a 'Wesley' a day keeps the trivia away

For many years I have been richly blessed with the incomparable poems of the Wesley brothers, the poetry of which is as sublime as it is heavenly, and breathes from the eternal Spirit who inspired their hearts. In this realm they have no betters, and few, if any, equals.Throughout the land hearts cry out for the realities herein set forth, and these hymns give expression to the unspeakable yearnings within in a manner which beautiful poetry and utmost piety unaided cannot accomplish, for many have produced such hymns but have failed of that ‘something’ that so permeates the writings of the Wesley’s as to place them in a class above all others.The difference surely lies in the fact that these hymns were born in revival, and come from the Spirit of Life then breathing through the land.Our Lord gave them to His Church, and wherever souls long for language of the Spirit these hymns will be sung by all so blessed as to know them.Could heart-cries be formed and framed in better words than these, or man declare his faith for gloriously? (from the preface of a selection of 120 Wesley hymns reproduced in 1971)I thought I might share some of them here from day to day…And can it be that I should gainAn interest in the Saviour’s blood?Died He for me, who caused His pain—For me, who Him to death pursued?Amazing love! How can it be,That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?Amazing love! How can it be,That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:Who can explore His strange design?In vain the firstborn seraph triesTo sound the depths of love divine.’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,Let angel minds inquire no more.’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;Let angel minds inquire no more.He left His Father’s throne aboveSo free, so infinite His grace—Emptied Himself of all but love,And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’Tis mercy all, immense and free,For O my God, it found out me!’Tis mercy all, immense and free,For O my God, it found out me!Long my imprisoned spirit lay,Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;My chains fell off, my heart was free,I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.My chains fell off, my heart was free,I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.Still the small inward voice I hear,That whispers all my sins forgiven;Still the atoning blood is near,That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.I feel the life His wounds impart;I feel my Saviour in my heart.I feel the life His wounds impart;I feel my Saviour in my heart.No condemnation now I dread;Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;Alive in Him, my living Head,And clothed in righteousness divine,Bold I approach th’eternal throne,And claim the crown, through Christ my own.Bold I approach th’eternal throne,And claim the crown, through Christ my own.This familiar hymn has the missing verse restored here. See how the much better the ideas flow with the verse restored. Wesley’s confidence of the last verse does not arise from ‘logical deductions drawn from proof texts’ or ‘decision’ and ‘the sinner’s prayer’ but from the inward witness of the Spirit.If you would like to sing it here is a tune

It has been said that the poetry of the Wesley's is 'bibline' that is to say wherever you cut it you will find it bleeds 'bible'. In this hymn Charles Wesley gathers together Bible pictures of Christ and the Salvation He has provided. See how many of these illustrations you can trace to their source...Jesus, my strength and righteousness,My Saviour, and my King,Triumphantly Thy name I bless,Thy conquering name I sing.Thou, Lord, has magnified Thy name,Thou has maintained Thy cause,And I enjoy the glorious shame,The scandal of Thy cross.This is the saving power of God:Who’er this word receive,Feel all the effects of Jesu’s blood,And sensibly believe:Saved from the guilt and power of sinBy instantaneous grace,They trust to have Thy life brought in,And always see Thy face.The pure in heart Thy face shall seeBefore they hence remove,Redeemed from all iniquity,And perfected in love.This is the great salvation” ThisThe prize at which we aim,The end of faith, the hidden bliss,The new, mysterious name.The name inscribed in the white stone,The unbeginning Word,The mystery so long unknown,The secret of the Lord.The living bread sent down from heaven,The saints’ and angels’ food,The immortal seed, the little leaven,The effluence of God!The tree of life, that blooms and growsIn the midst of paradis,The pure and living stream, that flowsBack to its native skies:The Spirit’s law, the covenant seal,The eternal righteousness,The glorious joy unspeakable,The unutterable peace!The treasure in the gospel-field,The wisdom from above,Hid from the wise, to babes revealed,The precious pearl of love;The mystic power of godliness,The end of death and sin,The antepast of heavenly bliss,The kingdom fixed within.The Morning Star, that glittering bright,Shines to the perfect day,The Sun of Righteousness – the Light,The Life, the Truth, the Way:The image of the living God,His nature, and His mind,Himself He hath on us bestowed,And all in Christ we find.you can sing it to this tune.

With glorious clouds encompassed round,Whom angels dimly see,Will the Unsearchable be found,Or God appear to me? Will He forsake His throne above,Himself to worms impart?Answer, Thou Man of grief and love,And speak it to my heart. In manifested love explainThy wonderful design;What meant the suffering Son of man,The streaming blood divine? Didst Thou not in our flesh appear,And live and die below,That I may now perceive Thee near,And my Redeemer know? Come then, and to my soul revealThe heights and depths of grace,The wounds which all Thy sorrows heal,That dear disfigured face. Before my eyes of faith confessedStand forth a slaughtered Lamb;And wrap me in Thy crimson vest,And tell me all Thy name. Jehovah in Thy person show,Jehovah crucified!And then the pardoning God I know,And feel the blood applied; I view the Lamb in His own light,Whom angels dimly see,And gaze, transported at the sight,Through all eternity. here's a suggested tune

With glorious clouds encompassed round,Whom angels dimly see,Will the Unsearchable be found,Or God appear to me? Will He forsake His throne above,Himself to worms impart?Answer, Thou Man of grief and love,And speak it to my heart. In manifested love explainThy wonderful design;What meant the suffering Son of man,The streaming blood divine? Didst Thou not in our flesh appear,And live and die below,That I may now perceive Thee near,And my Redeemer know? Come then, and to my soul revealThe heights and depths of grace,The wounds which all Thy sorrows heal,That dear disfigured face. Before my eyes of faith confessedStand forth a slaughtered Lamb;And wrap me in Thy crimson vest,And tell me all Thy name. Jehovah in Thy person show,Jehovah crucified!And then the pardoning God I know,And feel the blood applied; I view the Lamb in His own light,Whom angels dimly see,And gaze, transported at the sight,Through all eternity. Thank you so much, Ron, for this one! What a prayer this hymn is! It echoes so much of what my heart longs for, I just didn't know that it could be expressed in such a beautiful way... Once again I thank you. /Rikard

