Wesley Corpus

A Prayer against the Power of Sin Source: Hymns and Sacred Poems (1740), Part I Author: Charles Wesley (attributed) --- My life, my portion thou, Thou all-sufficient art, My hope, my heavenly treasure now, Enter, and keep my heart. Rather than let it burn For earth, O quench its heat, Then, when it would to earth return, O let it cease to beat. Snatch me from ill to come, When I from thee would fly, O take my wand’ring spirit home, And grant me then to die! A Prayer against the Power of Sin. O that thou would’st the heavens rent, In majesty come down! Stretch out thine arm omnipotent, And seize me for thine own. Descend, and let thy lightning burn The stubble of thy foe, My sins o’erturn, o’erturn, o’erturn, And let the mountains flow. Thou my impetuous spirit guide, And curb my headstrong will. Thou only canst drive back the tide, And bid the sun stand still. What tho’ I cannot break my chain, Or e’er throw off my load, The things impossible with men, Are possible to God. Is any thing too hard for thee, Almighty Lord of all, Whose threating looks dry up the sea, And make the mountains fall? Who, who shall in thy presence stand, And match omnipotence, Ungrasp the hold of thy right-hand, Or pluck the sinner thence? Sworn to destroy let earth assail, Nearer to save thou art, Stronger than all the powers of hell, And greater than my heart. Lo! To the hills I lift mine eye, Thy promis’d aid I claim, Father of mercies, glorify Thyself in Jesu’s name. Salvation in that name is found, Balm of my grief, and care, A med’cine for my every wound, All, all I want is there. Jesu! Redeemer, Saviour, Lord, The weary sinner’s friend, Come to my help pronounce the word, And bid my troubles end. Deliverance to my soul proclaim And life and liberty, Shed forth the virtue of thy name, And Jesus prove to me. Faith to be heal’d thou know’st I have, For thou that faith hast given: Thou canst, thou canst the sinner save, And make me meet for heaven. Thou canst o’ercome this heart of mine, Thou wilt victorious prove, For everlasting strength is thine, And everlasting love. Thy powerful Spirit shall subdue Unconquerable sin; Cleanse this foul heart, and make it new, And write thy law within. Bound down with twice ten thousand ties, Yet let me hear thy call, My soul in confidence shall rise, Shall rise, and break thro’ all.