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 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
147
HYMNS ON The Expected Invasion, 1759, AND FOR The Thanksgiving Day, November 20, 1759.
HYMNS ON THE EXPECTED INVASION.
149
HYMN I.
[Let God, the mighty God]
1
Let God, the mighty God,
The Lord of hosts arise,
With terror clad, with strength endued,
And rent, and bow the skies!
Call'd down by faithful prayer,
Saviour, appear below,
Thy hand lift up, Thine arm make bare,
And quell Thy church's foe.
The Lord of hosts arise,
With terror clad, with strength endued,
And rent, and bow the skies!
Call'd down by faithful prayer,
Saviour, appear below,
Thy hand lift up, Thine arm make bare,
And quell Thy church's foe.
Our refuge in distress,
In danger's darkest hour,
Appear as in the ancient days
With full redeeming power;
That Thy redeem'd may sing
In glad triumphant strains,
The Lord is God, the Lord is King,
The Lord for ever reigns!
In danger's darkest hour,
Appear as in the ancient days
With full redeeming power;
That Thy redeem'd may sing
In glad triumphant strains,
The Lord is God, the Lord is King,
The Lord for ever reigns!
2
We with our ears have heard,
Our fathers us have told
The work that in their days appear'd,
And in the times of old;
The mighty wonders wrought
By Heaven in their defence,
When Jacob's God for Britain fought
And chased the' invaders hence.
Our fathers us have told
The work that in their days appear'd,
And in the times of old;
150
By Heaven in their defence,
When Jacob's God for Britain fought
And chased the' invaders hence.
Vainly invincible
Their fleets the seas did ride,
And doom'd our sires to death and hell,
And Israel's God defied:
But with His wind He blew,
But with His waves He rose,
And dash'd, and scatter'd, and o'erthrew,
And swallow'd up His foes.
Their fleets the seas did ride,
And doom'd our sires to death and hell,
And Israel's God defied:
But with His wind He blew,
But with His waves He rose,
And dash'd, and scatter'd, and o'erthrew,
And swallow'd up His foes.
3
Jesus, Jehovah, Lord,
Thy wonted aid we claim;
Not trusting in our bow and sword,
But in Thy saving Name:
Thy Name the mighty tower,
From whence our foes we see
Ready our country to devour,
Without a nod from Thee.
Thy wonted aid we claim;
Not trusting in our bow and sword,
But in Thy saving Name:
Thy Name the mighty tower,
From whence our foes we see
Ready our country to devour,
Without a nod from Thee.
Thou wilt not give us up
A prey unto their teeth,
But blast their aim, confound their hope,
Their league with hell and death;
With such deliverance bless
Whom Thou hast chose for Thine,
That we, and Europe, may confess
The work is all Divine!
A prey unto their teeth,
But blast their aim, confound their hope,
Their league with hell and death;
With such deliverance bless
Whom Thou hast chose for Thine,
That we, and Europe, may confess
The work is all Divine!
151
HYMN II.
[God of unbounded power]
1
God of unbounded power,
God of unwearied love,
Be present in our dangerous hour,
Our danger to remove;
To guard our favourite land,
So oft preserved by Thee,
Come, Lord, and in the channel stand,
Come, and block up the sea.
God of unwearied love,
Be present in our dangerous hour,
Our danger to remove;
To guard our favourite land,
So oft preserved by Thee,
Come, Lord, and in the channel stand,
Come, and block up the sea.
Refuse them leave to pass,
Forbid them to draw nigher;
Surround us as a wall of brass,
As battlements of fire.
Our lives, our threaten'd coast
Beneath Thy shadow take,
And turn aside the alien host,
And drive the ruffians back.
Forbid them to draw nigher;
Surround us as a wall of brass,
As battlements of fire.
Our lives, our threaten'd coast
Beneath Thy shadow take,
And turn aside the alien host,
And drive the ruffians back.
2
Or if Thine awful will
Admit our Romish foe,
And force the sleeping crowd to feel
The long-suspended blow;
If justice stern hath pass'd
The' irrevocable doom,
And arm'd with Britain's sins at last
The ravagers must come;
Admit our Romish foe,
And force the sleeping crowd to feel
The long-suspended blow;
If justice stern hath pass'd
The' irrevocable doom,
And arm'd with Britain's sins at last
The ravagers must come;
3
Come then, ye hostile bands,
For one short moment come;
The Man in white shall bind your hands,
Ye murderers of Rome:
If suffer'd from on high
To reach our threaten'd shore,
With bridles in your mouth draw nigh,
And show your bounded power.