This is Charles Wesley's gift to himself on his birthday. The Birthday Hymn. It may not be your birthday but today is, as they say, the beginning of the rest of our lives. Wesley is not daunted by 'our remnant of days'.Away with our fears!The glad morning appears,When an heir of salvation was born!From Jehovah I came,For His glory I am,And to Him I with singing return.Thy Jesus, alone,The fountain I ownOf my life and felicity here,And cheerfully singMy Redeemer and King,Till His sign in the heavens appear.With thanks I rejoiceIn Thy fatherly choiceOf my state and condition below;If of parents I cameWho honoured Thy name,'Twas Thy wisdom appointed it so.I sing of Thy grace,From my earliest daysEver near to allure and defend;Hitherto Thou hast beenMy preserver from sin,And I know Thou wilt save to the end.O the infinite cares,And temptations, and snares,Thy hand hath conducted me through!O! the blessings bestowedBy a bountiful God,And the mercies eternally new!What a mercy is this,What a heaven of bliss,How unspeakably happy am I!Gathered into the fold,With Thy people enrolled,With Thy people to live and to die!O the goodness of God,Employing a clodHis tribute of glory to raise!His standard to bear,And with triumph declareHis unsearchable riches of grace.O the fathomless love,That has deigned to approveAnd prosper the work of my hands!With my pastoral crookI went over the brook,And, behold, I am spread into bands!Who, I ask in amaze,Hath begotten me these?And inquire from what quarter they came?My full heart it replies,They are born from the skies,And gives glory to God and the Lamb.All honour and praiseTo the Father of grace,To the Spirit, and Son, I return!The business pursueHe hath made me to do,And rejoice that I ever was born.In a rapture of joyMy life I employ,The God of my life to proclaim;'Tis worth living for this,To administer blissAnd salvation in Jesus's name.My remnant of daysI spend in His praise,Who died the whole world to redeem:Be they many or few,My days are His due,And they all are devoted to Him.oh, the goodness of God in employing a clod!I can't find the tune we use, but the meter is 5.6.9.6.6.9

Here's valuable reminder for a Monday. It's easy to get sucked back into the busy-ness of our lives only to forget our glorious calling and stewardship.A charge to keep I have,A God to glorify,A never-dying soul to save,And fit it for the sky;To serve the present age,My calling to fulfil:O may it all my powers engageTo do my Master's will! Arm me with jealous care,As in Thy sight to live;And O Thy servant, Lord, prepareA strict account to give!Help me to watch and pray,And on Thyself rely,Assured, if I my trust betray,I shall for ever die. This is the tune that we use here in Reading.

What are your targets for today? Of all my works be Thou the aim.O GOD, what offering shall I giveTo Thee, the Lord of earth and skies?My spirit, soul, and flesh receive,A holy, living sacrifice;Small as it is, 'tis all my store;More should’st Thou have, if I had more. Now then, my God, Thou hast my soul,No longer mine, but Thine I am;Guard Thou Thine own; possess it whole,Cheer it with hope, with love inflame.Thou hast my spirit; there displayThy glory to the perfect day. Thou hast my flesh; Thy hallowed shrine,Devoted solely to Thy will:Here let Thy light for ever shine,This house still let Thy presence fill:O Source of Life, live, dwell, and moveIn me, till all my life be love! O, never in these veils of shame,Sad fruits of sin, my glorying be!Clothe with salvation, through Thy name,My soul, and let me put on Thee!Be living faith my costly dress,And my best robe Thy righteousness. Send down Thy likeness from above,And let this my adorning be:Clothe me with wisdom, patience, love,With lowliness and purity,Than gold and pearls more precious far,And brighter than the morning star. Lord, arm me with Thy Spirit's might,Since I am called by Thy great name:In Thee my wandering thoughts unite,Of all my works be Thou the aim;Thy love attend me all my days,And my sole business be Thy praise! Any 8,8,8,8,8,8, tune but here's suggestion; EisenachIf you're using Mozilla, right click Eisenach above and choose 'open link in new tab' then you can see the words and hear the tune.

Do you sometimes find it difficult to settle off to sleep? May I suggest a daily dose of this lovely hymn, to be taken just prior to switching the light out?How do Thy mercies close me round!For ever be Thy name adored!I blush in all things to abound;The servant is above his Lord.Inured to poverty and pain.A suffering life my Master led;The Son of God, the Son of Man,He had not where to lay His head.But, lo! A place He hath preparedFor me, whom watchful angels keep;Nay, He Himself becomes my Guard,He smoothes my bed, and gives me sleep.Jesus protects; my fears, be gone!What can the Rock of Ages move?Safe in Thy arms I lay me down,Thy everlasting arms of love!While Thou are intimately nigh,Who, who shall violate my rest?Sin, earth and hell I now defy;I lean upon my Saviour’s breast.I rest beneath the Almighty’s shade;My griefs expire, my troubles cease;Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed,Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.Me for Thine own Thou lov’st to takeIn time and in eternity;Thou never, never wilt forsakeA helpless worm that trusts in Thee.we use this tune

John Wesley did not write nearly so many hymns as his brother Charles, but he had learned German on his trip to the Colonies (USA!) in the company of the Moravians. He used this to good effect in translating some the hymns of Nikolaus L. von Zin­zen­dorf (Count Zinzendorf). You will note that did not view the doctrine of limited atonement with much favour.Jesus, Thy blood and righteousnessMy beauty are, my glorious dress;’Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,With joy shall I lift up my head.Bold shall I stand in Thy great day;For who aught to my charge shall lay?Fully absolved through these I amFrom sin and fear, from guilt and shame.The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb,Who from the Father’s bosom came,Who died for me, e’en me to atone,Now for my Lord and God I own.Lord, I believe Thy precious blood,Which, at the mercy seat of God,Forever doth for sinners plead,For me, e’en for my soul, was shed.Lord, I believe were sinners moreThan sands upon the ocean shore,Thou hast for all a ransom paid,For all a full atonement made.When from the dust of death I riseTo claim my mansion in the skies,Ev’n then this shall be all my plea,Jesus hath lived, hath died, for me.Jesus, the endless praise to Thee,Whose boundless mercy hath for me—For me a full atonement made,An everlasting ransom paid.O let the dead now hear Thy voice;Now bid Thy banished ones rejoice;Their beauty this, their glorious dress,Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness.This is probably the most favoured tuneIf you're using Mozilla, right click 'tune' above and choose 'open link in new tab' then you can see the words and hear the tune.

