Help, O help, Thou Serpent-Bruiser!

Verse 1
Help, O help, Thou Serpent-bruiser!
Me thy Foe Strives t’ o’rethrow;
Cast down the Accuser.

Verse 2
Jesu, if I have found favour
In thy Sight, Plead my Right,
Shew Thyself my Saviour.

Verse 3
Fight with Those that strive t’ annoy me,
Earth and Hell Both assail,
Seeking to destroy me.

Verse 4
With thy Shield my Weakness cover,
Guard mine Head By thine Aid
’Till the Storm is over.

Verse 5
Stop the Rage of Persecution,
With thy Spear, Lord, appear,
To my Sins Confusion.

Verse 6
All the Power of Pride and Passion
O controul, Tell my Soul
I am thy Salvation.

Verse 7
Then my Soul shall bow before Thee,
Spread thy Praise, Sing thy Grace,
And with Thanks adore Thee.

Verse 8
All my Bones, my Strength, shall bless Thee,
All I am Shall proclaim,
And with Joy confess Thee.

Verse 9
Who shall with my Lord compare!
Who like Thee Can set free
From the Fowler’s Snare?

Verse 10
Thou the Needy dost deliver,
Thou the Poor dost secure
From the Grand Deceiver.

Verse 11
Satan vexes them no longer,
Thou the Prey Bear’st away;
Thou art still the Stronger.

Verse 12
Sav’d they rest from their Distresses,
Sin gives place To thy Grace,
Sin for ever ceases.

Hymnal/Album: Originally titled: “Another [Psalm XXXV].” This hymn appears in the ca. 1749 manuscript “MS Psalms.” 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 1977/553, Charles Wesley Notebooks Box 1). Accessed through the website of The Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition, Duke Divinity School. Introduced in Versions and Paraphrases of Select Psalms. Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 8 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1870), page 77.
Publishing: Public Domain