Religion

Groaning for the Spirit of Adoption

by Charles Wesley 1707–1788

From Hymns and Sacred Poems (1740) · Osborn ed., vol. 1 (1868)

Religion

Father, if Thou my Father art,
Send forth the Spirit of Thy Son,
Breathe Him into my panting heart,
And make me know as I am known:
Make me Thy conscious child, that I
May, " Father, Abba, Father," cry.

I want the Spirit of power within,
Of love, and of an healthful mind;
Of power to conquer inbred sin,
Of love to Thee and all mankind;
Of health, that pain and death defies,
Most vigorous when the body dies.

When shall I hear the inward voice,
Which only faithful souls can hear!
Pardon, and peace, and heavenly joys
Attend the promised Comforter:
He comes! And righteousness Divine,
And Christ, and all with Christ is mine!

O that the Comforter would come,
Nor visit as a transient guest,
But fix in me His constant home,
And take possession of my breast,
And make my soul His loved abode,
The temple of indwelling God!

Come, Holy Ghost, my heart inspire,
Attest that I am born again!
Come, and baptize me now with fire,
Or all Thy former gifts are vain.
I cannot rest in sin forgiven;
Where is the earnest of my heaven?

Where the Indubitable Seal
That ascertains the kingdom mine?
The powerful stamp I long to feel,
The signature of Love Divine:
O, shed it in my heart abroad,
Fulness of love, of heaven, of God!

✦ ✦ ✦

Attributed to Charles Wesley; Osborn's edition does not distinguish the brothers

MLA

Wesley, Charles. “Groaning for the Spirit of Adoption.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wesley_c/138/.

Chicago

Wesley, Charles. “Groaning for the Spirit of Adoption.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wesley_c/138/.

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