The Humbled Pharisee

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My gracious, loving Lord, To Thee what shall I say?

Author: Charles Wesley
Tune: OLIVET (Dykes)
Published in 34 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 My gracious, loving Lord,
To thee what shall I say?
Well may I tremble at thy word,
And scarce presume to pray.

2 Ten thousand wants have I;
Alas! I all things want!
But thou hast bid me always cry,
And never, never faint.

3 Yet Lord, well might I fear,
Fear e'en to ask thy grace,
So oft have I, alas! drawn near,
And mock'd thee to thy face.

4 With all pollution stain'd,
Thy hallow'd courts I trod;
Thy name and temple I profan'd,
And dar'd to call thee God!

5 Nigh with my lips I drew:
My lips were all unclean;
Thee with my heat I never knew;
My heart was full of sin.

6 Far from the living Lord,
Far, far from God and heav'n,
Thy purity I still abhorr'd,
Nor look'd to be forgiv'n.

Source: A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #189

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Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

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First Line:	My gracious, loving Lord, To Thee what shall I say?
Title:	The Humbled Pharisee
Author:	Charles Wesley
Meter:	6.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain