 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
[FOR ONE CONVINCED OF UNBELIEF.]
IX. FOR ONE CONVINCED OF UNBELIEF.
Hymn 1.
And have I measured half my days,
And half my journey run,
Nor tasted the Redeemer's grace,
Nor yet my work begun?
And half my journey run,
Nor tasted the Redeemer's grace,
Nor yet my work begun?
The morning of my life is past,
The noon almost is o'er,
The night of death approaches fast,
When I can work no more.
The noon almost is o'er,
The night of death approaches fast,
When I can work no more.
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O what a length of wretched years
Have I lived out in vain!
How fruitless all my toils and tears!
I am not born again.
Have I lived out in vain!
How fruitless all my toils and tears!
I am not born again.
Evil and sad my days have been,
And all a painful void,
For still I am not saved from sin;
For still I know not God.
And all a painful void,
For still I am not saved from sin;
For still I know not God.
Darkness He makes His secret place,
Thick clouds surround His throne:
Nor can I yet behold His face,
Or find the God unknown.
Thick clouds surround His throne:
Nor can I yet behold His face,
Or find the God unknown.
A God that hides Himself He is,
Far off from mortal sight,
An inaccessible abyss
Of uncreated light.
Far off from mortal sight,
An inaccessible abyss
Of uncreated light.
Far off He is, yet always near,
He fills both earth and heaven,
But doth not to my soul appear,
My soul from Eden driven.
He fills both earth and heaven,
But doth not to my soul appear,
My soul from Eden driven.
O'er earth a banish'd man I rove,
But cannot feel Him nigh;
Where is the pardoning God of love,
Who stoop'd for me to die?
But cannot feel Him nigh;
Where is the pardoning God of love,
Who stoop'd for me to die?
I sought Him in the secret cell,
With unavailing care,
Long did I in the desert dwell,
Nor could I find Him there.
With unavailing care,
Long did I in the desert dwell,
Nor could I find Him there.
Still every means in vain I try,
I seek Him far and near,
Where'er I come, constrain'd to cry
My Saviour is not here.
I seek Him far and near,
Where'er I come, constrain'd to cry
My Saviour is not here.
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God is in this, in every place:
Yet O! how dark and void
To me! 'Tis one great wilderness,
This earth without my God!
Yet O! how dark and void
To me! 'Tis one great wilderness,
This earth without my God!
Empty of Him, who all things fills,
Till He His light impart!
Till He His glorious self reveals,
The veil is on my heart.
Till He His light impart!
Till He His glorious self reveals,
The veil is on my heart.
O Thou who seest and know'st my grief,
Thyself unseen unknown,
Pity my helpless unbelief,
And take away the stone.
Thyself unseen unknown,
Pity my helpless unbelief,
And take away the stone.
Regard me with a gracious eye,
The long sought blessing give;
And bid me, at the point to die,
Behold Thy face and live.
The long sought blessing give;
And bid me, at the point to die,
Behold Thy face and live.
A darker soul did never yet
Thy promised help implore:
O that I now my Lord might meet,
And never lose Him more!
Thy promised help implore:
O that I now my Lord might meet,
And never lose Him more!
Now, Jesus, now the Father's love
Shed in my heart abroad,
The middle wall of sin remove,
And let me into God.
Shed in my heart abroad,
The middle wall of sin remove,
And let me into God.
X. THE SAME.
Hymn 2.
[Author of faith, to Thee I cry]
Author of faith, to Thee I cry,
To Thee who wouldst not have me die,
But know the truth and live:
Open mine eyes to see Thy face,
Work in my heart the saving grace,
The life eternal give.
To Thee who wouldst not have me die,
But know the truth and live:
Open mine eyes to see Thy face,
Work in my heart the saving grace,
The life eternal give.
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Shut up in unbelief I groan,
And blindly serve a God unknown,
Till Thou the veil remove,
The gift unspeakable impart,
And write Thy name upon my heart,
And manifest Thy love.
And blindly serve a God unknown,
Till Thou the veil remove,
The gift unspeakable impart,
And write Thy name upon my heart,
And manifest Thy love.
I know the work is only Thine,
The gift of faith is all Divine;
But if on Thee we call,
Thou wouldst the benefit bestow,
And give us hearts to feel, and know
That Thou hast died for all.
