Date: 1742

"My soul is dead, my heart is stone, / A cage of birds and beasts unclean, / A den of thieves, a dire abode / Of dragons, but no house of God."

— Wesley, John and Charles

Date: 1742

"Carnal heart, immersed in sin, / All a cage of birds unclean!"

— Wesley, John and Charles

Date: 1743

"My heart and flesh cry out for God: / There would I fix my soul's abode, / As birds that in the altars nest."

— Wesley, John and Charles

Date: 1762?

"My heart a cage of birds unclean, / Its old corrupt affections feels, / Its strong propensity to sin; / And God in me no longer dwells."

— Wesley, John and Charles

Date: 1762

"That work of faith the novice blind / Would fain, on fancy's horse, leap o'er, / A shorter way to Zion find, / And fight with sin--when sin's no more."

— Wesley, John and Charles

Date: 1780

"Tread down Thy foes, with power control / The beast and devil in my soul."

— Wesley, John and Charles

Date: 1868

"The strong man arm'd this moment bind, / The bold usurper of Thy throne, / His armour seize, the carnal mind, / The unbelieving heart of stone, / Out of my flesh the evil tear, / And pluck my soul out of the snare."

— Wesley, John and Charles

Date: 1868

"A sinner's heart by lust possess'd, / Of birds unclean the loathsome nest, / Of fiends the dark abode; / A stinking sepulchre it lies, / While the poor wretch with horror flies / The sight of man and God."

— Wesley, John and Charles