Here's a lovely hymn that comes in two installments. Part One today, the remainder tomorrow. Its theme is the One Body of the Church.Christ, from whom all blessings flow,Perfecting the saints below,Hear us, who Thy nature share,Who Thy mystic body are.Join us, in one spirit join,Let us still receive of Thine;Still for more on Thee we call;Thou who fillest all in all. Closer knit to Thee, our Head;Nourish us, O Christ, and feed;Let us daily growth receive,More and more in Jesus live:Jesus, we Thy members are,Cherish us with kindest care;Of Thy flesh and of Thy bone,Love, for ever love Thine own. Move, and actuate, and guide,Divers gifts to each divide:Placed according to Thy will,Let us all our work fulfil; Never from our office move,Needful to the others prove;Use the grace on each bestowed,Tempered by the art of God. Sweetly now we all agree,Touched with softest sympathy;Kindly for each other care;Every member feels its share. Wounded by the grief of one,All the suffering members groan;Honoured if one member is,All partake the common bliss. Many are we now and one,We who Jesus have put on:There is neither bond nor free,Male nor female, Lord, in thee. Love, like death, hath all destroyed,Rendered all distinctions void:Names, and sects, and parties fall;Thou, O Christ, art all in all! with a lovely Welsh tune to go with it; Aberystwyth (Parry)If you're using Mozilla, right click 'Aberystwyth' above and choose 'open link in new tab' then you can see the words and hear the tune.

This is part 2 of the same hymn as yesterday. It develops the theme of the Church and looks to its glorious consummation.King of Saints, to whom are givenAll in earth, and all in heaven,Reconciled through Thee alone,Joined and gathered into one:Heirs of glory, sons of grace,Lo! to Thee our hopes we raise,Raise and fix our hopes on Thee,Full of immortality!We with them to God are come,God who speaks the general doom:Jesus Christ, who stand betweenAngry heaven, and guilty men,Undertakes to buy our peace,Gives the covenant of grace;Ratifies and makes it good,Signs and seals it in His blood.Life His healing blood imparts,Sprinkled on our peaceful hearts:Abel’s blood for vengeance cried,Jesu’s speaks us justified;Speaks, and calls for better things,Makes us prophets, priests, and kings;Asks that we with Him may reign:Earth and heaven say, Amen!Be it unto angels known,By the church, what God hath done:Depths of love and wisdom seeIn a dying Deity!Gaze, ye first-born seraphs, gaze!Never can ye sound His grace:Lost in wonder, look no more;Fall, and silently adore.Jesu, hear, and bow the skies;Hark! We all unite our cries:“Take us to our heavenly home;Quickly let Thy kingdom come!”“Jesu, come,” the Spirit cries;“Jesu, come,” the bride replies;One triumphant church above,Join us all in perfect love.with a lovely Welsh tune to go with it; Aberystwyth (Parry)If you're using Mozilla, right click 'Aberystwyth' above and choose 'open link in new tab' then you can see the words and hear the tune.

We've had a thread on Sabbath for a few days. Here's little contribution from Charles Wesley; the remainder tomorrow...part oneLord, I believe a rest remains,To all Thy people known;A rest where pure enjoyment reigns,And Thou art loved alone:A rest where all our soul’s desireIs fixed on things above;Where doubt, and pain, and fear expire;Cast out by perfect love:A rest of lasting joy and peace,Where all is calm within:‘Tis then from our own works we cease,From pride, self-will, and sin.Our life is hid with Christ in God;The agony is o’er,We wrestle not with flesh and blood,We strive with sin no more.From every evil motion freed,(The Son hath made us free,)On all the powers of hell we tread,In glorious liberty.Safe in the way of life, aboveDeath, earth, and hell we rise;We find, when perfected in love,Our long-sought paradise.Within that Eden we retire,We rest in Jesu’s name:It guards us, as a wall of fire,And as a sword of flame.O that I now the rest might know,Believe, and enter in!Now, Saviour, now the power bestow,And let me cease from sin.Remove this hardness from my heart,This unbelief remove;To me the rest of faith import,The Sabbath of Thy love.and a tune for those who like to sing...

Here's the other half of that Wesley hymn of prayer for the Rest of God.Part TwoI groan from pride to be set free,From wrath to be released:Take me, O take me into Thee,My everlasting Rest.I would be Thine, Thou knowest I would,And have Thee all my own;Thee, O my all-sufficient Good,I want, and Thee alone.Thy Name to me, Thy Nature grant;This, only this be given:Nothing beside my God I want,Nothing in earth or heaven.Come. O my Saviour, come away,Into my soul descend;No longer from Thy creature stay,My Author and my End.The bliss Thou hast for me preparedNo longer be delayed;Come, my exceeding Great Reward,For whom I first was made.Come, Father, Son and Holy Ghost,And seal me Thine abode;Let all I am in Thee be lost,Let all I am be God!and a tune for those who like to sing...

Here's my favourite example of a particular kind of Wesley hymn; exposition. In order to understand this hymn you will need read Isaiah 35; it's a relatively short chapter. Read it and then see how Wesley opens up this chapter by means of 10 glorious verses in personal application of its images and truths.Heavenly Father, Sovereign Lord,Ever faithful to Thy word,Humbly we our seal set to,Testify that Thou are true.Lo! for us the wilds are glad,All in cheerful green arrayed;Opening sweets they all disclose,Bud and blossom as the rose.Hark, the wastes have found a voice,Lonely deserts now rejoice,Gladsome hallelujahs sing,All around with praises ring.Lo! abundantly they bloom,Lebanon is hither come,Carmel’s stores the heavens dispence,Sharon fertile excellence.See these barren souls of oursBloom, and put forth fruits and flowers,Flowers of Eden, fruits of grace,Peace, and joy, and righteousness.We behold (the abjects we)Christ the incarnate Deity,Christ in Whom Thy glories shine,Excellence of strength Divine.Ye that tremble at His frown,He shall lift your hands cast down;Christ who all your weakness sees,He shall prop your feeble knees.Ye of fearful hearts, be strong,Jesus will not tarry long;Fear not, lest His truth, should fail,Jesus is unchangeable.God, your God, shall surely come,Quell your foes, and seal their doom;He shall come, and save you too:We, O Lord, have found Thee true.Blind we were, not now we see,Deaf, we hearken now to Thee,Dumb, for Thee our tongues employ,Lame, and, lo! we leap for joy!Faint we were, and parched with drought,Water at Thy word gushed out;Streams of grace ours souls refresh,Starting from the wilderness.Still we gasp Thy grace to know;Here for ever let it flow,Make the thirst land a pool,Fix the Spirit in our soul.Were the ancient dragon lay,Open for Thyself a way;There let holy tempers rise,All the fruits of paradise.Lead us in the way of peace,In the paths of righteousness,Never by the sinner trod,Till he feels the cleansing blood.There the simple cannot stray;Babes, though blind, may find their way,Find, nor ever thence depart,Safe in lowliness of hear.Far from fear, from danger far,No devouring beast is there;There the humble walk secure,God hath made their footsteps sure.Jesu, mighty to redeem,Let our lot be cast with them;Far from earth our souls remove,Ransomed by Thy dying love.Leave us not below to mourn;Fain we would to thee return,Crowned with righteousness ariseFar above these nether skies.Come, and all our sorrows chase,Wipe the tears from every face;Gladness let us now obtain,Partners of Thy endless reign.Death the latest foe, destroy;Sorrow then shall yield to joy,Gloomy grief shall flee away,Swallowed up in endless day.We sing this to the tune called Maidstone

