The children to the birth are come

Verse 1
The children to the birth are come,
But Oh! They have not might
To burst the barriers of the womb,
And struggle into light.

Verse 2
My feeble soul gives o’er the strife,
Just as it sees the skies,
Fails in the very gate of life,
Sinks back again, and dies.

Verse 3
I saw the port of Jesu’s breast,
But while I entred in,
A whirlwind swept me from my rest,
And plung’d me into sin.

Verse 4
What shall I do, or whither turn?
Despairing of relief,
I only can my ruin mourn
With unavailing grief.

Verse 5
Ah woe is me! To evil sold,
And fallen back from grace!
I never, never shall behold
The dear Redeemer’s face.

Verse 6
Better, that I had, never felt
My Saviour’s blood applied;
Less aggravated were my guilt,
Had I in Egypt died.

Verse 7
Better that I had never known
The way of righteousness,
Than to break off the course begun,
And leave th’ unfinish’d race.

Verse 8
Ah! Wherefore did I ever take,
If I must quit the field;
Must shamefully at last turn back,
And cast away my shield?

Verse 9
But shall I throw on God the blame?
Or daringly complain
Because I most unfaithful am,
And make his mercies vain?

Verse 10
No, Lord, thy truth and grace I clear;
For years thy Spirit strove,
Faithful to me thy mercies were,
And infinite thy love.

Verse 11
Far be it from my wretched heart
To charge my death on thee,
To save me now thou ready art,
If sav’d I now would be.

Verse 12
Whether or no my heart of stone
Will yield to be renewed,
Sufficient is thy grace I own,
I justify my God.

Verse 13
This record do I leave behind,
Whether I stand or fall,
Sinners, ye all his grace may find,
His grace is free for all.

Hymnal/Album: Originally titled: "In Doubt." Introduced in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1742), published by John and Charles Wesley (London: William Strahan, 1742). Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 2 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1869), page 100.
Publishing: Public Domain