Wesley Corpus

[Psalm 143:6.] “My soul gaspeth for thee, as a thirsty land” Source: Hymns and Sacred Poems (1740), Part I Author: Charles Wesley (attributed) --- Ah Lord! Wouldst thou within me live, No longer then should I complain, Nor sighing wish, nor weeping grieve For Christ my life, or death my gain. From grief and sin I then should cease; My loosen’d tongue should then declare Comfort, and love, and joy, and peace, Fill all the soul when Christ is there! [Psalm cxliii. 6 (BCP).] “My soul gaspeth for thee, as a thirsty land.” Lord, how long, how long shall I Lift my weary eyes in pain? Seek, but never find thee nigh, Ask thy love, but ask in vain, Crush’d beneath my nature’s load, Darkly feeling after God! O disclose thy lovely face, Quicken all my drooping powers! Gasps my fainting soul for grace, As a thirsty land for showers: Haste, my Lord, no longer stay, Come, my Jesus, come away! Well thou know’st I cannot rest, Till I fully rest in thee, Till I am of thee possest, Till from sin and self set free, All the life of faith I prove, All the joy and heaven of love. See my sad inconstant state, Give me, Lord, this root within: Trembling for thy love I wait, Still relapsing into sin, Falling, till thy love I feel, Ever sinking into hell. With me O continue, Lord, Keep me, or from thee I fly: Strength and comfort from thy word Imperceptibly supply; Hold me till I apprehend, Make me faithful to the end.