Hymns and Sacred Poems (1749), Hymn 8

Will ye also go away? — Lord, to whom shall we go?
Thou hast the words of eternal life" — John vi.

JESU, whither shall I go,
Thee my Saviour if I leave?
Only Thou canst ease my woe,
Only Thou canst pardon give;
None beside can save from sin,
None beside can make me clean.

If I foolishly depart
From the ark of Thy dear breast,
Where shall my unsettled heart
Find a ground whereon to rest?
Whither, or to whom shall I
From myself for succour fly?

Shall I back to Egypt go,
To my vomit turn again,
To my flesh corruption sow,
Live anew in pleasures vain?
No, with sin I cannot dwell,
Sin is worse than death, and hell.

Shall I my old toil renew,
Catch an honourable name,
Praise, which comes from man, pursue,
Idolize, and pant for fame?
Who on fame bestows his care,
Grasps a shadow, feeds on air.

Shall I go to courts and kings?
Courts and kings are vanity,
Beggarly and wretched things,
Can they yield support to me?
Crush'd by their own grandeur's weight,
Poorly, miserably great!

Learning should I strive to gain,
Fairest fruit on earth that grows,
Ineffectual were my pain,
Happiest he who nothing knows;
Who in quest of vain relief
Adds to knowledge, adds to grief.

If my God I cast behind,
God the source of perfect bliss,
Vain are all my hopes to find
True, substantial happiness;
Search the whole creation round,
Can it out of God be found?

No; my God, if from the way,
From the truth if I remove,
Must. I not for ever stray,
On in error's mazes rove,
Rove from peace to troublous strife,
Rove to death from endless life!

Who would go from health to pain,
Turn from grace to wickedness,
Freedom quit, to hug a chain;
Grieve his friend, his foe to please?
Who his Saviour-God to shun,
Would to his destroyer run?

Saviour, I with guilty shame
Own that I, alas, am he!
Weak, and wavering still I am,
Ready still to fly from Thee:
Stop me by Thy look, and say,
Will you also go away?

You, whom I have brought to God,
Will you turn from God again?
You, for whom I spilt My blood,
Will you let it flow in vain?
You, who felt it once applied,
Can ye leave My bleeding side?

'1 2 No, my Lamb, my Saviour, no,
(Every soul with me reply,)
From Thy wounds we will not go,
Will not from our Master fly:
Thine is the life-giving word;
Thou art our eternal Lord.

Speak, and by Thy word detain
Every soul inclined to stray;
Speak, and let Thy love constrain
Every fugitive to stay;
That we may no more depart,
Speak Thyself into our heart.