The gift of faith is all Divine;
But if on Thee we call,
Thou wouldst the benefit bestow,
And give us hearts to feel, and know
That Thou hast died for all.
Thou bidd'st us knock, and enter in,
Come unto Thee, and rest from sin,
The blessing seek, and find;
Thou bidd'st us ask Thy grace, and have,
Thou canst, Thou wouldst, this moment save
Both me, and all mankind.
Come unto Thee, and rest from sin,
The blessing seek, and find;
Thou bidd'st us ask Thy grace, and have,
Thou canst, Thou wouldst, this moment save
Both me, and all mankind.
Be it according to Thy word,
Now let me find my pardoning Lord,
Let what I ask be given;
The bar of unbelief remove,
Open the door of faith and love,
And take me into heaven.
Now let me find my pardoning Lord,
Let what I ask be given;
The bar of unbelief remove,
Open the door of faith and love,
And take me into heaven.
XI. THE SAME.
Hymn 3.
[Out of the iron furnace, Lord]
Out of the iron furnace, Lord,
To Thee for help I cry,
I listen to Thy warning word,
And would from Egypt fly.
To Thee for help I cry,
I listen to Thy warning word,
And would from Egypt fly.
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Long have I bow'd to sin's command,
But now I would be free,
'Scape from the dire oppressor's land,
And live, O God, to Thee.
But now I would be free,
'Scape from the dire oppressor's land,
And live, O God, to Thee.
Hast Thou not surely seen my grief?
Hast Thou not heard me groan?
O hasten then to my relief,
In pitying love come down.
Hast Thou not heard me groan?
O hasten then to my relief,
In pitying love come down.
From Pharaoh, and the' Egyptian's power,
Redeem a wretched slave;
Thou canst redeem me in this hour,
Thou wilt the sinner save.
Redeem a wretched slave;
Thou canst redeem me in this hour,
Thou wilt the sinner save.
Now, Lord, relieve my misery,
Stretch out Thy mighty hand,
Drown all my sins in the Red Sea,
And bring me safe to land.
Stretch out Thy mighty hand,
Drown all my sins in the Red Sea,
And bring me safe to land.
Strength in the Lord my righteousness,
And pardon I receive,
And holy joy, and quiet peace,
The moment I believe.
And pardon I receive,
And holy joy, and quiet peace,
The moment I believe.
XII. THE SAME. AT WAKING.
Hymn 4.
Again my mournful sighs
Prevent the rising morn,
Again my wishful eyes
Look out for His return:
I weep, and languish for relief,
And long my Lord to find,
But wake alas! to all the grief,
And load I left behind.
Prevent the rising morn,
Again my wishful eyes
Look out for His return:
I weep, and languish for relief,
And long my Lord to find,
But wake alas! to all the grief,
And load I left behind.
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O depth of sad distress,
When shall my sorrows end!
When will the Prince of Peace
Declare Himself my friend?
Or must I thus for ever cry
In hopeless misery,
My God, my God, and Saviour, why
Hast Thou forsaken me!
When shall my sorrows end!
When will the Prince of Peace
Declare Himself my friend?
Or must I thus for ever cry
In hopeless misery,
My God, my God, and Saviour, why
Hast Thou forsaken me!
Is there no balm of love
Within Thy bosom found,
My anguish to remove,
And heal my spirit's wound?
Or wilt Thou, Lord, my cure disclaim,
Who need of healing have?
Because the sinners' chief I am,
Wilt Thou refuse to save?
Within Thy bosom found,
My anguish to remove,
And heal my spirit's wound?
Or wilt Thou, Lord, my cure disclaim,
Who need of healing have?
Because the sinners' chief I am,
Wilt Thou refuse to save?
Most helpless is my soul
Of all the sin-sick race,
Thou therefore make it whole,
In honour of Thy grace:
More honour will Thy grace receive
By freely pardoning me,
Than if ten thousand sinners live,
Converted all to Thee.
Of all the sin-sick race,
Thou therefore make it whole,
In honour of Thy grace:
More honour will Thy grace receive
By freely pardoning me,
Than if ten thousand sinners live,
Converted all to Thee.
