Wesley Corpus

My solemn engagements are vain, My promises empty as air, My vows I shall break them again, And plunge in eternal despair; Unless my omnipotent God The sense of his goodness impart, And shed by his Spirit abroad That love of himself in my heart. O lover of sinners, extend To me the affectionate grace, Appear my affliction to end, Afford me a glimpse of thy face: The sight shall inkindle in me A flame of reciprocal love, And then I shall cleave unto thee, And then I shall never remove. O come to a mourner in pain, Thy peace to my conscience reveal, And then I shall love thee again, And sing of the goodness I feel; Constrain'd by the grace of my Lord, My soul shall in all things obey, And wait to be fully restor'd, And long to be summon'd away. In Temptation. Hymn XII. Glory to the righteous God, Righteous, yet benign to me! Page 195 Still in his paternal rod His paternal love I see: Let him tenderly chastise, Let him graciously reprove, Father, all within me cries All thy ways are truth and love. Humbled in the lowest deep, Thee I for my sufferings bless; Think of all thy love, and weep For my own unfaithfulness: I have most rebellious been, Thou hast laid thine hand on me, Kindly visited my sin, Scourg'd the wanderer back to thee. Taught obedience to my God By the things I have endured, Meekly now I kiss the rod, Wounded by the rod, and cured: Good for me the grief and pain, Let me but thy grace adore, Keep the pardon I regain, Stand in awe, and sin no more. In Temptation. Hymn XIII. But can it be, that I should prove For ever faithful to thy love, From sin forever cease? I thank thee for the blessed hope! It lifts my drooping spirit up, And gives me back my peace. Page 196 In thee, O Lord, I put my trust, Mighty, and merciful, and just, Thy sacred word is past; And I, who dare thy word receive, Without committing sin shall live, Shall live to God at last. No more shall sin its sway maintain, No longer in my members reign, Or captivate my heart, Upheld by thy victorious grace, I walk henceforth in all thy ways, And never will depart.