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The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Wesley, Charles (1707-1788)

expand sectionI. 
VOLUME I.
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VOLUME II.
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VOLUME III.
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VOLUME IV.
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VOLUME V.
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VOLUME VI.
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HYMNS FOR A PROTESTANT
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HYMNS FOR New-Year's-Day.
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HYMNS Occasioned by the EARTHQUAKE, March 8, 1750.
  
AN EPISTLE To the Reverend Mr. JOHN WESLEY,
  
AN EPISTLE TO THE REVEREND MR. GEORGE WHITEFIELD
  
CATHOLIC LOVE.
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HYMNS FOR THE YEAR 1756, PARTICULARLY FOR THE Fast-Day, FEBRUARY 6.
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Hymns for the Preachers among the Methodists (so called).
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HYMNS OF INTERCESSION FOR All MANKIND.
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HYMNS ON The Expected Invasion, 1759, AND FOR The Thanksgiving Day, November 20, 1759.
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FUNERAL HYMNS.
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FUNERAL HYMNS. [SECOND SERIES.]
 I. 
HYMN I.
 II. 
HYMN II.
 III. 
HYMN III.
 IV. 
HYMN IV. FOR A BACKSLIDER (MR. J. H.) NEAR DEATH.
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ON THE DEATH OF MR. JOHN HUTCHINSON, JULY 23, 1754.
 VII. 
HYMN VII. ON THE DEATH OF ---.
 VIII. 
HYMN VIII. ON THE DEATH OF MRS. MERCY THORNTON, MARCH 1, 1757.
 IX. 
HYMN IX. ON THE DEATH OF MRS. MARY STOTESBURY, MARCH 17, 1759.
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ON THE DEATH OF W. H---LL, AGED FOURTEEN.
 XII. 
HYMN XII. ON THE DEATH OF MISS M. L---N.
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ON THE DEATH OF MRS. GRACE BOWEN, JANUARY 2, 1755.
 XV. 
HYMN XV. ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. MR. JOHN MERITON, AUGUST 10, 1753.
 XVI. 
HYMN XVI. ON THE DEATH OF MR. LAMPE.
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ON THE DEATH OF MRS. ANNE WIGGINTON, APRIL 24, 1757.
 XIX. 
HYMN XIX. A PRAYER FOR A DYING CHILD.
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ON THE DEATH OF A CHILD.
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ON THE DEATH OF MRS. L---, JULY 6, 1756.
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ON THE DEATH OF MRS. MARY NAYLOR, MARCH 21, 1757.
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ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. MR. JAMES HERVEY, DECEMBER 25, 1758.
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ON THE DEATH OF MR. THOMAS WALSH, APRIL 8, 1759, AGED TWENTY-EIGHT.
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FUNERAL HYMNS. THIRD SERIES. MOST OF WHICH WERE NOT PUBLISHED DURING THE AUTHOR'S LIFE.
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HYMNS FOR CHILDREN.
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VOLUME VII.
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VOLUME VIII.
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VOLUME IX.
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VOLUME X.
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VOLUME XI.
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VOLUME XII.
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VOLUME XIII.

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HYMN VI.

[Jesu, my Hope, my Help, my Power]

Jesu, my Hope, my Help, my Power,
On Thee I ever call;
O save me from temptation's hour,
Or into hell I fall.
If by Thy light I now perceive
My utter helplessness,
O do not for one moment leave
The sinner in distress.
60

I cannot trust my treacherous heart,
I shall myself betray,
I must be lost if Thou depart,
A final castaway.
I feel within me, unsubdued,
A cursed, carnal will;
It hates and starts from all that's good,
And cleaves to all that's ill.
My soul could yield to every vice
And passion in excess;
My soul to all the height could rise
Of daring wickedness.
The blackest crime upon record
I freely could commit,
The sins by nature most abhorr'd
My nature could repeat.
I could the devil's law receive,
Unless restrain'd by Thee;
I could (good God!) I could believe
The Horrible Decree.
I could believe that God is hate,—
The God of love and grace
Did damn, pass by, and reprobate
The most of human race.
Farther than this I cannot go.
Till Tophet take me in:
But O, forbid that I should know
This mystery of sin!
Jesu, to Thee for help I fly;
Support my soul, and guide:
Keep as the apple of an eye,
Under Thy shadow hide.
61

Withhold my foot from every snare,
From every sin defend;
Throughout the way my spirit bear,
And bring me to the end.
Wisdom and strength to Thee belong,
Folly and sin are mine;
But out of weakness make me strong,
But in my darkness shine.
My strength will I ascribe to Thee,
My Wisdom from above;
And praise to all eternity
Thine all-redeeming love.
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