Wesley Corpus

For this in stedfast hope I wait; Now, Lord, my soul restore, Now the new heavens and earth create, And I shall sin no more. "The things which are impossible with man are possible to God." Luke xviii. 27. What a mystery am I, A mystery of sin, Full of all iniquity, Unholy, and unclean! Every thought of all our hearts Only evil always is, Now, I know, my inward parts Are very wickedness. Strip'd of every boasted grace, Of every shew of good, Still I am but what I was, Unchang'd, and unrenew'd. Dust and ashes is my name, Sinful dust and ashes I, Bearing all my sin and shame, At Jesu's feet I lie. From a thing like me unclean, A clean and holy thing, Who of all the sons of men Can ever hope to bring? Page 228 All our strife at last must cease, All our strength and wisdom fail, Such a work we must confess With man impossible. But shall human weakness dare To limit strength divine? Teach almighty wisdom where To lay the measuring line? Yes; we give our God the lye, Trample on the, all-cleansing blood, From all sin to save, we cry, This is too hard for God. Still we listen to our foe, His other gospel hear, "No perfection is below: No love that casts out fear, Fear, and sin must still remain, Still in you maintain their seat, Sin sometimes will always reign, And force you to submit." Soon as Satan gives the word, His advocates for sin, Witness with their lying lord, "Ye never can be clean From all sin, while here below; Do not you the word receive, God's own word may tell you so, But do not you believe." Flesh and blood cry out amain It cannot, cannot be! All my faith and hope is vain From sin to be set free: I with only evil fraught, Full of desp'rate wickedness, I who sin in every thought, Can I from sinning cease? Page 229 World, and sin, and Satan go, And ask my faithful Lord, Surely I the truth shall know, For he hath spoke the word: Whether every perfect one Shall not as his Master be, Thou shalt shortly make it known, Shalt answer, Lord, for me. "Let God be true, and every man a lyar." Romans iii. 4.