The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Son of God, for Thee we languish,
Still Thy absence we bemoan,
Overwhelm'd with grief and anguish,
Poor, forsaken, and alone:
Thou art to Thy heaven departed;
See us thence with pity see,
Comfortless and broken-hearted,
Drooping, dead for want of Thee.

Once Thy blissful love we tasted,
Cheer'd by Thee with living bread;
O how short a time it lasted,
O how soon the joy is fled!
Where is now our boasted Saviour,
Where our rapture of delight!
Thou hast, Lord, withdrawn Thy favour,
Thou art vanish'd from our sight.

Yet Thou hast the cause unfolded,
Could we but the truth receive,
Thou in humbling love hast told it,
Needful 'tis for us to grieve:
Stript of that excessive pleasure,
Fondly we the loss deplore,
Till we find again our Treasure,
Find, and never lose Thee more.

183

That we may Thyself inherit,
Us Thou dost awhile forsake,
That we may receive Thy Spirit,
Thou hast took His comforts back:
After a short night of mourning
We again shall see Thy face,
Triumph in Thy full returning,
Glory in Thy perfect grace.

For Thy transient outward presence
We Thine endless love shall feel,
Seated in our inmost essence
Thou shalt by Thy Spirit dwell:
Jesus come! Thyself the Giver
Let us for the Gift receive,
Let us live in God for ever,
God in us for ever live!

University of Virginia Library

HYMN XV. John xvi. 6, 7.