Wesley Corpus

Hymn IV Source: Hymns on God's Everlasting Love (1742) Author: Charles Wesley --- 'Twas thus the subtle foe Beguil'd my foolish heart, While weak in faith I did not know His false ensnaring art: I listen'd to a lie Which nature lik'd so well, Believ'd the soothing fiend that I Could never fall--and fell. The tempter now withdrew, And left me free from care, His own advantage well he knew; My soul was in his snare: Secure, and lull'd in ease, Sin vex'd me now no more, My sorrows end, my troubles cease, And all my pangs are o'er. Freed from the inward cross, Of all corruption full, A prophet of smooth things I was To my own wretched soul; Unchang'd and unrenew'd, Yet still I could not fall: Daub'd with untemper'd mortar stood The tottering, whited wall. My wound I slightly heal'd, And quieted my grief, With all the false assurance fill'd Of damning unbelief; One of the happy sect, Who scoff at mourners poor, That will not dream themselves elect, Till they have made it sure. How happier far was I, From grief and scruple free, Who could from all conviction fly To God's suppos'd decree! O what a settled peace, What comfort did I prove, And hug me in my sins, and bless His sweet electing love! What if I sinn'd sometimes In this imperfect state, It was not like the damning crimes Of a lost reprobate; Sin was not sin in me, God doth not blame his own, Doth not behold iniquity In any chosen one. What if I foully fell, I finally could not; His grace is irresistible, And back I must be brought: What if in sin I liv'd, The firm decree is past, I must be at my death receiv'd, I must be sav'd at last. How could my folly dare Satan and sin to slight? The judgments of my God were far Above out of my sight: His wrath was not for me, And therefore I defied Mine enemies, from danger free, In self-electing pride. Not all his threaten'd woes My stubborn heart could move; His threatnings only were for those Who never knew his love: He cannot take away His covenanted grace, Tho' I rebel, and disobey, And mock him to his face. He cannot me pass by, Or utterly reject, Or judge his people, or deny To save his own elect; He swore to bring me in To heaven; 'twere perjury For God to punish me for sin, For God to pass by me. 'Twas thus my wretched heart Abus'd his patient grace, Provok'd his mercy to depart, His justice to take place: Unconscious of its state, In death my soul abode, Nor groan'd beneath its guilty weight, Nor knew its fall from God. I could not be restor'd, By pard'ning grace renew'd, While trampling on his written word Self-confident I stood: He only saves the lost, Which I could never be, I never could be damn'd, but must Be sav'd by his decree.