For one short moment come;
The Man in white shall bind your hands,
Ye murderers of Rome:
If suffer'd from on high
To reach our threaten'd shore,
With bridles in your mouth draw nigh,
And show your bounded power.
Your power to God submits;
He keeps our faithful souls;
Above the water-floods He sits,
And earth and hell controls:
In dangers, deaths, and snares
He lays the sacred line;
Nor can ye touch a man that bears
His Saviour's bloody sign.
He keeps our faithful souls;
Above the water-floods He sits,
And earth and hell controls:
In dangers, deaths, and snares
He lays the sacred line;
Nor can ye touch a man that bears
His Saviour's bloody sign.
HYMN III.
[But will the gracious Lord]
1
But will the gracious Lord,
Who hides us in His breast,
Redeem His servants from the sword,
And give up all the rest?
Wilt Thou Thy fury pour
On the obdurate crowd,
And let the Romish wolf devour
The men that know not God?
Who hides us in His breast,
Redeem His servants from the sword,
And give up all the rest?
Wilt Thou Thy fury pour
On the obdurate crowd,
And let the Romish wolf devour
The men that know not God?
153
Bowels Divine, forbid!
Forbid it, heavenly grace!
And let the mourning praying seed
Protect the sinful race:
To Abraham's Son and God,
With Abraham's faith we cry,
O spare a nation in their blood,
Nor let the wicked die.
Forbid it, heavenly grace!
And let the mourning praying seed
Protect the sinful race:
To Abraham's Son and God,
With Abraham's faith we cry,
O spare a nation in their blood,
Nor let the wicked die.
2
Drawn down by public crimes,
If vengeance must take place,
Why, Lord, in our degenerate times
Hast Thou remember'd grace?
Thy kingdom why restored?
What means Thy Spirit's strife,
While thousands by His powerful word
Are pass'd from death to life?
If vengeance must take place,
Why, Lord, in our degenerate times
Hast Thou remember'd grace?
Thy kingdom why restored?
What means Thy Spirit's strife,
While thousands by His powerful word
Are pass'd from death to life?
The tokens of Thy love
On every side we see,
And crowds begotten from above
Stretch out their hands to Thee:
Against this evil day
Ready prepared they stand,
To turn Thy vengeful wrath away,
And save a guilty land.
On every side we see,
And crowds begotten from above
Stretch out their hands to Thee:
Against this evil day
Ready prepared they stand,
To turn Thy vengeful wrath away,
And save a guilty land.
3
Even now with them we meet
Around Thy gracious throne,
And mercy for a land entreat
Where Thou art truly known:
We wrestle for the throng
Who dead in sins abide,
Because the judgment lingers long
Who all Thy threats deride.
Around Thy gracious throne,
And mercy for a land entreat
Where Thou art truly known:
We wrestle for the throng
Who dead in sins abide,
Because the judgment lingers long
Who all Thy threats deride.
154
What canst Thou do to save
The souls insensible,
Who madly their destruction brave,
And laugh at death and hell?
They ask the scourge to see,
They bid Thy day make haste,
But public ill, o'erruled by Thee,
Shall turn to good at last.
The souls insensible,
Who madly their destruction brave,
And laugh at death and hell?
They ask the scourge to see,
They bid Thy day make haste,
But public ill, o'erruled by Thee,
Shall turn to good at last.
HYMN IV.
[Here then we calmly rest]
1
Here then we calmly rest,
Whate'er Thy will intend,
It must be for Thy people best,
It must in blessings end:
To those that love the Lord,
And feel Thy sprinkled blood,
Famine, and pestilence, and sword,
Shall jointly work for good.
Whate'er Thy will intend,
It must be for Thy people best,
It must in blessings end:
To those that love the Lord,
And feel Thy sprinkled blood,
Famine, and pestilence, and sword,
Shall jointly work for good.
Our lives are hid with Thine,
Our hairs are number'd all,
Nor can, without the nod Divine,
One worthless sparrow fall:
And shall a nation bleed,
And shall a kingdom fail,
While Thou, O Christ, art Lord and Head,
O'er heaven, and earth, and hell!
Our hairs are number'd all,
Nor can, without the nod Divine,
One worthless sparrow fall:
And shall a nation bleed,
And shall a kingdom fail,
While Thou, O Christ, art Lord and Head,
O'er heaven, and earth, and hell!