sorry posted this twice.

I think it was Leonard Ravenhill who told the story of Isaac Watt's feelings about today's hymn. "I would gladly have foregone the privilege of writing all of my hymns" said Watts "to have written 'Come, O Thou Traveller Unknown'. It is another expositional hymn, taking the account of the Angel's wrestling with Jacob, Wesley pours into it his own experience and that of many. Many believe this to have been the greatest of Wesley's hymns. I think they may be right.Charles Wesley’s bro­ther John quot­ed Isaac Watts as say­ing of this hymn, “that sin­gle po­em, Wrest­ling Ja­cob, was worth all the vers­es he him­self had writ­ten.” Short­ly after Charles’ death, John tried to teach this hymn, but broke into tears when he reached the line, “my com­pa­ny be­fore is gone, and I am left alone with Thee.”Come, O thou Traveller unknown,Whom still I hold, but cannot see!My company before is gone,And I am left alone with Thee;With Thee all night I mean to stay,And wrestle till the break of day.I need not tell Thee who I am,My misery and sin declare;Thyself hast called me by my name,Look on Thy hands, and read it there;But who, I ask Thee, who art Thou?Tell me Thy name, and tell me now.In vain Thou strugglest to get free,I never will unloose my hold!Art Thou the Man that died for me?The secret of Thy love unfold;Wrestling, I will not let Thee go,Till I Thy name, Thy nature know.Wilt Thou not yet to me revealThy new, unutterable Name?Tell me, I still beseech Thee, tell;To know it now resolved I am;Wrestling, I will not let Thee go,Till I Thy Name, Thy nature know.’Tis all in vain to hold Thy tongueOr touch the hollow of my thigh;Though every sinew be unstrung,Out of my arms Thou shalt not fly;Wrestling I will not let Thee goTill I Thy name, Thy nature know.What though my shrinking flesh complain,And murmur to contend so long?I rise superior to my pain,When I am weak, then I am strongAnd when my all of strength shall fail,I shall with the God-man prevail.Contented now upon my thighI halt, till life’s short journey end;All helplessness, all weakness IOn Thee alone for strength depend;Nor have I power from Thee to move:Thy nature, and Thy name is Love.My strength is gone, my nature dies,I sink beneath Thy weighty hand,Faint to revive, and fall to rise;I fall, and yet by faith I stand;I stand and will not let Thee goTill I Thy Name, Thy nature know.Yield to me now, for I am weak,But confident in self-despair;Speak to my heart, in blessings speak,Be conquered by my instant prayer;Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move,And tell me if Thy Name is Love.’Tis Love! ’tis Love! Thou diedst for me!I hear Thy whisper in my heart;The morning breaks, the shadows flee,Pure, universal love Thou art;To me, to all, Thy bowels move;Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.My prayer hath power with God; the graceUnspeakable I now receive;Through faith I see Thee face to face,I see Thee face to face, and live!In vain I have not wept and strove;Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.I know Thee, Savior, who Thou art.Jesus, the feeble sinner’s friend;Nor wilt Thou with the night depart.But stay and love me to the end,Thy mercies never shall remove;Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.The Sun of righteousness on meHath rose with healing in His wings,Withered my nature’s strength; from TheeMy soul its life and succor brings;My help is all laid up above;Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.Lame as I am, I take the prey,Hell, earth, and sin, with ease o’ercome;I leap for joy, pursue my way,And as a bounding hart fly home,Through all eternity to proveThy nature and Thy Name is Love.We have our own tune to this hymn but 'Eisenach' fits it well.

Psalm 45 is entitled "a song of loves". The first half is a love song to the Bridegroom and the second half is a love song to the Bride. Charles Wesley expounded the psalm in a wonderful two-part hymn; My heart is full of Christ...Part OneMy heart is full of Christ, and longsIts glorious matter to declare!Of Him I make my loftiest songs,I cannot from His praise forbear;My ready tongue makes haste to singThe beauties of my heavenly King.Fairer than all the earth-born race,Perfect in comeliness Thou art;Replenished are Thy lips with grace,And full of love Thy tender heart:God ever blessed, we bow the knee,And own all fullness dwells in Thee.Gird on Thy thigh the Spirit’s sword,And take to Thee Thy power divine;Stir up Thy strength, almighty Lord,All power and majesty are Thine:Assert Thy worship and renown;O all redeeming God, come down!Come, and maintain Thy righteous cause,And let Thy glorious toil succeed;Dispread the victory of Thy cross,Ride on, and prosper in Thy deed;Through earth triumphantly ride on,And reign in every heart alone.Sharp are the arrows of Thy love,And pierce the most obdurate heart:Their point Thine enemies shall prove,And strangely filled with pleasing smart,Fall down before the cross subdued,And feel Thine arrows dipped in blood.Lover Thou art of purity,And hatest every spot of sin;Nothing profane can dwell with Thee,Nothing unholy or unclean:And therefore doth Thy Father ownHis glorious likeness in His Son.Therefore He hath His Spirit shed,Spirit of joy, and power, and grace,Immeasurably on Thy head;First-born of all the chosen race,From Thee the sacred unction springsThat makes Thy fellows priests and kings.We usually sing this to the tune Carey

