Religion

Acts 16:31

by Charles Wesley 1707–1788

From Hymns and Sacred Poems (1742) · Osborn ed., vol. 2 (1869)

Religion

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt
be saved"

WHAT shall I do, my God, my God?
I ask in Jesu's name;
Unsanctified and unrenew'd,
I still remain the same.

Sin, only sin, in me I find;
I cannot subject be
To Thy command; my carnal mind
Is enmity to Thee.

But Thou canst wash the leper clean,
The stone to flesh convert,
Canst make the Ethiop change his skin,
And purify my heart.

Then only, when by grace renew'd,
My will with Thine shall suit:
O make the tree of nature good,
And good shall be its fruit.

I strive in all I do to please,
With endless grief and pain,
But cannot, Lord, from sinning cease,
Till I am born again.

With Thee my virtue is but vice,
My good is specious ill;
Tis self, 'tis nature in disguise,
And I am carnal still.

No work of mine, or word, or thought
Thy judgment can abide;
Thy glory, Lord, I never sought,
For all my soul is pride.

What have I then wherein to trust?
How must I come to Thee?
Foul as I am, condemn'd and lost,
Thy Son hath died for me.

Jesus hath died that I might live,
Might live to God alone,
In Him eternal life receive,
And be in spirit one.

Saviour, I thank Thee for the grace,
The gift unspeakable,
And wait, with arms of faith to' embrace,
And all Thy love to feel.

My soul breaks out in strong desire
The perfect bliss to prove,
My longing soul is all on fire
To be dissolved in love.

Give me Thyself, from every boast,
From every wish set free:
Let all I am in Thee be lost;
But give Thyself to me.

Thy gifts, alas! cannot suffice,
Unless Thyself be given;
Thy presence makes my paradise,
And where Thou art is heaven.

✦ ✦ ✦

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

MLA

Wesley, Charles. “Acts 16:31.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/wesley_c/221/.

Chicago

Wesley, Charles. “Acts 16:31.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/wesley_c/221/.

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