Wesley Corpus

To the Revd. Mr. Whitefield Source: Hymns and Sacred Poems (1740), Part I Author: Charles Wesley (attributed) --- Hither my spotted soul be brought, And every idle word, And every work, and every thought That hath not pleased my Lord. Hither my actions righteous deem’d By man, and counted good, As filthy rags by God esteem’d, Till sprinkled with thy blood. No! My best actions cannot save, But thou must purge even them: And (for in thee I now believe) My worst cannot condemn. To thee then, O vouchsafe me power For pardon still to flee, And every day, and every hour To wash myself in thee. To the Revd. Mr. Whitefield.13 Brother in Christ, and well belov’d, Attend, and add thy pray’r to mine, As Aaron call’d, yet14 inly mov’d, To minister in things divine! 13First published in George Whitefield’s Continuation of the Reverend Mr. Whitefield’s Journal, from His Arrival at London to His Departure from thence on his Way to Georgia (London: James Hutton, 1739), iii-iv. 14“Yet” changed to “and” in 4th edn. (1743) and following. Faithful, and often own’d of God, Vessel of grace, by Jesus us’d; Stir up the gift on thee bestow’d, The gift thro’ hallow’d hands transfus’d. Fully thy heavenly mission prove, And make thy own election sure; Rooted in faith, and hope, and love, Active to work, and firm t’ endure. Scorn to contend with flesh and blood, And trample on so mean a foe; By stronger fiends in vain withstood, Dauntless to nobler conquests go. Go where the darkest tempest low’rs, Thy foes triumphant wrestler foil; Thrones, principalities, and powers, Engage, o’ercome, and take the spoil. The weapons of thy warfare take, With truth and meekness arm’d ride on; Mighty, through God, hell’s kingdom shake, Satan’s strong holds, through God, pull down. Humble each vain aspiring boast, Intensely for God’s glory burn; Strongly declare the sinner lost, SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS o’erturn, o’erturn.