Forgive my foes, it cannot be

Forgive my foes, it cannot be

Author: Charles Wesley
Tune: WAVERTREE
Published in 2 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Forgive my foes? it cannot be:
My foes with cordial love embrace?
Fast bound in sin and misery,
Unsaved, unchanged by hallowing grace,
Throughout my fallen soul I feel
With man this is impossible.

2 Great Searcher of the mazy heart,
A thought from Thee I would not hide
I cannot draw th'envenomed dart,
Or quench this hell of wrath and pride.
Jesus, till I Thy Spirit receive,
Thou knowest, I never can forgive.

3 Come, Lord, and tame the tiger's force,
Arrest the whirlwind in my will,
Turn back the torrent's rapid course,
And bid the headlong sun stand still,
The rock dissolve, the mountain move,
And melt my hatred into love.

4 Root out the wrath thou dost restrain;
And when I have my Saviour's mind,
I cannot render pain for pain,
I cannot speak a word unkind,
An angry thought I cannot know,
Or count mine injurer my foe.

Source: The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal: official hymnal of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church #396

Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

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First Line: Forgive my foes, it cannot be
Author: Charles Wesley

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The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #396

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