Wesley Corpus

I cannot praise thee as I would, But thou art merciful, and good; Page 169 I know, thou never wilt despise The day of small and feeble things, But bear me till on eagle's wings To all the heights of love I rise. I thank thee for that gracious taste, (Which pride would not permit to last) That touch of love, that pledge of heav'n: Surely on me my Father smil'd, And once I knew him reconcil'd, And once I felt my sins forgiven. My Lord and God I then could see, My Saviour, who had died for me, To bring the rebel near to God: Thou didst, thou didst, thy peace impart, Pardon was written on my heart In largest characters of blood. When I had forfeited my peace, My manners in the wilderness, Infinite love, how didst thou bear! Thou wouldst not give the sinner up, My heart retain'd a feeble hope, And could not, durst not yet despair. Assail'd with doubt, and fear, and grief, I stagger'd oft thro' unbelief, Yet still thou wouldst not let me yield, When stronger souls their Lord denied, And fell in heaps53 on every side, I never cast away my shield. Vilest of all the sons of men, When I to folly turn'd again, And sinn'd against thy light and love, Grace did much more than sin abound, Amaz'd I still forgiveness found, And thank'd my Advocate above. 53Ori., "on heaps"; corrected in errata. Page 170 Saviour, for this I thank thee now, My Saviour to the utmost thou Hast snatch'd me from the gates of hell, That I to all mankind may prove Thy free, thy54 everlasting love, Which all mankind with me may feel. The boundless love that found out me, For every soul of man is free, None of thy mercy need despair; Patient, and pitiful, and kind Thee every soul of man may find, And freely sav'd thy grace declare. A vile, backsliding sinner I Ten thousand deaths deserve to die, Yet still by sovereign grace I live, Saviour, to thee I still look up, I see an open door of hope, And wait thy fulness to receive.