Wesley Corpus

Lowly I wept, and strongly vow'd : But ah ! the feebleness of man ! Have I not vow'd and wept in vain ? 2 Return, O Lord of Hosts, return ! Behold thy servant in distress ; My faithlessness again I mourn ; Again forgive my faithlessness ; And to thine arms my spirit take, And bless me for the Saviour's sake. 3 In pity of the soul thou lov'st, Now bid the sin thou hat'st expire ; Let me desire what thou approv'st, -- Thou dost approve what I desire ; And thou wilt deign to call me thine, And I will dare to call thee mine. 4 This day the Covenant I sign, The bond of sure and promised peace ; Nor can I doubt its power divine, Since seal'd with Jesu's blood it is ; That blood T take, that blood alone, And make the cov'nant peace mine own. 5 But, that my faith no more may know Or change, or interval, or end, -- Help me in all thy paths to go, And now, as e'er, my voice attend, And gladden me with answers mild, And commune, Father, with thy child ! b/4 Miscellaneous Hymns. After the Renewal of the Covenant. 1 (~\ HOW shall a sinner perform ^^ The vows he hath vow'd to the Lord ? A sinful and impotent worm, How can I be true to my word ? I tremble at what I have done : O send me thy help from above ; The power of thy Spirit make known, The virtue of Jesus's love ! 2 My solemn engagements are vain, My promises empty as air ; My vows, I shall break them again, And plunge in eternal despair ; Unless my omnipotent God The sense of his goodness impart, And shed by his Spirit abroad The love of himself in my heart. 3 O Lover of sinners, extend To me thy compassionate grace ; Appear my affliction to end, Afford me a glimpse of thy face! That light shall enkindle in me A flame of reciprocal love ; And then I shall cleave unto thee, And then I shall never remove. 4 O come to a mourner in pain, Thy peace in my conscience reveal ! And then I shall love thee again, And sing of the goodness I feel : Constrain'd by the grace of my Lord,