This is Part Two pf Wesley's exposition of Psalm 45. His subject is the Bride; the Glorious Church. Be sure to read Psalm 45 before you sing the hymn.Part TwoThy heavenly charms the virgins move,And bow them to Thy pleasing sway;They triumph in Thy princely love,Thy will with all their hearts obey;Revere Thine honourable word,The glorious handmaids of the Lord.High above all, at Thy right hand,Adorned with each diviner grace,Thy favourite queen exults to stand,Thy church her heavenly charms displays,Clothed with the sun, for glory meet,She sees the moon beneath her feet.Daughter of heaven, though born on earth,Incline thy willing heart and ear;Forget thy first ignoble birth,Thy people, and thy kinsfolk here;So shall the King delight to seeHis beauties copied out on thee.Are not His servants kings? And ruleThey not o’er hell, and earth, and sin?His daughter is divinely fullOf Christ, and “glorious all within”;All glorious inwardly she reigns,And not one spot of sin remains.Clothed with humility and love,With every dazzling virtue bright,With faith which God vouchsafes to approve,Precious in her great Father’s sight,The royal maid with joy shall come,Triumphant, to her heavenly home.Brought by His sweet attracting grace,She first shall in His sight appearIn holiness before His face,Made perfect with her fellows here:Spotless and pure, a virgin train,They all shall in His palace reign.In lieu of seers and patriarchs old,Of whom she once did make her boast,The virgin-mother shall beholdHer numerous sons a princely host,Installed o’er all the earth abroad,Anointed kings and priests to God.We usually sing this to the tune Carey

During the last two days we read Wesley's exposition of Solomon's Marriage Song, now we can turn to earthly marriages. Wesley wrote many hymns for specific occasions. Today's is a marriage hymn. Opportunities for singing this might be thought to be rare, but we sing it often as a prayer for the fellowship of the saints in the church below.How about that 5th verse as a motto for the SermonIndex family?Thou God of truth and love,We seek Thy perfect way,Ready Thy choice to approve,Thy providence to obey,Enter into Thy wise design,And sweetly lose our will in Thine.Why hast Thou cast our lotIn the same age and place,Or why together broughtTo see each other’s face,To join with softest sympathy,And mix our friendly souls in Thee?Dids’t Thou not make us oneThat both might one remain,Together travel on,And bear each other’s pain,Till both Thine utmost goodness proveAnd rise renewed in perfect love?Surely Thou dids’t uniteOur kindred spirits hereThat both hereafter mightBefore Thy throne appear,Meet at the marriage of the Lamb,And all Thy glorious love proclaim.Then let us ever bearThe blessed end in view,And join with mutual careTo fight our passage through,And kindly help each other onTill both receive the starry crown.O might Thy Spirit sealOur souls unto that day,With all Thy fulness fill,And then transport away,Away to our eternal rest,Away to our Redeemer’s breast.We sing this to our own tune but it goes well with Christ Church

Wherever you may be found today in labours or fellowship, here's a Wesley prayer that is always timely...Spirit of faith, come down, Reveal the things of God,And make to us the Godhead known, And witness with the blood.’Tis Thine the blood to apply,And give us eyes to see,Who did for every sinner die Hath surely died for me.No man can truly say That Jesus is the Lord,Unless Thou take the veil away,And breathe the living Word.Then, only then, we feel Our interest in His blood,And cry with joy unspeakable, “Thou art my Lord, my God!”I know my Saviour lives,He lives, who died for me,My inmost soul His voice receivesWho hangs on yonder tree:Even now I see Him bleed,And hear His mortal groans and cries,While suffering in my stead.O that the world might know The great atoning Lamb!Spirit of faith, descend and show The virtue of His Name;The grace which all may find, The saving power, impart,And testify to all mankind, And speak in every heart.Inspire the living faith,Which whosoever receive,The witness in himself he hathAnd consciously believes,The faith that conquers all, And doth the mountain move,And saves whoever on Jesus call, And perfects them in love.We sing this to the tune Diademata

Here'a wonderful testimony and resolution in song. This is one of our most frequently chosen hymns in the church here.Thee will I love, my Strength, my Tower,Thee will I love, my Joy, my Crown,Thee will I love with all my power,In all Thy works, and Thee alone;Thee will I love, till Thy pure fireFill my whole soul with chaste desire.Ah, why did I so late Thee know,Thee, lovelier than the sons of men!Ah, why did I no sooner goTo Thee, the only ease in pain!Ashamed, I sigh, and inly mourn,That I so late to Thee did turn.In darkness willingly I strayed,I sought Thee, yet from Thee I roved;Far wide my wandering thoughts were spread,Thy creatures more than Thee I loved;And now if more at length I see,’Tis through Thy light and comes from Thee.I thank Thee, uncreated Sun,That Thy bright beams on me have shined;I thank Thee, who hast overthrownMy foes, and healed my wounded mind;I thank Thee, whose enlivening voiceBids my freed heart in Thee rejoice.Uphold me in the doubtful race,Nor suffer me again to stray;Strengthen my feet with steady paceStill to press forward in Thy way;My soul and flesh, O Lord of might,Fill, satiate, with Thy heavenly light.Give to mine eyes refreshing tears,Give to my heart chaste, hallowed fires,Give to my soul, with filial fears,The love that all Heaven’s host inspires;That all my powers, with all their might,In Thy sole glory may unite.Thee will I love, my joy, my crown,Thee will I love, my Lord, my God;Thee will I love, beneath Thy frown,Or smile, Thy sceptre, or Thy rod;What though my flesh and heart decay?Thee shall I love in endless day!You can sing it to this tune

Here is a no-compromise hymn for a sanctification based upon the Word of God. The opening words are those of Mary...Be it according to Thy word;This moment let it be!O that I now, by dearest Lord,Might lose my life for Thee!Now, Jesus, let Thy powerful deathInto my being come;Slay the old Adam with Thy breath,The man of sin consume.My old affections mortify,Nail to the cross my will,Daily and hourly bid me die,Or altogether kill.Jesu, my life, appear within,And bruise the serpent’s head;Enter my soul, extirpate sin,Cast out the cursed seed.Hast thou not made me willing, Lord?Would I not die this hour?Then speak the killing, quickening word,Slay, raise me by Thy power.Slay me, and I in Thee shall trust,With Thy dead men arise,Awake, and sing from out the dustSoon as this nature dies.O let it now make haste to die,The mortal wound receive:So shall I live; and yet not I,But Christ in me shall live.The tune is

