I Want a Principle Within

During Morning Prayer, as has been my custom, I sang some hymns.  I have rotated between the Nazarene "Sing to the Lord" hymnal and various collections of Wesley hymns.  Currently, I am once again singing through the "Wesley Hymns" hymnal compiled by Ken Bible and published through Lillenas Publishing Co. (Nazarene).

Today's hymns included the following by Charles Wesley.  -  It is my prayer, and I hope that it will be yours, as well.

1. I want a principle within

Of watchful, godly fear,

A sensibility of sin,

A pain to feel it near.
I want the first approach to feel

Of pride or wrong desire,

To catch the wand'ring of my will,

And quench the kindling fire.

 

2. That I from Thee no more may part,

No more Thy goodness grieve,

The filial* awe, the fleshly heart,

The tender conscience, give.

Quick* as the apple of an eye*,

O God, my conscience make;

Awake my soul when sin is nigh

And keep it still awake.

 

3. If to the right or left I stray,

That moment, Lord, reprove;

And let my spirit weep and pray

For having grieved Thy love.

O may the least omission pain

My well-instructed soul!

And drive me to the blood again,

Which makes the wounded whole.

 

_____________________________________________________________________

2/3 "filial" - of a son or daughter; here the awe of a child for his/her parent.

2/4 "quick" - alert, perceptive, sensitive.

2/5 "the apple of an eye" - that which is highly prized or dear; see Prov. 7:2