Have not I for forty years

Verse 1
Have not I for forty years
Wandring in the wilderness
Tempted by my doubts and fears,
Griev’d the Spirit of his grace,
By rebellions multiplied
Dared my Angel-Guide t’ offend,
Jesus’ utmost patience tried,
Found his mercies never end.

Verse 2
Yes, thou hast my manners borne,
God of love, to anger slow:
When I would to sin return,
Still Thou wou’dst not let me go;
Oft as in my heart I err’d,
Thou wast ready to forgive,
Hast till now the rebel spar’d,
Strangely suffer’d me to live.

Verse 3
O the depths of mercy shown
One who did thee such despight!
Infinite my sins I own,
Mercy is more infinite!
Let me then thy grace implore,
Since Thou hast so much forgiven,
Bear me a few moments more,
Lead me to my rest in heaven.

Hymnal/Album: Originally titled: “‘Forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.’—[Acts 13,] v. 18.” This hymn appears in the 1764 manuscript “MS Acts.” This manuscript is part of the collection of the Methodist Archive and Research Centre in The John Rylands Library, The University of Manchester (accession number MA 1977/555, Charles Wesley Notebooks Box 1). Accessed through the website of The Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition, Duke Divinity School. Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 12 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1871), page 277.
Publishing: Public Domain