Here's another hymn which no doubt got the Wesley's into lots of trouble...Jesus comes with all His grace,Comes to save a fallen race;Object of our glorious hope,Jesus comes to life us up.He hath our salvation wrought,He our captive souls hath bought,He hath reconciled to God,He hath washed us in His blood.Free from sin we here shall live,Here the end of faith receive,The salvation of our soul,Perfectly in Christ made whole.We have not believed in vain,We shall surely here obtainFull redemption in His blood;We, even we shall be like God.We shall gain our calling’s prize,After God we all shall rise,Filled with hope, and joy, and peace,Perfected in holiness.Let us then rejoice in hope,Steadily to Christ look up,Trust to be redeemed from sin,Wait till he appears within.Fools and madmen let us be,Yet is our sure trust in Thee,Faithful is the promise-word,We shall all be as our Lord.Hasten, Lord, the perfect day,Let Thy every servant say,I have now received the power,Born of God I sin no more!Tune: Nottingham

I have been saving this one. It is one of the shortest Wesley hymns I know and has been my steady favourite for 40 years. This hymn rises in my heart almost daily, I pray it may become your prayer too.O Thou who camest from aboveThe pure, celestial fire to impart,Kindle a flame of sacred loveOn the mean altar of my heart;There let it for Thy glory burnWith inextinguishable blaze,And trembling to its Source return,In humble prayer and fervent praise.Jesus, confirm my heart’s desireTo work, and speak, and think for Thee;Still let be guard the holy fire,And still stir up Thy gift in me:Ready for all Thy perfect will,My acts of faith and love repeat,Till death Thy endless mercies seal,And make my sacrifice complete.I can't find the tune we sing it to, but Wilton is suitable.

It ought not to be difficult to guess the next two hymns. A 'Happy Christmas" to 'all our readers'.Let earth and heaven combine,Angels and men agree,To praise in songs divineThe incarnate Deity,Our God contracted to a span,Incomprehensibly made Man.He laid His glory by,He wrapped Him in our clay;Unmarked by human eye,The latent Godhead lay;Infant of days He here became,And bore the mild Immanuel’s Name.Unsearchable the loveThat has the Savior brought;The grace is far aboveOf men or angels’ thought:Suffice for us that God, we know,Our God, is manifest below.He deigns in flesh to appear,Widest extremes to join;To bring our vileness near,And make us all divine:And we the life of God shall know,For God is manifest below.Made perfect first in love,And sanctified by grace,We shall from earth remove,And see His glorious face:His love shall then be fully showed,And man shall all be lost in God.You'll find both hymn and tune here. Go on, sing it!

There could really only ever by one hymn for today, but this is the original version. The 'welkin' is old English for the upper air or clouds. The Lord make this day a delight and blessing to you all.Hark, how all the welkin rings,“Glory to the King of kings;Peace on earth, and mercy mild,God and sinners reconciled!”Joyful, all ye nations, rise,Join the triumph of the skies;Universal nature say,“Christ the Lord is born to-day!”Christ, by highest Heaven ador’d,Christ, the everlasting Lord:Late in time behold him come,Offspring of a Virgin’s womb!Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,Hail the incarnate deity!Pleased as man with men to appear,Jesus! Our Immanuel here!Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace!Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!Light and life to all he brings,Risen with healing in his wings.Mild He lays his glory by,Born that man no more may die;Born to raise the sons of earth;Born to give them second birth.Come, Desire of nations, come,Fix in us thy humble home;Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,Bruise in us the serpent’s head.Now display thy saving power,Ruined nature now restore;Now in mystic union joinThine to ours, and ours to thine.Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;Stamp Thy image in its place.Second Adam from above,Reinstate us in thy love.Let us Thee, though lost, regain,Thee, the life, the inner Man:O! to all thyself impart,Form’d in each believing heart.and the tune

Jesu, we follow Thee,In all Thy footsteps tread,And panyt for full conformityTo our exalted Head;We would, we would partakeThy every state below,And suffer all things for Thy sake,And to Thy glory do.We in Thy birth are born,Sustain Thy grief and loss,Share in Thy want, and shame, and scorn,And die upon Thy cross.Baptised into Thy deathWe sink into Thy grave,Till Thou the quickening Spirit breathe,And to the utmost save.Thou said’st, “Where-er I amThere shall My servant be,”Master, the welcome word we claim,And die to live with Thee.To us who share Thy painThy joy shall soon be given,And we shall in Thy glory reign,For Thou art now in heaven.we sing this to Dennis

We sang this yesterday in our meeting; all nine verses of it. I will resist the temptation to preach it to you but do Deut 33:26-29 and see what Wesley has done with 4 Bible verses. Jeshurun means My Righteous or Upright One. This was God's intention for His people... and He hasn't changed His mind.NONE is like Jeshurun's God,So great, so strong, so high,Lo! he spreads His wings abroad,He rides upon the sky!Israel, His first-born son;God, the Eternal God, is thine;See him in thy help come down,The excellence divine. 2 Thee the great Jehovah deignsTo succour and defend;Thee the eternal God sustains,Thy Maker and thy friend:Sinner, what hast thou to dread?Safe from all impending harms,God hath underneath thee spreadHis everlasting arms. 3 God is thine; disdain to fearThe enemy within:God shall in thy flesh appear,And make an end of sin;God the man of sin shall slay:Fill thee with triumphant joy;God shall thrust him out, and say,"Destroy them all, destroy!" 4 All the struggle then is o'er,And wars and fightings cease,Israel then shall sin no more,But dwell in perfect peace;All his enemies are gone;Sin shall have in him no part;Israel now shall dwell alone,With Jesus in his heart. 5 In a land of corn and wineHis lot shall be below;Comforts there, and blessings join,And milk and honey flow;Jacob's well is in his soul;Gracious dew his heavens distil,Fill his spirit, already full,And shall for ever fill. 6 Blest, O Israel, art thou!What people is like thee?Saved from sin, by Jesus, nowThou art, and still shalt be;Jesus is thy seven-fold shield,Jesus is thy flaming sword;Earth, and hell, and sin, shall yieldTo God's almighty Word.7 God’s almighty Word shall stand;Thine enemies shall fall,Fade away at His command,And sink and perish all:Liars shall they all be found,All who cried, “It cannot be,Sin should ever quit its ground,And have no place in thee.”8 Christ shall make thee free indeedWhen He appears within;Thou on self and pride shalt tread,On all the strength of sin;Thou shalt more than conquer it;Thou shalt see it all depart,See it dead beneath thy feet,No longer in thy heart.9 God, the gracious God and true,Hath spoke the faithful word:He the mighty work shall do;Our trust is in the Lord;He the mountain shall remove,He the sinner shall restore,He shall perfect me in love,

