Scripture Verse

I have called you friends. John 15:15

Introduction

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Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems (Bris­tol, Eng­land: Fe­lix Far­ley, 1742), pag­es 217–18.

Music: Song 34 (Gib­bons) Or­lan­do Gib­bons, 1623 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)

Lyrics

Jesu, my Sav­ior, brother, friend,
On whom I cast my every care,
On whom for all things I depend,
Inspire, and then accept, my prayer.

If I have tasted of Thy grace,
The grace that sure sal­va­tion brings,
If with me now Thy Spi­rit stays,
And hovering hides me in His wings.

Still let Him with my weakness stay,
Nor for a moment’s space depart,
Evil and danger turn away,
And keep, till He renews my heart.

When to the right or left I stray,
His voice behind me may I hear,
Return, and walk in Christ Thy way,
Fly back to Christ, for sin is near.

His sacred unction from above
Be still my Com­fort­er and Guide;
Till all the hardness He remove,
And in my loving heart reside.

Jesus, I fain would walk in Thee,
From nature’s every path retreat;
Thou art my way, my leader be,
And set upon the rock my feet.

Uphold me, Sav­ior, or I fall,
O reach me out Thy gracious hand
Only on Thee for help I call,
Only by faith in Thee I stand.

Pierce, fill me with a humble fear,
My utter helplessness reveal;
Satan and sin are always near,
Thee may I always nearer feel.

O that to Thee my constant mind
Might with an eve flame aspire!
Pride in its earliest motions find,
And mark the risings of desire.

O that my tender soul might fly
The first abhorred approach of ill,
Quick, as the apple of an eye,
The slightest touch of sin to feel.

Till thou anew my soul create,
Still may I strive, and watch, and pray,
Humbly, and confidently wait,
And long to see Thy perfect day.

My whole regard still may I place
On the faint ray of opening light,
The sure prophetic word of grace
That glimmers through my nature’s night.

Here let my soul’s sure anchor be,
Here let me fix my wishful eyes,
And wait till I exult to see
The Day-Star in my heart arise.

My Lord, Thou will not long delay,
This inward calm proclaims Thee near,
Sorrow and doubt are fled away;
My Lord shall in my heart appear.

Jesu, my Sav­ior, brother, friend,
As I believe, so let it be;
O make me patient to the end,
And then reveal Thy­self in me.