1 O Thou, who know’st what is in man,
Who searchest out the reins and heart,
Me, Jesu, to myself explain,
A ray of heavenly light impart;
Impart Thyself, Thou real light,
And manifest my nature’s night.
2 Cause me, O God, myself to know,
The depth of wickedness within,
Show me, my inmost substance show,
Th’exceeding sinfulness of sin:
Such power belongs to Thee alone;
Show me that sin and I are one.
3 Senseless alike of sin and Thee,
My unawakened soul remains
Fast bound in sin, and misery;
I slumber on, nor feel my chains,
Nor taste nor see how good Thou art,
For still the veil is on my heart.
4 Oh! Might my heart at last relent,
And feel the guilty mountain-load.
Oh! That Thy powerful Word might rent
The veil, and let me into God;
The glories of Thy face display,
The brightness of eternal day!
5 I know the terms: I cannot see
Thy blissful face, and live—in sin:
A flaming sword preserves the tree
Of life, lest self should enter in;
It keeps out self, and every way
It turns, the man of sin to slay.
6 Be it according to Thy Word,
Ready to meet my doom I am.
Oh! Let me rush upon that sword,
And feel the sin-consuming flame;
Live only Christ in me, not I;
O let me see Thy face and die!
7 Die all of self to live no more,
Die the old man no more to rise;
Me to Thine image here restore,
Receive me to Thy paradise,
(Whence I may never more remove)
The paradise of perfect love.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #11115
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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