The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Thou great mysterious God unknown,
Whose love hath gently led me on
Even from my infant days,
Mine inmost soul expose to view,
And tell me if I ever knew
Thy justifying grace.

236

If I have only known Thy fear,
And follow'd with an heart sincere,
Thy drawings from above,
Now, now the farther grace bestow,
And let my sprinkled conscience know
Thy sweet forgiving love.

Short of Thy love I would not stop,
A stranger to the gospel hope,
The sense of sin forgiven;
I would not, Lord, my soul deceive,
Without Thy inward Witness live,
That antepast of heaven.

If now the Witness were in me,
Would He not testify of Thee
In Jesus reconciled?
And should I not with faith draw nigh,
And boldly Abba Father cry,
I know myself Thy child?

Ah never let Thy servant rest,
Till of my part in Christ possess'd,
I on Thy mercy feed,
Unworthy of the crumbs that fall,
Yet raised by Him who died for all,
To eat the children's bread.

O may I cast my rags aside,
My filthy rags of virtuous pride,
And for acceptance groan;
My works of righteousness disclaim,
With all I have, or can, or am,
And trust in grace alone.

237

Whate'er obstructs Thy pardoning love,
Or sin, or righteousness remove,
Thy glory to display;
Mine heart of unbelief convince,
And now absolve me from my sins,
And take them all away.

Father, in me reveal Thy Son,
And to my inmost soul make known
How merciful Thou art:
The secret of Thy love reveal,
And by Thine hallowing Spirit dwell
For ever in my heart.

University of Virginia Library

HYMN XIX.

[Thou great mysterious God unknown]