1 True witness of the Father’s love,
Celestial messenger divine,
Come in Thy Spirit from above,
The hearts which Thou hast made incline,
Thy faithful record to receive
That all may hear Thy voice and live.
2 Send forth the everlasting Word,
The Word of reconciling grace,
That all may know their bleeding Lord,
The freely proffered gift embrace,
Hang on the all-atoning Lamb,
And bless the sound of Jesus’ name.
3 Jesu, Thou only hast the key,
Open the great effectual door,
Extend Thy line from sea to sea,
And glorify Thy mercy’s power,
Redeem the wretched slaves of sin,
And force Thy rebels to come in.
4 Now to Thy yoke their spirits bow,
Thy way into their hearts prepare,
Be present with Thy servants now,
With me Thy meanest messenger,
Who humbly at Thy bidding come,
To call my fellow exiles home.
5 Fisher of men ordained by Thee,
O might I catch them by Thy love!
Thy love be first bestowed on me,
And while the pleasing power I prove,
My tongue shall echo to my heart,
And tell the world how good Thou art.
6 Teach me to cast my net aright,
The Gospel net of general grace,
So shall I all to Thee invite,
And draw them to their Lord’s embrace,
Within Thine arms of love include,
And catch a willing multitude.
7 O might I every mourner cheer,
And trouble every heart of stone,
Save, under Thee, the souls that hear,
Nor lose, in seeking them, my own,
Nor basely from my calling fly,
But for Thy Gospel live, and die.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12907
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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