Wesley Corpus

Wisdom and strength to thee belong; Folly and sin are10 mine; But out of weakness make me strong, But in my darkness shine. My strength will I ascribe to thee, My wisdom from above, And praise to all eternity Thine all-redeeming love. Hymn VII. Ah! When shall I awake From sin's soft soothing power, This slumber from my spirit shake, And rise to fall no more! Awake, no more to sleep, But stand with constant care, Looking for God my soul to keep, And watching unto prayer? O! Could I always pray, And never, never faint, But simply to my God display My every care and want! I know that thou wouldst give More than I can request, Thou still art ready to receive My soul to perfect rest. 10Ori., "is"; changed in 2nd edn. (1756) and 3rd edn. (1770); but reverts to "is" in 4th edn. (1779). Page 22 Gracious thou art to all, Such faith in thee I have, If all the world on thee would call, Thou all the world wouldst save. To every one that prays The gift is freely given, Who seek shall every one find grace, Who knock shall enter in.11 Yet still I cannot ask, From thee I turn away, My heart abhors the irksome task, And knows not how to pray; If dragg'd to sue for grace, I soon my suit forbear, Break off, as in a moment's space, Th' intollerable prayer. O wretched man of sin, Wretched I still remain, A perfect happiness within My reach I see in vain: I see, but cannot take, But will not it receive: Still my own mercies I forsake, I will not yet believe. Thou dost not mock me, Lord, The work of thine own hands, Or call me to believe thy word, While thy decree withstands: Thy grace for all is free, Tho' all accept it not, To every sinner, and to me It hath salvation brought. To me this token give Of all-redeeming grace; O let me now the gift receive, Thy proffer'd life embrace! 11"In" changed to "heaven" in 2nd edn. (1756) and 3rd edn. (1770), but not 4th edn. (1779). Page 23 I do embrace it now Descending from above, Low at thy throne of love I bow, Of universal love.