The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Why, (in the dust I ask,) O why,
Good God, hast Thou my soul forsook?
Abandon'd me in sin to die,
Blotted my name out of Thy book,
Cast out my unavailing prayer,
And left me in the fowler's snare?

Did I not oft beseech Thee, Lord,
To take me from this evil day,
To slay me with Thy mercy's sword,
To sweep me far from earth away,
And hide me in the quiet tomb,
Where sin could never, never come!

Yet O! my enemy hath found,
And forced his slave again to yield;
My spirit feels the mortal wound,
And all my hopes of death are kill'd;
In sad despair of rest I grieve,
And still I sin, and still I live.

Why did I not resign my breath,
Before this last, this foul offence?
Sin hath defrauded me of death,
While God delay'd to snatch me hence;
O God of love, the doubt explain,
Why have I lived to sin again?

In judgment dost Thou here reprieve,
That I may all my sin fill up?
A monument of Thy justice live?—
Why am I then constrain'd to hope,
Why do I still for mercy groan,
And trembles still my heart of stone?

401

O this inexplicable doubt!
My prayer was heard, and yet I fell:
Thy judgments are past finding out,
Thy ways are all unsearchable!
This only do I know, 'tis mine
To sin; to pardon sin is Thine.

Assist me then to come once more,
And take the freely proffer'd grace,
Me to Thy favour, Lord, restore,
Me with Thine arms of love embrace,
And hear me in Thy bosom breathe
My passionate desires of death.

Still do I urge my sole request,
In horror of offending Thee,
Snatch me to my eternal rest,
Before the evil day I see,
Save from the more than mortal pain,
Nor let me live to sin again.

Wouldst Thou not rather have me fly
From earth, than stay to lose Thy love?
Die, and not sin, than sin and die?
O take me to Thy rest above,
Now, Lord, my struggling soul set free,
Renew, and bid me die in Thee.

University of Virginia Library

LXI. THE SAME.

Hymn 11.

[Why, (in the dust I ask,) O why]