Wesley Corpus

Hymn XVI: God Will Have All Men to Be Saved Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:4 Source: Hymns on God's Everlasting Love (1742) Author: Charles Wesley --- Ah! Whither should I go Burthen'd, and sick, and faint? To whom should I my trouble shew, Or pour out my complaint? The Saviour bids me come; Ah! Why do I delay! He calls the weary sinner home, And yet from him I stay. What is it keeps me back, From which I cannot part, Which will not let my Saviour take Possession of my heart? Some cursed thing unknown Must surely lurk within, Some idol which I will not own, Some secret bosom sin. Jesu, the hindrance shew, Which I have fear'd to see, Yet let me now consent to know What keeps me out of thee. Searcher of hearts, in mine Thy trying power display, Into its darkest corners shine, And take the veil away. I would not still deceive My soul, and blind my sight, I would not still thy Spirit grieve By shutting out thy light. Late in thy light I see, And thank thee for the grace, Thou wouldst have all men come to thee, Saviour of human race. Not one of all that fell But may thy favour find, With thee the friend of sinners dwell, The friend of human kind. Thee every soul may see, Thy saving grace may prove, Confirm the MERCIFUL DECREE Of universal love. Thou oft hast call'd in vain, Thou oft hast come unsought, Would'st gather every soul of man, But we, alas! Would not. Thou offerest all to fill For thy own mercy's sake, "Come, freely come, whoever will, And living water take." Thou standest at the door, And wilt not thence depart, But entrance ever dost implore Into the sinner's heart. Thy knock if any hear, And open to his guest, Thou enterest in that soul to chear, And art thyself its feast. The vilest need not doubt, Thy grace for all is free, Thou wilt in no wise cast him out, Who feebly comes to thee. Thou dost of us complain, "To me ye will not come, That ye eternal life may gain, And then be taken home." That all may turn and live, Thou by thy life hast sworn, "Why will ye die, when I would give Pardon to all that turn." Lord, I believe at last Thy promise and thy vow, Thy word and solemn oath are past, And thou wilt save me now. At last I yield, I yield, Renounce my faithless fear, By all thy attributes compell'd, I give up my despair. O! How have I belied My God, and wildly rav'd? Thou wilt not save I falsely cried, When I would not be sav'd. Thy goodness I accus'd, (Pardon the blasphemy) Of life thy proffer I refus'd, And charg'd my death on thee. How long have I, how long Of God a devil made? Forgive me, gracious Lord, the wrong; I knew not what I said. I now believe, in thee Compassion reigns alone; According to my faith to me O let it, Lord, be done. In me is all the bar Which thou would'st fain remove; Remove it, and I shall declare That God is only love. Thy mercy then takes place, We find that love thou art, When we no more resist thy grace, And harden not our heart. Answer, if this be true, Thy counsel now fulfil, On me for good some token shew, O! Work in me to will. Lo! In thy hand I lay, And wait thy will to prove: My Potter, stamp on me thy clay, Thy only stamp of love. Be this my whole desire, (I know that it is thine:) Then kindle in my soul a fire, Which shall for ever shine. Thy gracious readiness To save mankind assert, Thine image, love, thy name impress, Thy nature on my heart. Bowels of mercy, hear, Into my soul come down, Let it throughout my life appear That I have Christ put on. O! Plant in me thy mind, O! Fix in me thy home, So shall I cry to all mankind, Come to the waters, come. Jesus is full of grace, To all, his bowels move! Behold in me, ye fallen race, That God is only love!