern here,
Your poor, afflicted Lord!
Behold with self-abasing shame
Your God by heaven adored,
Ye who increased with goods appear,
O how unlike your Pattern here,
Your poor, afflicted Lord!
He knew not where to lay His head:
But ye in delicacies bred,
In soft luxurious ease,
From earthly things expect content,
And fresh conveniences invent,
And live yourselves to please.
But ye in delicacies bred,
In soft luxurious ease,
From earthly things expect content,
And fresh conveniences invent,
And live yourselves to please.
All hail, Thou suffering Son of Man,
Who freely didst for me sustain
The depth of poverty,
I bless my self-denying Lord,
More destitute than beast or bird,
And come to follow Thee.
Who freely didst for me sustain
The depth of poverty,
I bless my self-denying Lord,
More destitute than beast or bird,
And come to follow Thee.
216
Detach'd from every good below
I meekly in Thy footsteps go,
Thy poor disciple I,
My Master's lot with joy receive,
Thy life of want and sorrow live,
Till on Thy cross I die.
I meekly in Thy footsteps go,
Thy poor disciple I,
My Master's lot with joy receive,
Thy life of want and sorrow live,
Till on Thy cross I die.
192.
[But I without delay]
Another of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, &c.
—viii. 21.
But I without delay
My Saviour's voice obey,
No pretended duty plead
Summon'd by the gospel word,
Let the dead entomb their dead,
Let the living serve the Lord.
193.
[Excused from every needless care]
Let the dead bury their dead.
—viii. 22.
Excused from every needless care,
My privilege I see,
Jesus, Thine only burden bear,
And live, to follow Thee.
194.
[Save, Lord, because unsaved by Thee]
Lord, save us: we perish.
—viii. 25.
Save, Lord, because unsaved by Thee
Unsaved I must for ever be:
Without Thine utmost grace undone
I venture on a God unknown,
And boldly now my soul I dart
Into the centre of Thine heart.
195.
[Throughout my sinful soul I know]
Throughout my sinful soul I know,
And every moment feel,
If Jesus let the sinner go,
I sink unchanged to hell;
If with this unregenerate heart
I out of life retire,
I must, O Lord, from Thee depart
Into eternal fire.
And every moment feel,
If Jesus let the sinner go,
I sink unchanged to hell;
If with this unregenerate heart
I out of life retire,
I must, O Lord, from Thee depart
Into eternal fire.
217
This strong propensity to ill
Thou only canst remove,
And conquer my rebellious will
By Thy almighty love:
My last resource, my total hope
Is in Thy power to save;
Thou canst redeem and lift me up,
While rushing to the grave.
Thou only canst remove,
And conquer my rebellious will
By Thy almighty love:
My last resource, my total hope
Is in Thy power to save;
Thou canst redeem and lift me up,
While rushing to the grave.
Thou, the great Power of God in man,
The whole salvation art;
To save my soul from endless pain,
Descend into my heart,
By entering in, my heart renew,
The' indwelling God of grace,
And fit me for the blissful view,
And show me all Thy face.
The whole salvation art;
To save my soul from endless pain,
Descend into my heart,
By entering in, my heart renew,
The' indwelling God of grace,
And fit me for the blissful view,
And show me all Thy face.
196.
[Saviour, Thou know'st us all]
Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
—viii. 26.
Saviour, Thou know'st us all
In our imperfect state:
Because our faith is small,
Our fear alas is great!
Yet shall the grain the mount remove,
If Thou our faith increase,
Our faith shall work by perfect love,
And fear for ever cease.
197.
[What kind of man is this]
What manner of man is this!
—viii. 27.
What kind of man is this,
Obey'd by wind and seas,
Whose powerful word controls
The tempest in our souls!
A Man, who built both earth and sky,
A Man, whose name is God Most High!
218
198.
[See the wretchedness of sin!]
There met Him two possessed with devils, &c.
—viii. 28.
See the wretchedness of sin!
See the fiend's tormenting rage!
Man admits the legion in,
Makes his heart a devilish cage;
Then by furious lusts possess'd,
Wounds himself, and cuts, and beats,
Spreads the hell within his breast,
Tears and tortures all he meets.
See the fiend's tormenting rage!
Man admits the legion in,
Makes his heart a devilish cage;
Then by furious lusts possess'd,
Wounds himself, and cuts, and beats,
Spreads the hell within his breast,
Tears and tortures all he meets.
In the dark abodes of death
Long he dwells, and hates the light,
Hastening to his place beneath,
Mansions of eternal night:
Never can his soul be freed,
Till to him the Saviour comes:
Then he leaves the doubly dead,
Then he issues from the tombs.
Long he dwells, and hates the light,
Hastening to his place beneath,
Mansions of eternal night:
Never can his soul be freed,
Till to him the Saviour comes:
Then he leaves the doubly dead,
Then he issues from the tombs.
199.
[What have devils to do with Thee?]
What have we to do with Thee?
—viii. 29.
What have devils to do with Thee?
Thou didst not their nature take;
Clothed with our humanity,
Us Thy hallow'd mansion make;
That Thy mind in me may dwell
Partner of my flesh Thou art;
All the adverse powers expel,
Fill Thyself my loving heart.
200.
[Sinners, in that grovelling herd]
There was a good way off from them, &c.
—viii. 30.
Sinners, in that grovelling herd
Mark your own resemblance true,
Receptacles fit prepared
For the whole infernal crew!
Swine, who bear the shape of men,
Slaves of every foul desire,
Plunged in beastly lusts unclean,
Wallowing in your sinful mire.
Mark your own resemblance true,
Receptacles fit prepared
For the whole infernal crew!
219
Slaves of every foul desire,
Plunged in beastly lusts unclean,
Wallowing in your sinful mire.
Lo, the fiends expect their prey,
Legion waits to enter in,
Waits to hurry you away
O'er the precipice of sin!
When the Judge pronounces, Go,
Rush ye down the fatal steep,
To that flaming lake ye go,
Hell's unfathomable deep!
Legion waits to enter in,
Waits to hurry you away
O'er the precipice of sin!
When the Judge pronounces, Go,
Rush ye down the fatal steep,
To that flaming lake ye go,
Hell's unfathomable deep!
201.
[Bound in chains of hidden night]
The devils besought Him, saying, . . . Suffer, &c.
—viii. 31.
Bound in chains of hidden night,
Stragglers from the' infernal pit,
Devils cannot wreak their spite,
Till our sovereign Lord permit:
Jesus covers us and ours,
Who on His great name depend,
Limits hell's malicious powers,
Saves His people to the end.
202.
[All are Gergesenes in heart]
They besought Him to depart out of their coasts.
—viii. 34.
All are Gergesenes in heart,
Who their time refuse to know,
All who with their Saviour part,
Rather than their sins forego;
Visited by Christ in vain,
Who their swine before Him choose,
Sensual lusts and worldly gain;
Christ, and heaven, and all they lose.
Who their time refuse to know,
All who with their Saviour part,
Rather than their sins forego;
Visited by Christ in vain,
Who their swine before Him choose,
Sensual lusts and worldly gain;
Christ, and heaven, and all they lose.
220
But His presence we implore,
Meeting Him in this our day:
Jesus, in Thy saving power
Condescend with us to stay:
Thou art all good things in one;
Never from our souls remove,
Fill us with Thy love alone,
Perfect, all-sufficient love.
Meeting Him in this our day:
Jesus, in Thy saving power
Condescend with us to stay:
Thou art all good things in one;
Never from our souls remove,
Fill us with Thy love alone,
Perfect, all-sufficient love.
| CHAPTER VIII. The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |