Wesley Corpus

Faithful and true, thy word we plead, Met in thy name to intercede For the sad sons of woe, Cut off by man, to death consign'd, And justly swept from earth to find Severer pains below. Page 3 4A manuscript version of this hymn appears in MS Miscellaneous Hymns, 95. With Sinai's thund'rings, Lord, begin To rouse the sleeping slaves of sin, T' o'erwhelm with guilty shame; Put them in fear, thy wrath reveal, Shake o'er the opening mouth of hell, And scorch them with the flame. Conviction's sharpest arrows dart, And pierce their adamantine heart, Who now to falsehoods fly; That when their lies are swept away, Cut off from all resource they may To thee for refuge cry. Soon as thou hear'st their contrite moan "Save, or eternally undone, We die the second death," O let them call thy death to mind, And sinking into Tophet find Thy mercy's arms beneath! Saviour and friend of all mankind, Seize the lost sheep for whom we pray, Them on the brink of Tophet find, And take in death their sins away. If mercy hath excepted none, Why may not all thy mercy prove? Why may not all their Saviour own, Dear objects of thy dying love? Eternal death must be their doom, Unless the vilest may find grace; But in thy loving heart is room For Adam's whole devoted race. Willing, and strong to save thou art; Life we for every soul desire; O let not one, not one depart Curst into everlasting fire. Page 4 5A manuscript version of this hymn appears in MS Miscellaneous Hymns, 96. 6A manuscript version of this hymn appears in MS Miscellaneous Hymns, 96-97. That fire for devils was prepar'd, But man was made to reign with thee: By all-redeeming mercy spar'd, Let these thy heavenly kingdom see: Mixt with the sheep on thy right-hand, The purchase of thy blood and prayer, Let these at thy tribunal stand, And hear their joyful sentence there! To be Used by the Malefactors. Justly by man condemn'd to die, Jesus the desperate sinner's friend, Out of the deep regard our cry, And O! Let hope be in our end! Suffering for ills which we have done, The martyrs' joy shall we require? No: but we still for mercy groan, And hope in final peace t' expire.