Another glorious Wesley hymn needing no introduction.Love divine, all loves excelling,Joy of heaven to earth come down;Fix in us thy humble dwelling;All thy faithful mercies crown!Jesus, Thou art all compassion,Pure unbounded love Thou art;Visit us with Thy salvation;Enter every trembling heart.Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,Into every troubled breast!Let us all in Thee inherit;Let us find that second rest.Take away our love of sinning;Alpha and Omega be;End of faith, as its Beginning,Set our hearts at liberty.Come, Almighty to deliver,Let us all Thy life receive;Suddenly return and never,Never more Thy temples leave.Thee we would be always blessing,Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,Glory in Thy perfect love.Finish, then, Thy new creation;Pure and spotless let us be.Let us see Thy great salvationPerfectly restored in Thee;Changed from glory into glory,Till in heaven we take our place,Till we cast our crowns before Thee,Lost in wonder, love, and praise.and the tune is hyfrydol

Another permanent favourite...1 THOU Shepherd of Israel, and mine,The joy and desire of my heart,For closer communion I pine,I long to reside where Thou art:The pasture I languish to findWhere all, who their Shepherd obey.Are fed, on Thy bosom reclined,And screened from the heat of the day.2 Ah! show me that happiest place,That place of Thy people's abode,Where saints in an ecstasy gaze,And hang on a crucified God;Thy love for a sinner declare,Thy passion and death on the tree;My spirit to Calvary bear,To suffer and triumph with thee.3 'Tis there, with the lambs of thy flock,There only, I covet to rest,To lie at the foot of the rock,Or rise to be hid in Thy breast;'Tis there I would always abide,And never a moment depart,Concealed in the cleft of Thy side,Eternally held in Thy heart. How good is the God we adore,Our faithful unchangeable Friend:Whose love is as great as His power,And knows neither measure nor end.'Tis Jesus, the First and the Last,Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;We'll praise Him for all that is past,And trust Him for all that's to come.The last verse was by Joseph Hart

This is probably a better known hymn in some circles but I have tried to restore the missing verses.The phrase 'His love shall cross my fond desires' is my definition of the working of the cross in the life of the believer, but a wonderful 'coincidence' that the word 'cross' can be both noun and verb!And what about that glorious confidence in the last verse...All the attributes DivineAre now at work for me.1 AWAY, my needless fears,And doubts no longer mine!A ray of heavenly light appears,A messenger Divine. 2 Thrice comfortable hope,That calms my stormy breast;My Father's hand prepares the cup,And what He wills is best. He knows whate’er I want,And sees my helplessness,My Father’s hand prepares the cup,And what He wills is best.My fearful heart He reads,Secures my soul from harms,And underneath His mercy spreadsIts everlasting arms.His skill infallible,His providential grace,His power, and truth, that never fail,Shall order all my ways.3 If what I wish is good,And suits the will Divine;By earth and hell in vain withstood,I know it shall be mine. 4 Still let them counsel takeTo frustrate His decree,They cannot keep a blessing backBy heaven designed for me. If what my soul requiresEvil to me shall prove,His love shall cross my fond desires,His kindly jealous love:5 Here then I doubt no more,But in His pleasure rest,Whose wisdom, love, and truth, and power,Engage to make me blest. 6 To accomplish his designThe creatures all agree;And all the attributes DivineAre now at work for me.

Here's a 10 verse Wesley prayer for the last day of the year, especially verse 10...Jesus, Thy boundless love to meNo thought can reach, no tongue declare;Unite my thankful heart with TheeAnd reign without a rival there.Thine wholly, Thine alone I am:Be Thou alone my constant flame.O, grant that nothing in my soulMay dwell but Thy pure love alone!Oh, may Thy love possess me whole,My joy, my treasure, and my crown!All coldness from my heart remove;My every act, word, thought, be love.O love, how cheering is thy ray!All pain before thy presence flies;Care, anguish, sorrow, melt awayWherever thy healing beams arise.O Jesus, nothing may I see,Nothing hear, feel, or think but Thee!My Saviour, Thou Thy love to meIn shame, in want, in pain, hast showed;For me, on the accursed tree,Thou pouredst forth Thy guiltless blood;Thy wounds upon my heart impress,Nor aught shall the loved stamp efface.More hard than marble is my heart,And foul with sins of deepest stain;But Thou the mighty Saviour art,Nor flowed thy cleansing blood in vain;Ah soften, melt this rock, and mayThy blood wash all these stains away!O that I, as a little child,May follow Thee, and never restTill sweetly Thou hast breathed Thy mildAnd lowly mind into my breast!Nor ever may we parted be,Till I become one spirit with Thee.What in Thy love possess I not?My Star by night, my Sun by day;My Spring of Life when parched with drought,My Wine to cheer, my Bread to stay,My Strength, my Shield, my safe Abode,My Robe before the throne of God!!Still let Thy love point out my way;How wondrous things Thy love hath wrought!Still lead me, lest I go astray;Direct my word, inspire my thought;And if I fall, soon may I hearThy voice, and know that love is near.In suffering be Thy love my peace,In weakness be Thy love my power;And when the storms of life shall cease,Jesus, in that important hour,In death as life be Thou my guide,And save me, Who for me hast died.Unwearied may I this pursue,Dauntless to the high prize aspire;Hourly within my breast renewThis holy flame, this heavenly fire;And day and night be all my careTo guard this sacred treasure there.

Psa 93:1-5 KJV The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. (2) Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. (3) The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. (4) The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. (5) Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim,And publish abroad his wonderful Name;The Name, all victorious, of Jesus extol;His kingdom is glorious, and rules over all.The waves of the sea have lift up their voice,Sore troubled that we in Jesus rejoice;The floods they are roaring, but Jesus is hereWhile we are adoring He always is near.Men, devils, engage, the billows arise,And horribly rage, and threaten the skies;Their fury shall never our steadfastness shock,The weakest believer is built on a Rock.God ruleth on high, almighty to save;And still Hehe is nigh, His presence we have:The great congregation His triumph shall sing,Ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.Salvation to God who sits on the throne!Let all cry aloud and honour the Son:Our Jesus’s praises the angels proclaim,Fall down on their faces, and worship the Lamb.Then let us adore, and give him his right,All glory and power, and wisdom, and might,All honour and blessing, with angels above,And thanks never ceasing, for infinite love.

