In DESERTION or TEMPTATION. Rev. Charles Wesley Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T31323 K034809.000 Wesley, John, 1703-1791. Wesley, Charles, 1707-1788. Hymns and sacred poems: Published by John Wesley, ... and Charles Wesley, ... London printed by William Strahan; and sold by James Hutton; and at Mr. Bray's 1739 pp. 147-150. x,[6],223,[1]p.; 12⁰.

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In DESERTION or TEMPTATION . I. AH ! my dear LORD , whose changeless Love To Me , nor Earth nor Hell can part ; When shall my Feet forget to rove ? Ah , what shall fix this faithless Heart ? II . Why do these Cares my Soul divide If Thou indeed hast set me free ? Why am I Thus , if GOD hath dy'd ; If GOD hath dy'd to purchase Me ? III . Around me Clouds of Darkness roll , In deepest Night I still walk on ; Heavily moves my fainting Soul , My Comfort and my GOD are gone . IV . Chearless and all forlorn I droop ; In vain I lift my weary Eye ; No Gleam of Light , no Ray of Hope Appears throughout the darken'd Sky . V. My feeble Knees I bend again , My drooping Hands again I rear : Vain is the Task , the Effort vain , My Heart abhors the irksome Pray'r . VI . Oft with thy Saints my Voice I raise , And seem to join the tastless Song : Faintly ascends th' imperfect Praise , Or dies upon my thoughtless Tongue . VII . Cold , weary , languid , heartless , dead To thy dread Courts I oft repair ; By Conscience drag'd , or Custom led I come ; nor know that GOD is there ! VIII . Nigh with my Lips to Thee I draw , Unconscious at thy Altar found ; Far off my Heart : nor touch'd with Awe , Nor mov'd — tho' Angels tremble round . IX . In All I do , Myself I feel , And groan beneath the wonted Load , Still unrenew'd and carnal still , Naked of CHRIST , and void of GOD . X. Nor yet the Earthly Adam dies , But lives , and moves , and fights again , Still the fierce Gusts of Passion rise , And rebel Nature strives to reign . XI . Fondly my foolish Heart essays T' augment the Source of perfect Bliss , Love's All-sufficient Sea to raise With Drops of Creature-Happiness . XII . O Love ! thy Sov'reign Aid impart , And guard the Gifts Thyself hast giv'n : My Portion Thou , my Treasure art , And Life , and Happiness , and Heav'n . XIII . Would ought with Thee my Wishes share , Tho' dear as Life the Idol be , The Idol from my Breast I'll tear , Resolv'd to seek my All from Thee . XIV . Whate'er I fondly counted Mine , To Thee , my LORD , I here restore : Gladly I all for Thee resign : Give me Thyself , I ask no more !