Wesley Corpus

O this agony of grief! When shall it all be past? Page 22 Surely God will send relief, And rescue me at last: Comforter of all that mourn, Jesus shall my peace restore, Root out of my flesh the thorn, And bid me weep no more. Thrice, three thousand, times have I For speedy rescue pray'd, Can the God of love deny His kindly promis'd aid? Shall I never, never know Full release from sin and pain, First of all the sons of woe That ask'd his help in vain. No, thou gracious God and true, Thy promise cannot fail, Thou at last shall bring me through The toils of sin and hell: This from thee ev'n now I have If thou art not always nigh, If thou canst not, wilt not, save, Let me forever die.9 O my only ease in pain, O my only joy in grief, Hear me secretly complain, Sigh for permanent relief, Burthen'd more than I can bear, Still with earthly passions torn, Let me tell thee all my care, Let me in thy bosom mourn. 9John Wesley underlined the last two lines in this stanza in his personal copy of the 2nd edn. (1756), then wrote in the margin "Too Bold." Page 23 Jesus, why dost thou delay Thy poor prisoner to release, All my sin to take away, All my soul to fill with peace? Surely, Lord, I would be free, Would from every evil fly: Set my heart at liberty, Give me love, and let me die. Nothing do I seek below, Lord, I dare to thee appeal, Thou my tempted soul dost know, All I fear, and all I feel: Nothing here but sin I dread, Nothing here but love I crave: Let me rest my weary head, Let me find a quiet grave. Grant me first the rest from sin, Then permit me to depart, Thou who seest this war within, Thou who readst this troubled heart. When it doth to sin incline, O the agony I bear! This unworthy heart of mine Would I not in pieces tear? Wherefore then, thou gracious God, (Let me yet again inquire) Dost thou leave me to my load, Still deny my best desire? Why dost thou to help forbear, Heedless of my griefs and fears, Deaf to my continual prayer, Silent at my ceaseless tears?