Come then, and show Thine art,
Physician most Divine,
Bind up my broken heart,
Pour in Thy oil and wine:
Into my heart the Spirit pour
Of love, and joy, and peace,
To perfect health my soul restore,
To perfect holiness.
Physician most Divine,
Bind up my broken heart,
Pour in Thy oil and wine:
Into my heart the Spirit pour
Of love, and joy, and peace,
To perfect health my soul restore,
To perfect holiness.
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XIII. THE SAME.
Hymn 5.
[What tongue alas! can tell]
What tongue alas! can tell
The trouble and the grief,
The shame and fear I feel,
In hopeless unbelief!
In ceaseless groans
My soul bemoans
Its perfect misery:
Thou pardoning God,
Remove my load,
Or at Thy feet I die.
The trouble and the grief,
The shame and fear I feel,
In hopeless unbelief!
In ceaseless groans
My soul bemoans
Its perfect misery:
Thou pardoning God,
Remove my load,
Or at Thy feet I die.
Why should I longer live
In unavailing pain?
Thy will is not to grieve
The helpless sons of men:
Send from above
Thy saving love,
And take me up on high:
Thou pardoning God,
Remove my load,
Or at Thy feet I die.
In unavailing pain?
Thy will is not to grieve
The helpless sons of men:
Send from above
Thy saving love,
And take me up on high:
Thou pardoning God,
Remove my load,
Or at Thy feet I die.
What shall a sinner say
Thy pity to incline?
In Jesu's name I pray
Forgive this soul of mine,
For Jesus' sake
Compassion take,
And freely justify;
Thou pardoning God,
Remove my load,
Or at Thy feet I die.
Thy pity to incline?
In Jesu's name I pray
Forgive this soul of mine,
For Jesus' sake
Compassion take,
And freely justify;
Thou pardoning God,
Remove my load,
Or at Thy feet I die.
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Father of mercies hear,
In answer to my moan,
Thy helpless mourner cheer,
And give me to Thy Son:
Till Thou restore
My peace and power,
This shall be all my cry,
Thou pardoning God,
Remove my load,
Or at Thy feet I die.
In answer to my moan,
Thy helpless mourner cheer,
And give me to Thy Son:
Till Thou restore
My peace and power,
This shall be all my cry,
Thou pardoning God,
Remove my load,
Or at Thy feet I die.
XIV. THE SAME.
Hymn 6.
[How long, Thou hidden God unknown]
How long, Thou hidden God unknown,
Wilt Thou Thy mournful creature see,
Distrest, and dark; yet wandering on,
And blindly feeling after Thee,
Thee, whom I cannot yet attain,
Thee, whom I seem to seek in vain?
Wilt Thou Thy mournful creature see,
Distrest, and dark; yet wandering on,
And blindly feeling after Thee,
Thee, whom I cannot yet attain,
Thee, whom I seem to seek in vain?
An outcast from Thy blissful face,
Stranger to peace, and faith, and power,
I ask, nor have Thy pardoning grace,
I knock at faith's unopen'd door,
Nor can I yet admitted be,
But still the door is shut to me.
Stranger to peace, and faith, and power,
I ask, nor have Thy pardoning grace,
I knock at faith's unopen'd door,
Nor can I yet admitted be,
But still the door is shut to me.
What is it makes my Saviour stay,
So strong, and ready to redeem?
Can Jesus will the' unkind delay,
Or cast me out who come to Him,
Or not the secret bar remove,
If still I stop His pardoning love?
So strong, and ready to redeem?
Can Jesus will the' unkind delay,
Or cast me out who come to Him,
Or not the secret bar remove,
If still I stop His pardoning love?
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He will, I dare believe, He will
His way into my heart prepare:
But let me wait Thy leisure still,
My passionate complaints forbear,
And give my rash impatience o'er,
And murmur for relief no more.
His way into my heart prepare:
But let me wait Thy leisure still,
My passionate complaints forbear,
And give my rash impatience o'er,
And murmur for relief no more.
When my relief shall most display
Thy glory in Thy creature's good,
Then, Saviour, take the veil away,
Sprinkle me with the' atoning blood,
The power of living faith impart,
And breathe Thy love into my heart.
