Wesley Corpus

An outcast from thy blissful face, Stranger to peace, and faith, and power, I ask, nor have thy pardning grace, I knock at faith's unopen'd door, Nor can I yet admitted be, But still the door is shut to me. What is it makes my Saviour stay, So strong, and ready to redeem? Can Jesus will th' unkind delay, Or cast me out who come to him, Or not the secret bar remove, If still I stop his pardning love? He will, I dare believe, he will His way into my heart prepare: But let me wait thy leisure still, My passionate complaints forbear, And give my rash impatience o'er, And murmur for relief no more. When my relief shall most display Thy glory in thy creature's good, Then, Saviour, take the veil away, Sprinkle me with th' atoning blood, Page 48 The power of living faith impart, And breathe thy love into my heart. Hymns for One Convinc'd of Unbelief. Hymn VII. Jesu, the promis'd strength supply, Support my feeble, fainting mind, Nor let me in the winter fly, But seek, 'till I acceptance find, But ask, 'till I am sav'd from sin, And knock, 'till mercy takes me in. Sufficient is the season past, That I have griev'd thy gentle Dove, Flew out in unbelieving haste, And clamour'd for thy pardning love, And rav'd, and murmur'd to be free, As God were bound to wait on me. In base mistrust of finding God, No more thy gospel I deny, Sit down content beneath my load, Or with the world of liars cry, "We need not know our sins forgiven, Or feel his love, the pledge of heaven." I must, I shall be born again, And perfect holiness below; For this I wait in patient pain, Nor is it mine the times to know, But thou hast died to ransom me, And all my soul is cast on thee. Page 49 Hymns for One Convinc'd of Unbelief. Hymn VIII. O thou hidden God unknown, Hear thy fallen creature's cry, Now recall thy banish'd one, One who would on thee rely: But 'till thou thy Spirit give, Lord, I never can believe. Dead in sin too long I was, Blindest when I said I see; Thou hast magnified thy grace, Shew'd my want of faith and thee, Shone into my nature's night, Bad me wait to see thy light.