Wesley Corpus

A Hymn for Midnight Source: Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739), Part I Author: Charles Wesley (attributed) --- 1 While midnight shades the earth o’erspread, And veil the bosom of the deep, Nature reclines her weary head, And care respires and sorrows sleep: My soul still aims at nobler rest, Aspiring to her Saviour’s breast. 6Title changed in 4th edn. (1743) to “A Midnight Hymn for One under the Law.” John Wesley corrects this title by hand in his personal copy of the 5th edn. (1756) to “A Midnight Hymn for One Convinced of Sin.” 2 Aid me, ye hov’ring spirits near, Angels and ministers of grace; Who ever, while you guard us here, Behold your heav’nly Father’s face! Gently my raptur’d soul convey To regions of eternal day. 3 Fain would I leave this earth below, Of pain and sin the dark abode; Where shadowy joy, or solid woe Allures, or tears me from my God: Doubtful and insecure of bliss, Since death alone confirms me his.7 4 Till then, to sorrow born I sigh, And gasp, and languish after home; Upward I send my streaming eye, Expecting till the Bridegroom come: Come quickly, Lord! Thy own receive, Now let me see thy face, and live. 5 Absent from thee, my exil’d soul Deep in a fleshly dungeon groans; Around me clouds of darkness roll, And lab’ring silence speaks my moans: Come quickly, Lord! Thy face display, And look my midnight into day. 6 Error8 and sin, and death are o’er If thou reverse the creature’s doom; Sad, Rachel weeps her loss no more, If thou the God, the Saviour come: 7John Wesley inserted a manuscript “NO” at the end of this line in his personal copy of the 5th edn. (1756). He changed the line to begin “Since faith alone ...” in Hymns (1780), #148. 8John Wesley changed “Error” to “Sorrow” in Hymns (1780), #148. Of thee possest, in thee we prove The light, the life, the heav’n of love.