Thy glory in Thy creature's good,
Then, Saviour, take the veil away,
Sprinkle me with the' atoning blood,
The power of living faith impart,
And breathe Thy love into my heart.
XV. THE SAME.
Hymn 7.
[Jesu, the promised strength supply]
Jesu, the promised strength supply,
Support my feeble, fainting mind,
Nor let me in the winter fly,
But seek, till I acceptance find,
But ask, till I am saved from sin,
And knock, till mercy takes me in.
Support my feeble, fainting mind,
Nor let me in the winter fly,
But seek, till I acceptance find,
But ask, till I am saved from sin,
And knock, till mercy takes me in.
Sufficient is the season past,
That I have grieved Thy gentle Dove,
Flew out in unbelieving haste,
And clamour'd for Thy pardoning love,
And raved and murmur'd to be free,
As God were bound to wait on me.
That I have grieved Thy gentle Dove,
Flew out in unbelieving haste,
And clamour'd for Thy pardoning love,
And raved and murmur'd to be free,
As God were bound to wait on me.
In base mistrust of finding God,
No more Thy gospel I deny,
Sit down content beneath my load,
Or with the world of liars cry,
“We need not know our sins forgiven,
Or feel His love, the pledge of heaven.”
No more Thy gospel I deny,
Sit down content beneath my load,
Or with the world of liars cry,
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Or feel His love, the pledge of heaven.”
I must, I shall be born again,
And perfect holiness below;
For this I wait in patient pain,
Nor is it mine the times to know,
But Thou hast died to ransom me,
And all my soul is cast on Thee.
And perfect holiness below;
For this I wait in patient pain,
Nor is it mine the times to know,
But Thou hast died to ransom me,
And all my soul is cast on Thee.
XVI. THE SAME.
Hymn 8.
[O Thou hidden God unknown]
O Thou hidden God unknown,
Hear Thy fallen creature's cry,
Now recall Thy banished one,
One who would on Thee rely:
But till Thou Thy Spirit give,
Lord, I never can believe.
Hear Thy fallen creature's cry,
Now recall Thy banished one,
One who would on Thee rely:
But till Thou Thy Spirit give,
Lord, I never can believe.
Dead in sin too long I was,
Blindest when I said “I see;”
Thou hast magnified Thy grace,
Show'd my want of faith and Thee,
Shone into my nature's night,
Bade me wait to see Thy light.
Blindest when I said “I see;”
Thou hast magnified Thy grace,
Show'd my want of faith and Thee,
Shone into my nature's night,
Bade me wait to see Thy light.
Stript of all my boasted power
Now myself I cannot save,
Cannot hasten the glad hour;
Only this from Thee I have,
Sin and unbelief to feel,
Both, alas! invincible.
Now myself I cannot save,
Cannot hasten the glad hour;
Only this from Thee I have,
Sin and unbelief to feel,
Both, alas! invincible.
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Conscious of my unbelief,
Sweetly now for Thee I mourn,
Taste the blessedness of grief,
To my mighty fortress turn,
Prisoner I of gospel hope
For Thyself to Thee look up.
Sweetly now for Thee I mourn,
Taste the blessedness of grief,
To my mighty fortress turn,
Prisoner I of gospel hope
For Thyself to Thee look up.
Token of Thy richest grace
I my poverty receive,
Sure Thou wilt unveil Thy face,
Sure Thou wilt the blessing give,
Faith that seals my sins forgiven,
Faith the earnest of my heaven.
I my poverty receive,
Sure Thou wilt unveil Thy face,
Sure Thou wilt the blessing give,
Faith that seals my sins forgiven,
Faith the earnest of my heaven.
XVII. THE SAME.
Hymn 9.
[O Thou of whom I oft have heard]
O Thou of whom I oft have heard,
Heard with the hearing of the ear,
But never truly loved, or fear'd,
But never found Thee present here,
Come to my poor, my faithless heart,
And kindly tell me who Thou art.
Heard with the hearing of the ear,
But never truly loved, or fear'd,
But never found Thee present here,
Come to my poor, my faithless heart,
And kindly tell me who Thou art.
