Wesley Corpus

Expos'd to thy vindictive ire The workers of iniquity, As fewel for the quenchless fire, As stubble, all burnt up shall be, (So doth thy righteous will ordain) And neither root nor branch remain. But we who truly fear thy name, And languish to attain thy love, May we not now thy promise claim, The light to bless us from above, The Sun of righteousness to rise, The glory both of earth and skies. O Sun of righteousness, appear, Appear with healing in thy wings, With grace which doth the mourners chear, Which pardon and salvation brings; Which strong immortal health imparts, And fills with love the fearful hearts. Then shall we all go forth in peace, And up to full perfection grow, And strong in finish'd holiness Trample on our infernal foe, Till call'd the Saviour's throne to share, We mount, and reign for ever there! Hymn VII. Righteous, O Lord, thy judgments are, Yet let us plead with thee, Thy mercies manifold declare, To stop thy stern decree; Before the word bring forth the woe, And thy uplifted hand By sword and pestilence o'erthrow Our execrated land. If fully purpos'd to destroy Thou art in vengeance come, Why dost thou instruments employ To bring thy wand'rers home? Page 13 Why doth thy grace its work revive, Converting us from sin? And still we find thy Spirit strive Our worthless hearts to win. Thy messengers run to and fro, Believers are increas'd, And thousands their Redeemer know, With life eternal bless'd; Lost sheep for half a century Have flock'd into thy fold; And more are daily call'd by thee, And in thy book enroll'd. But didst thou, Lord, thy kingdom send, Thy kingdom to remove, To make of sinners a full end Excluded from thy love? Corrected, and chastis'd, we trust, Thou wilt not give us o'er, But spare the wicked for the just, And curse our land no more. Out of the deep thy call we wait To bid our nation rise, Aspiring to our first estate, And by affliction wise; That following after righteousness, We may thy grace retrieve, Repent, believe, and go in peace, And for thy glory live.