Wesley Corpus

John 15:18, 19 Source: Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739), Part I Author: Charles Wesley (attributed) --- 1 Where has my slumb’ring spirit been, So late emerging into light? So imperceptible, within, The weight of this Egyptian night! 2 Where have they hid the WORLD so long, So late presented to my view? Wretch! Tho’ myself increas’d the throng, Myself a part I never knew. 3 Secure beneath its shade I sat, To me were all its favours shown: I could not taste its scorn or hate; Alas, it ever lov’d its own! 2Titled by James 4:4 (“Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God”) in the 4th edn. (1743) and 5th edn. (1756). 4 Jesus, if half discerning now, From thee I gain this glimm’ring light, Retouch my eyes, anoint them thou, And grant me to receive my sight. 5 O may I of thy grace obtain The world with other eyes to see: Its judgments false, its pleasures vain, Its friendship enmity with thee. 6 Delusive world, thy hour is past, The folly of thy wisdom shew! It cannot now retard my haste, I leave thee for the holy few. 7 No! Thou blind leader of the blind, I bow my neck to thee no more; I cast thy glories all behind, And slight thy smiles, and dare thy pow’r. 8 Excluded from my Saviour’s pray’r, Stain’d, yet not hallow’d, with his blood, Shalt thou my fond affection share, Shalt thou divide my heart with God? 9 No! Tho’ it rouze thy utmost rage, Eternal enmity I vow: Tho’ hell with thine its pow’rs engage, Prepar’d I meet your onset now. 10 11 Load me with scorn, reproach and shame; My patient Master’s portion give; As evil still cast out my name, Nor suffer such a wretch to live. Set to thy seal that I am his; Vile as my Lord I long to be: My hope, my crown, my glory this, Dying to conquer sin and thee!