Wesley Corpus

Why am I, Lord, at life's sad close Unsav'd, unhappy, and unclean, Abandon'd to my inbred foes, O'erwhelm'd with wretchedness and sin,64 A mystery to myself am I, Nor can into thy counsel pry: I know not what my God hath will'd, To save, or finally depart; The deep design is still conceal'd, The love or anger in thy heart; Inexplicably dark to me; But known are all thy works to thee. "O that God would speak, and open his lips against thee." Job xi. 5. Who make to heaven your bold appeal, Most forward to prejudge your foes, The thunder of th' Almighty deal, Or send to hell whoe'er oppose, Judge not by this fallacious sign That all assurance is divine. Silence when the Almighty broke, He answer'd for the sentenc'd man, Against his hasty judges spoke; That ye might humbling wisdom gain, 64Ori., "wretchedness and si"; corrected in errata. Page 231 Might each his censuring blindness own, And judgment leave to God alone. "God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth." Job xi. 6. Yes; tho' thou fill my flesh with pain, With bitterness my cup, And let me in my sins remain, To fill the measure up; I must thy righteousness declare, Whate'er on earth I feel, And less than my deserts I bear, Who am not yet in hell. "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?" Job xi. 7. Shall foolish, weak, short-sighted man Beyond archangels go, The great Almighty God explain, Or to perfection know? His attributes divinely soar Above the creatures' sight, And prostrate seraphim adore The glorious infinite. Jehovah's everlasting days They cannot number'd be, Incomprehensible the space Of thine immensity; Thy wisdom's depths by reason's line In vain we strive to sound, Or stretch our labouring thought t' assign Omnipotence a bound. The brightness of thy glories leaves Description far below; Nor man, nor angels' heart conceives How deep thy mercies flow: Page 232 Thy love is most unsearchable, And dazzles all above; They gaze, but cannot count or tell The treasures of thy love! "No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you." Job xii. 2.