Wesley Corpus

Volume 3 (1780): 679 It is Appointed for Men Once to Die.19 Tremendous God with humble fear, Prostrate before thy glorious throne, Th' irrevocable word we hear, Thy sov'reign right'ousness we own. 'Tis fit we should to dust return, (Since such the will of the Most High) In sin conceiv'd, to trouble born, Born only to lament, and die. Submissive to thy just decree, We all shall soon from earth remove: But when thou sendest, Lord, for me, O let the messenger be love. By whisp'ring love into my heart, Warn me of my approaching end, And then I joyfully depart, And then I to thine arms ascend! 19Appears in MS Preparation for Death, 24-25. Volume 4 (1781): 63-64 An Old Man's Prayer.20 The knowledge of thy love O how shall I attain? Its excellence is far above The reach of fallen man: For more than threescore years I for the grace have pin'd, And sought with ceaseless pray'rs and tears What I could never find. Tremendous God unknown, Hath thy severe decree Rejected, as perdition's son, And sternly pass'd by me? The saving grace with-held, That left to Satan I, By thy resistless will compell'd, Might sin, despair, and die! Blasphemous thoughts, away! As hell itself abhorr'd! Thy attributes the lie gainsay, Thy nature and thy word: Thy oath forbids my fears, And comforts all that grieve, Thy bloody sweat, thy cries and tears, Thy death would have me live. Would have me love my God, Who lov'd the world so well: Then sur'ly I the grace bestow'd, The purchas'd bliss shall feel: Thou wilt the bliss confer, Before I hence depart; And the abiding Comforter Shall take up all my heart. 20Appears in MS Hymns for Love, 74-75.