Wesley Corpus

Hymn II Source: Hymns on God's Everlasting Love (1742) Author: Charles Wesley --- Jesus, my Jesus, hear, And bid the sinner hope, Guilty and trembling I draw near, But dare not give thee up: For this alone I live, A poor backslider I, Thy forfeit mercy to retrieve, Or at thy feet to die. O 'tis a bitter thing From Jesus to depart, This is, O death, thy only sting, I feel it in my heart; I bear my guilty load, My foolishness I mourn, I have forsook the living God; O how shall I return! O Jesu! Full of grace, To thee I make my moan, Let me again behold thy face, Call home thy banish'd one, Again my pardon seal, Again my soul restore, And freely my backslidings heal, And bid me sin no more. Wilt thou not bid me rise? Speak; and my soul shall live; Forgive, my gasping spirit cries, Abundantly forgive: Where sin hath most increas'd, Let grace much more abound, Let me from all my bonds releas'd Again in thee be found. What shall I say to move The pity of my Lord? Dost thou not still delight to love Me of thine own accord? For thine own mercy's sake Relieve my wretchedness, And O! My pardon give me back, And give me back my peace. Again thy love reveal, Restore that inward heaven, O grant me once again to feel Thro' faith my sins forgiven; Thy utmost mercy shew, Say to my drooping soul, In peace, and full assurance go, Thy faith hath made thee whole.