The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Saviour of life, and Prince of peace,
Behold our brethren in distress,
Whose growing load we bear;
Victims of every sex and age,
Abandon'd to the murderer's rage
And all the waste of war.

The hour of their temptation's come,
The ruthless savages of Rome
With fire and sword assail;
Our friends they rend as slaughter'd sheep,
Resolved their league with death to keep,
Their covenant with hell.

But wilt Thou let the leopards tear
The men, who arm'd with faith and prayer
All human help disown;
Nor dare their violent foes withstand,
The meek and quiet in the land
Who trust on Thee alone?

The simple men of heart sincere,
Who more than death Thine anger fear,
Regard their helplessness,
Their tender dread to disobey
Which antedates the gospel-day
Of universal peace.

Now, Lord, in their defence arise,
Now, Saviour, in the heathen's eyes
Thy glorious arm make bare;
And all who tremble at Thy word
Save from the peril of the sword,
The grievousness of war.

Far off from them the woe remove;
The woe which soon our own may prove,
(If so our sins require,)
We soon more deeply may bemoan
Our country spoil'd, our land o'erthrown,
Our cities burn'd with fire.

But O! prevent the misery;
The ills we tremble to foresee,
In mercy, Lord, avert.
Our foes, when ready to devour,
Disarm; and chase the lust of power
From every human heart.

Hasten the long-expected day,
When all shall own Thy gracious sway,
Of Thy meek Spirit learn,
Accomplishing Thy faithful words,
When all shall break their useless swords,
Or into ploughshares turn.

Now let us give our fightings o'er,
And learn destructive war no more,
And only strive to prove
The blessings of Thy peaceful reign
In love to every soul of man,
In pure millennial love.

University of Virginia Library

A HYMN FOR THE ENGLISH IN AMERICA.