Wesley Corpus

Galatians 3:22 Source: Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739), Part I Author: Charles Wesley (attributed) --- “The scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” 1 Jesu, the sinner’s friend, to thee Lost and undone for aid I flee, Weary of earth, myself, and sin-- Open thine arms, and take me in. 2 Pity and heal my sin-sick soul, ’Tis thou alone canst make me whole, Fal’n, till in me thine image shine, And cursed I am till thou art mine. 3 Hear, Jesu, hear my helpless cry, O save a wretch condemn’d to die! The sentence in myself I feel, And all my nature teems with hell. 4 When shall concupiscence and pride No more my tortur’d heart divide! When shall this agony be o’er, And the old Adam rage no more! 5 Awake, the woman’s conqu’ring seed, Awake, and bruise the serpent’s head, Tread down thy foes, with power controul The beast and devil in my soul. 6 The mansion for thyself prepare, Dispose my heart by entring there! ’Tis this alone can make me clean, ’Tis this alone can cast out sin. 7 Long have I vainly hop’d and strove To force my hardness into love, To give thee all thy laws require; And labour’d in the purging fire. 8 A thousand specious arts essay’d, Call’d the deep Mystic to my aid: His boasted skill the brute refin’d, But left the subtler fiend behind. 9 Frail, dark, impure, I still remain, Nor hope to break my nature’s chain: The fond self-emptying scheme is past, And lo! Constrain’d I yield at last. 10 11 12 13 [Page] 94 At last I own it cannot be That I should fit myself for thee: Here then to thee, I all resign, Thine is the work, and only thine. No more to lift my eyes I dare Abandon’d to a just despair; I have my punishment in view. I feel a thousand hells my due. What shall I say thy grace to move? Lord I am sin--but thou art love: I give up every plea beside “Lord I am damn’d--but thou hast died!” While groaning at thy feet I fall Spurn me away, refuse my call, If love permit, contract thy brow, And, if thou canst, destroy me now!