Wretched, helpless, and distressed

Wretched, helpless, and distressed

Author: Charles Wesley
Tune: KINGSWOOD
Published in 51 hymnals

Full Text

1 Wretched, helpless, and distrest,
Ah! whither shall I fly,
Ever gasping after rest,
I cannot find it nigh:
Naked, sick, and poor, and blind,
Fast bound in Sin and Misery,
Friend of Sinners, let me find
My help, my all in Thee.

2 Who my Misery can relate,
My depth of Woe reveal?
I have lost my first Estate,
In helpless Adam fell.
Driven out of mine abode,
I now have lost my perfect bliss,
Fallen, fallen out of God,
And banish'd Paradise.

3 I am all unclean, unclean,
Thy Purity I want;
My whole heart is sick of Sin,
And my whole Head is faint;
Full of putrifying Sores,
Of Bruises and of Wounds, my Soul
Looks to Jesus, Help implores,
And Gasps to be made whole.

4 In the Wilderness I stray,
My foolish Heart is blind;
Noting do I know: The Way
Of Peace I cannot find.
Jesus, Lord restore my Sight,
And take, O take the Vail away;
Turn my Darkness into Light,
My Midnight into Day.

Source: A Choice Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs: intended for the edification of sincere Christians of all denominations #XXVI

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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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Text Information

First Line: Wretched, helpless, and distressed
Author: Charles Wesley
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Notes

Wretched, helpless, and distressed. C. Wesley. [Lent.] First published in Hymns & Sacred Poems, 1742, p. 43, in 8 stanzas of 8 lines, as a second hymn on Rev. iii. 17. In 1780, stanza ii. was omitted when the hymn was given in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, No. 105, and in the same form it is still retained. Original text Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. ii. pp. 92-94. The somewhat peculiar lines:—

"My whole heart is sick of sin,
And my whole head is faint"

is furnished with this note by Dr. Osborn (Poetical Works as above).

"This singular transposition of the Prophet's words (Isaiah i. 5) though found in all the editions, must still be regarded as an oversight."

No evidence, however, of its being such is forthcoming, and the revised edition of the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1875, retains the old reading.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Timeline

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Instances

Instances (1 - 51 of 51)Text InfoTune InfoTextScoreFlexScoreAudioPage Scan
A Choice Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs: intended for the edification of sincere Christians of all denominations #XXVIText
A Collection of Hymns Adapted to the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church #d643
A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social and Domestic Worship #d997
A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social and Domestic Worship #d1004
A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #d1004
A Collection of Hymns for Public, Social, and Domestic Worship #400Page Scan
A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in America #d395
A Collection of Hymns for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. with a Supplement #d682
A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church: principally from the collection of Rev. John Wesley, M. A., late fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford; with... (Rev. & corr.) #57Page Scan
A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church: Principally from the Collection of the Rev. John Wesley. M. A. #57Page Scan
A Collection of Hymns, for the Use of the People Called Methodists, with a Supplement #109Page Scan
A Collection of Hymns: for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church, principally from the collection of the Rev. John Wesley, A. M., late fellow of Lincoln College..(Rev. and corr. with a supplement) #57Page Scan
A Collection of Hymns: for the use of the people called Methodists; in miniature #109Page Scan
A Selection of Hymns ... Supplement to the Methodist Pocket Hymn Book. 1st ed #d313
A Selection of Hymns for Worship (2nd ed.) #371Page Scan
A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Designed as a Supplement to the Methodist Pocket Hymn Book. 3rd ed. #d322
Additional Hymns, Adopted by the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America, at their Session, June 1846, and authorized to be used in the churches under their care #105Page Scan
Church Melodies: collection of psalms and hymns, with appropriate music. For the use of congregations. #132Page Scan
Harmonia Sacra: a Compilation of Psalm and Hymn Tunes [from the most celebrated European masters] #180Page Scan
Hymn Book of the Holiness Movement Church #d578
Hymns and Sacred Poems #43Page Scan
Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #489Page Scan
Hymns for the Use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Impr. ed. #d561
Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. ed. #415Page Scan
Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #d890
Methodist Hymn-Book #321Page Scan
Musica Sacra: or, Springfield and Utica Collections United: consisting of Psalm and hymn tunes, anthems, and chants (2nd revised ed.) #130bPage Scan
Musica Sacra; or Springfield and Utica Collections United #d178
New Hymn and Tune book: an Offering of Praise for the Methodist Episcopal Church #377bPage Scan
New Hymn and Tune Book: an Offering of Praise for the Use of the African M. E. Zion Church of America #377bPage Scan
Parish Hymns: a collection of hymns for public, social, and private worship; selected and original #260Page Scan
Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #999Page Scan
Psalmista: or, Choir Melodies #d278
Revival Hymns ... with a Supplement. 2nd ed. #d359
Sacred Songs for Family and Social Worship: comprising the most approved spiritual hymns with chaste and popular tunes #106Page Scan
Selah: a collection of psalm and hymn tunes, introits, anthems, chants, motetts, choruses, etc. adapted to the use of classes, private circles, and worship assemblies #211aPage Scan
Spiritual Melodies #d369
Spiritual Melodies. Enl. & impr. ed. #d434
Spiritual Songs for Social Worship: adapted to the use of families and private circles in seasons of revival, to missionary meetings, to the monthly concert, and to other occasions... (3rd ed.) #224Page Scan
Spiritual Songs for Social Worship: adapted to the use of families and private circles in seasons of rivival, to missionary meetings, to the monthly concert, and to other occasions of special interest #224Page Scan
Spiritual Songs for Social Worship: adapted to the use of families and private circles, to missinary meetings, to monthly concert, and to other occasions of special interest.(Rev. and Enl. Ed.) #224Page Scan
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book: being "The Plymouth Collection" enlarged and adapted to the use of Baptist churches #999Page Scan
The Centenary Singer: a collection of hymns and tunes popular during the last one hundred years #131Page Scan
The Christian Psalmist; or, Watts' Psalms and Hymns: with copious selections from other sources; the whole carefully revised and arranged, with directions for musical expression #323Page Scan
The Christian's Harp: containing a choice selection of psalm and hymn tunes, suited to the various metres now in use among the different religious denominations..(Corrected, enlarged and much improved #117Page Scan
The Great Redemption in Songs New and Selected #d337
The Heart and Voice: or, Songs of Praise for the Sanctuary: hymn and tune book, designed for congregational singing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for congregations generally #346bPage Scan
The Methodist Harmonist, containing a collection of tunes from the best authors, embracing every variety of metre, and adapted to the worship of the Methodist Episcopal Church. New ed. #185.57Page Scan
The Psalms and Hymns, with the Doctrinal Standards and Liturgy of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America #H294Page Scan
The Sacred Lyre #d78
The Victory #d461
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