Verse 1
O the cruel power of sin,
How long shall it endure!
When, O when shall I be clean,
And pure as God is pure?
From the dead with Jesus rise,
Be in all his blessing blest,
Gain my calling’s glorious prize,
And enter into rest!

Verse 2
O might I this moment cease
From every work of mine,
Find the perfect holiness,
The righteousness divine,
Righteousness which never ends;
In himself who feels it wrought,
He no more his God offends
In deed, or word, or thought.

Verse 3
Unto this thrice happy state,
O how shall I attain!
All my time for this I wait,
And cannot wait in vain;
I shall thy salvation see,
I shall do thy perfect will,
Live in glorious liberty,
And all thy fulness feel.

Verse 4
O cut short the work, and make
Me now a creature new,
For thy truth and mercy’s sake,
The gracious wonder shew.
Call me forth thy witness, Lord,
Let my life declare thy power,
Born of God, renew’d, restor’d,
O let me sin no more.

Verse 5
Fain would I the truth proclaim
That makes me free indeed,
Glorify my Saviour’s name,
And all its vertues spread:
Jesus all our wants relieves,
Jesus, mighty to redeem,
Saves, and to the utmost saves
All those that come to him.

Verse 6
Jesu, lo! I come to thee,
And wait to be sent forth;
If thy Spirit send forth me,
A worm shall shake the earth;
I shall thy great name declare,
Spread thy victories abroad,
Be the weapons of thy war,
The battle-ax of God.

Verse 7
Perfect then thy mighty power
In a weak, sinful worm,
All my sins destroy, devour,
And all my soul transform;
Now apply thy[1] Spirit’s seal,
O come quickly from above,
Empty me of self, and fill
With all the life of love.

[1] Wesley changed “thy” to “the” in 1761.