The Wesley brothers believed that their special stewardship was the truth of Sanctification 'here'. You will see the word 'here' scattered throughout this wonderful hymn that puts the responsibility for sanctification where is belongs... Jesus, look to Thy faithfulness.1 All things are possible to himThat can in Jesu's name believe:Lord, I no more thy truth blaspheme,Thy truth I lovingly receive;I can, I do believe in thee,All things are possible to me. 2 The most impossible of allIs, that I e'er from sin should cease;Yet shall it be, I know it shall;Jesus, look to thy faithfulness!If nothing is too hard for thee,All things are possible to me. 3 Though earth and hell the word gainsay,The word of God can never fail;The Lamb shall take my sins away,'Tis certain, though impossible;The thing impossible shall be,All things are possible to me. 4 When thou the work of faith hast wrought,I here shall in thine image shine,Nor sin in deed, or word, or thought;Let men exclaim, and fiends repine,They cannot break the firm decree;All things are possible to me. The unchangeable decree is past,The sure predestinating word,That I, who on my Lord am cast,I shall be like my sinless Lord;‘Twas fixed from all eternity:All things are possible to me.5 Thy mouth, O Lord, hath spoke, hath swornThat I shall serve thee without fear,Shall find the pearl which others spurn,Holy, and pure, and perfect here,The servant as his Lord shall be;All things are possible to me. 6 All things are possible to God,To Christ, the power of God in man,To me, when I am all renewed,When I in Christ am born again,And witness, from all sin set free,All things are possible to me.

I quoted recently from this hymn in the Abraham, My Friend meditations and thought you might appreciate the whole hymn.1 GOD, of good the unfathomed sea!Who would not give his heart to thee?Who would not love thee with his might?O Jesu, lover of mankind,Who would not his whole soul and mind,With all his strength, to thee unite? 2 Thou shin'st with everlasting rays;Before the insufferable blazeAngels with both Wings veil their eyes;Yet free as air thy bounty streamsOn all thy works; thy mercy's beamsDiffusive as thy sun's arise. 3 Astonished at thy frowning brow,Earth, hell, and heaven's strong pillars bow;Terrible majesty is thine!Who then can that vast love expressWhich bows thee down to me, who lessThan nothing am, till thou art mine? 4 High throned on heaven's eternal hill,In number, weight, and measure stillThou sweetly orderest all that is:And yet thou deign'st to come to me,And guide my steps, that I, with theeEnthroned, may reign in endless bliss. 5 Fountain of good! all blessing flowsFrom thee; no want thy fulness knows;What but thyself canst thou desire?Yes; self-sufficient as thou art,Thou dost desire my worthless heart;This, only this, dost thou require. 6 Primeval Beauty! in thy sightThe first-born, fairest sons of lightSee all their brightest glories fade:What then to me thine eyes could turn,In sin conceived, of woman born,A worm, a leaf, a blast, a shade? 7 Hell's armies tremble at thy nod,And trembling own the Almighty God,Sovereign of earth, hell, air, and sky:But who is this that comes from far,Whose garments rolled in blood appear?'Tis God made man, for man to die! 8 O God, of good the unfathomed sea!Who would not give his heart to thee?Who would not love thee with his might?O Jesu, lover of mankind,Who would not his whole soul and mind,With all his strength, to thee unite?

A translation of the hymn "O Jesu Christ, mein schönstes Licht" by Paul Gerhardt translated into English by John Wesley. John Wesley taught himself German in order to communicate with Moravian Missionaries on board ship in his journey to the 'colonies'.Jesus, Thy boundless love to meNo thought can reach, no tongue declare;Unite my thankful heart with TheeAnd reign without a rival there.To Thee alone, dear Lord, I live;Myself to Thee, dear Lord, I give.O, grant that nothing in my soulMay dwell but Thy pure love alone!Oh, may Thy love possess me whole,My joy, my treasure, and my crown!All coldness from my heart remove;My every act, word, thought, be love.O Love, how cheering is thy ray!All pain before thy presence flies;Care, anguish, sorrow, melt awayWherever thy healing beams arise.O Jesus, nothing may I see,Nothing desire or seek, but Thee!This love unwearied I pursueAnd dauntlessly to Thee aspire.Oh, may Thy love my hope renew,Burn in my soul like heavenly fire!And day and night be all my careTo guard this sacred treasure there.My Savior, Thou Thy love to meIn shame, in want, in pain, hast showed;For me, on the accursèd tree,Thou pourest forth Thy guiltless blood;Thy wounds upon my heart impress,Nor aught shall the loved stamp efface.More hard than marble is my heart,And foul with sins of deepest stain;But Thou the mighty Savior art,Nor flowed thy cleansing blood in vain;Ah soften, melt this rock, and mayThy blood wash all these stains away!O that I, as a little child,May follow Thee, and never restTill sweetly Thou hast breathed Thy mildAnd lowly mind into my breast!Nor ever may we parted beTill I become as one with Thee.Still let Thy love point out my way;How wondrous things Thy love hath wrought!Still lead me, lest I go astray;Direct my word, inspire my thought;And if I fall, soon may I hearThy voice, and know that love is near.In suffering be Thy love my peace,In weakness be Thy love my power;And when the storms of life shall cease,Jesus, in that important hour,In death as life be Thou my guide,And save me, Who for me hast died.

A great favourite in times past for English funerals! but much more relevant for the day to day... perhaps someone today needs to hear the words "Plenteous grace with thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin,"1 JESU, Lover of my soul,Let me to thy bosom fly,While the nearer waters roll,While the tempest still is high:Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,Till the storm of life be past!Safe into the haven guide,O receive my soul at last! 2 Other refuge have I none,Hangs my helpless soul on thee;Leave, ah! leave me not alone,Still support and comfort me:All my trust on thee is stayed,All my help from thee I bring;Cover my defenceless headWith the shadow of thy wing. 3 Thou, O Christ, art all I want,More than all in thee I find!Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,Heal the sick, and lead the blind;Just and holy is thy name,I am all unrighteousness;False and full of sin I am,Thou art full of truth and grace. 4 Plenteous grace with thee is found,Grace to cover all my sin,Let the healing streams abound;Make and keep me pure within:Thou of life the fountain art,Freely let me take of thee,Spring thou up within my heart,Rise to all eternity.

this is a wonderful thread! bringing back to the "surface"