A spirit dark, and damn'd I am,
Sorrow and sin and I are one,
Weigh'd down with grief, and guilt and shame,
Out of the deep I cry and groan,
Nor know I where relief to find:
Show me, Thou Saviour of mankind.
Sorrow and sin and I are one,
Weigh'd down with grief, and guilt and shame,
Out of the deep I cry and groan,
Nor know I where relief to find:
Show me, Thou Saviour of mankind.
No smallest motion can I make,
Toward heaven, and happiness, and Thee;
But save me for Thy mercy's sake,
Thy mercy most divinely free
Be on this harden'd rebel show'd,
In honour of the dying God.
Toward heaven, and happiness, and Thee;
But save me for Thy mercy's sake,
Thy mercy most divinely free
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In honour of the dying God.
The cause is all in Thee alone,
It lies within Thy tender breast;
To hell in anger send me down,
Or give my labouring spirit rest,
Redeem me from the' infernal grave,
And show forth all Thy power to save.
It lies within Thy tender breast;
To hell in anger send me down,
Or give my labouring spirit rest,
Redeem me from the' infernal grave,
And show forth all Thy power to save.
Look not on me, a beast, a fiend,
All wrath, all passion, and all pride;
But see Thyself, the sinner's Friend,
The Son of Man, the Crucified,
The God that left His throne above,
The bleeding Prince of peace, and love.
All wrath, all passion, and all pride;
But see Thyself, the sinner's Friend,
The Son of Man, the Crucified,
The God that left His throne above,
The bleeding Prince of peace, and love.
Why did Thy love submit to die,
If not to save apostate man!
Ah! let Thy bowels answer, Why
Made capable of mortal pain,
Did God His precious life resign,
If not from death to ransom mine!
If not to save apostate man!
Ah! let Thy bowels answer, Why
Made capable of mortal pain,
Did God His precious life resign,
If not from death to ransom mine!
Thy only dying love I plead,
Stronger than death Thy love to me:
If Thou couldst suffer in my stead,
Thou canst from sin and misery
My poor expiring soul lift up,
And bid the chief of sinners hope.
Stronger than death Thy love to me:
If Thou couldst suffer in my stead,
Thou canst from sin and misery
My poor expiring soul lift up,
And bid the chief of sinners hope.
Even now Thou bidd'st my fears depart,
I hope to know my sins forgiven,
I hope to find Thee in my heart,
And taste that antepast of heaven,
I hope to feel Thy blood applied,
Since Thou for me, for me hast died.
I hope to know my sins forgiven,
I hope to find Thee in my heart,
And taste that antepast of heaven,
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Since Thou for me, for me hast died.
XVIII. THE SAME.
Hymn 10.
[Peace, doubting heart! hath God begun]
Peace, doubting heart! hath God begun,
And brought me to the birth in vain?
Will Jesus leave His work undone,
Or slight His sin-sick creature's pain,
My want of faith so kindly show,
And not the precious gift bestow?
And brought me to the birth in vain?
Will Jesus leave His work undone,
Or slight His sin-sick creature's pain,
My want of faith so kindly show,
And not the precious gift bestow?
Away my fond and needless fears,
That I shall seek, and never find,
Shall lose, my unavailing tears
O'erlook'd of God, and left behind,
Shall sue for grace, unanswer'd I,
And groan, till I in Egypt die!
That I shall seek, and never find,
Shall lose, my unavailing tears
O'erlook'd of God, and left behind,
Shall sue for grace, unanswer'd I,
And groan, till I in Egypt die!
Who ever ask'd for help in vain,
Or weary sunk beneath his load,
Or knock'd, but could not entrance gain?
Or hopeless died in seeking God,
Nor could at last acceptance meet,
But perish'd at his Saviour's feet?
Or weary sunk beneath his load,
Or knock'd, but could not entrance gain?
Or hopeless died in seeking God,
Nor could at last acceptance meet,
But perish'd at his Saviour's feet?
His truth and love are on my side,
And stand engaged to make me blest;
I shall be freely justified,
I shall obtain the promised rest,
With eyes of faith my Jesus see,
And feel that He hath died for me.
And stand engaged to make me blest;
I shall be freely justified,
I shall obtain the promised rest,
With eyes of faith my Jesus see,
And feel that He hath died for me.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |