And can I yet delay My little all to give?
To tear my soul from earth away, For Jesus to receive?
2 Nay, but I yield, I yield, I can hold out no more: I sink, by dying love compelled, And own thee conqueror.
3 Tho" late, I all forsake, My friends, my all resign; Gracious Redeemer, take, oh, take, And seal me ever thine.
4 Come and possess me whole, Nor hence again remove; Settle and fix my wav"ring soul With all thy weight of love.
Charles Wesley, 1746.
237 I am Listening. 8s & 7s.
_The Call Answered._
Do you hear the Savior calling, By the wooings of his voice?
Do you hear the accents falling?
Will you make the precious choice?
Ref.--I am list"ning; oh, I"m list"ning Just to hear the accents fall!
I am list"ning; oh, I"m list"ning To the Savior"s gentle call!
2 By his Spirit he is wooing, Softly drawing us to him, Thro" the day and night pursuing, With his gentle voice to win.
3 By the Word of Truth he"s speaking To the wand"ring, erring ones; List! the voice the stillness breaking!
Hear the sweet and solemn tones!
4 In his providential dealings, Even in his stern decrees, In the loudest thunders pealing, Or the murm"ring of the breeze.
W. S. Marshall.
238 I Do Believe. C.M.
_Unwearied Earnestness._ (491)
Father, I stretch my hand to thee; No other help I know: If thou withdraw thyself from me, Ah! whither shall I go?
Cho.--I do believe, I now believe That Jesus died for me; And thro" his blood, his precious blood, I shall from sin be free.
2 What did thine only Son endure.
Before I drew my breath?
What pain, what labor, to secure My soul from endless death!
3 O Jesus, could I this believe, I now should feel thy power; And all my wants thou would"st relieve, In this accepted hour.
4 Author of faith! to thee I lift My weary, longing eyes; Oh, let me now receive that gift-- My soul without it dies.
5 Surely thou canst not let me die; Oh, speak, and I shall live, And here I will unwearied lie, Till thou thy Spirit give.
6 How would my fainting soul rejoice, Could I but see thy face; Now let me hear thy quick"ning voice, And taste thy pard"ning grace.
Charles Wesley
239 I Do Believe. C.M.
_The Friend of Sinners._ (485)
Jesus! thou art the sinner"s Friend; As such I look to thee; Now, in the fullness of thy love, O Lord! remember me.
2 Remember thy pure word of grace,-- Remember Calvary; Remember all thy dying groans, And, then, remember me.
3 Thou wondrous Advocate with G.o.d!
I yield myself to thee; While thou art sitting on thy throne, Dear Lord! remember me.
4 Lord! I am guilty--I am vile, But thy salvation"s free; Then, in thine all abounding grace, Dear Lord! remember me.
Richard Burnham, 1783, _a._
240 Brown. C.M.
_Approaching the Mercy-Seat._ (482)
Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat, Where Jesus answers prayer; There humbly fall before his feet, For none can perish there.
2 Thy promise is my only plea, With this I venture nigh; Thou call"st the burdened souls to thee, And such, O Lord, am I.
3 Bowed down beneath a load of sin, By Satan sorely pressed; By wars without and fears within, I come to thee for rest.
4 Oh, wondrous love! to bleed and die, To bear the cross and shame; That guilty sinners, such as I, Might plead thy gracious name.
John Newton, 1779.
241 Take Me As I Am. P.M.
_No Hope in Self._
Jesus, my Lord, to thee I cry; Unless thou help me, I must die; Oh, bring thy free salvation nigh And take me as I am.
Ref.--Take me as I am, Take me as I am; Oh, bring thy free salvation nigh, And take me as I am.
2 Helpless I am, and full of guilt, But yet for me thy blood was spilt, And thou canst make me as thou wilt, But take me as I am.
3 I thirst, I long to know thy love, Thy full salvation I would prove; But since to thee I cannot move Oh, take me as I am.
4 If thou hast work for me to do, Inspire my will, my heart renew, And work both in and by me, too, But take me as I am.