In 1739, John and Charles Wesley published a book of verse and hymns that includes many rich sources of earnest devotion to our God. While Charles is famous for such verse and hymn writing – he wrote more than 7000 poems, hymns, and songs – he was also a source of rich devotional verse related to His God.

Image via “Hymns Ancient & Modern, Historical Edition” (1909)

Though these two brothers started out as fervent follows of religious thought and systems, they eventually came to know the fullness of the life of their God in them. They lived revival lives by the Holy Spirit the rest of their days.

Enjoy a few selections of verse from the brothers Wesley on the life of God in the soul of true disciples.

A Soul In Its Earliest Love – Charles Wesley (1707-1788) O how happy are they who their Savior obey, and have laid up their treasure above; Tongue can never express the sweet comfort and peace of a soul in its earliest love.

That sweet comfort was mine, when the favor divine I received though the blood of the Lamb; When my heart first believed, what a joy I received – what a heaven in Jesus’ Name!

‘Twas a heaven below my Redeemer to know, and the angels could do nothing more than to fall at His feet, and the story repeat, and the Lover of sinners adore.

Jesus all day long was my joy and my song: O that all His salvation might see; He hath loved me, I cried, He hath suffered and died, to redeem even rebels like me.

O the rapturous height of the holy delight which I felt in the life-giving blood; Of my Savior possessed, I was perfectly blessed as if filled with the fullness of God.

I Thirst, Thou Wounded Lamb of God – John Wesley (1703 – 1791) I thirst, thou wounded Lamb of God,
To wash me in thy cleansing blood,
To dwell within thy wounds; then pain
Is sweet, and life or death is gain.

Take my poor heart, and let it be
For ever closed to all but thee!
Seal thou my breast, and let me wear;
That pledge of love for ever there!

How blest are they who still abide
Close sheltered in thy bleeding side,
Who life and strength from thence derive,
And by thee move, and in thee live.

What are our works but sin and death,
Till thou thy quickening Spirit breathe!
Thou giv’st the power thy grace to move;
O wondrous grace! O boundless love!

How can it be, thou heavenly King,
That thou shouldst us to glory bring?
Make slaves the partners of thy throne,
Decked with a never-fading crown?

Hence our hearts melt, our eyes o’erflow,
Our words are lost; nor will we know,
Nor will we think of aught beside,
“My Lord, my Love is crucified.”

Ah, Lord! enlarge our scanty thought,
To know the wonders thou hast wrought;
Unloose our stammering tongues, to tell
Thy love immense, unsearchable.

First-born of many brethren thou!
To thee, lo! all our souls we bow:
To thee our hearts and hands we give:
Thine may we die, thine may we live!

The Morning Hymn – Charles Wesley
Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night:
Day-spring from on high, be near:
Day-star, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by thee,
Joyless is the day’s return,
Till thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till thy inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin, and grief,
Fill me, Radiancy Divine,
Scatter all my unbelief,
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.

Header image via author, Beartooth High Lakes, Wyoming