2
Beneath Thy wings secure,
In patience we possess
Our souls, and quietly endure
Whate'er our God decrees:
Yet still we cry, Delay
The careless sinner's doom;
And, till the judgment comes, we pray
That it may never come:
In patience we possess
Our souls, and quietly endure
Whate'er our God decrees:
155
The careless sinner's doom;
And, till the judgment comes, we pray
That it may never come:
May never come alone,
But guided by Thy grace
Our vain self-confidence o'erturn,
And all our pride abase.
Who will not see Thy hand,
Thy truth and love adore,
Compel us, Lord, to understand
The thunder of Thy power.
But guided by Thy grace
Our vain self-confidence o'erturn,
And all our pride abase.
Who will not see Thy hand,
Thy truth and love adore,
Compel us, Lord, to understand
The thunder of Thy power.
3
Out of our slumber woke,
Bid all our nation rise,
And bless the providential stroke,
That turn'd us to the skies;
Who walk'd in darkest night,
In death's dread shadow lay,
Show us the great, the glorious light,
The dawn of gospel day.
Bid all our nation rise,
And bless the providential stroke,
That turn'd us to the skies;
Who walk'd in darkest night,
In death's dread shadow lay,
Show us the great, the glorious light,
The dawn of gospel day.
Escaped the hostile sword,
O may we fly to Thee,
And find in our redeeming Lord
Our life and liberty;
Our Strength and Righteousness,
O let us hold Thee fast
With confidence Divine, and peace
That shall for ever last.
O may we fly to Thee,
And find in our redeeming Lord
Our life and liberty;
Our Strength and Righteousness,
O let us hold Thee fast
With confidence Divine, and peace
That shall for ever last.
156
HYMN V. Jeremiah xlvii. 6, 7.
How long, thou weapon of the Lord,
Jehovah's controversial sword,
Before thy slaughters cease?
Put up thyself into thy sheath,
Be still, thou minister of death,
And sleep in endless peace.
Jehovah's controversial sword,
Before thy slaughters cease?
Put up thyself into thy sheath,
Be still, thou minister of death,
And sleep in endless peace.
How can it sleep, when hostile Heaven
A charge hath to His servant given,
Against the British shore?
Appointed by an angry God,
Though drunk with seas of human blood,
The glutton thirsts for more.
A charge hath to His servant given,
Against the British shore?
Appointed by an angry God,
Though drunk with seas of human blood,
The glutton thirsts for more.
Have we not dragg'd the judgment down,
Undaunted at the' Almighty's frown,
Unsoften'd by His grace?
And still we madly close our eyes,
Thy mercy spurn, Thy wrath despise,
And mock Thee to Thy face.
Undaunted at the' Almighty's frown,
Unsoften'd by His grace?
And still we madly close our eyes,
Thy mercy spurn, Thy wrath despise,
And mock Thee to Thy face.
We dare the evil day to come:
“The plots and powers of feeble Rome
Can never here prevail;
Secured by rocks our island stands,
By counsels wise, and valiant bands,
And fleets invincible.
“The plots and powers of feeble Rome
Can never here prevail;
Secured by rocks our island stands,
By counsels wise, and valiant bands,
And fleets invincible.
“Confiding in our fleshly arm,
Shall Gallic armaments alarm,
Or break our firm repose?”
Thy judgments soar beyond our sight,
And therefore with presumptuous slight
We puff at all our foes.
Shall Gallic armaments alarm,
Or break our firm repose?”
157
And therefore with presumptuous slight
We puff at all our foes.
Supinely negligent and proud,
The noble and ignoble crowd
In deadly slumber sleep:
The nation sleeps, of conquest sure,
Stands on a precipice secure,
Nor dreads the yawning deep.
The noble and ignoble crowd
In deadly slumber sleep:
The nation sleeps, of conquest sure,
Stands on a precipice secure,
Nor dreads the yawning deep.
Tremendous God, to whom alone
Thy strange destructive works are known,
Thy properest works of grace;
If prayers and tears may yet prevail,
Let mercy turn the hovering scale
For our devoted race.
Thy strange destructive works are known,
Thy properest works of grace;
If prayers and tears may yet prevail,
Let mercy turn the hovering scale
For our devoted race.
Urged to the last extremity,
So save us, Lord, that all may see
The work is wholly Thine,
That knowing Him, through whom we live,
Our lives we may to Jesus give,
A sacrifice Divine.
So save us, Lord, that all may see
The work is wholly Thine,
That knowing Him, through whom we live,
Our lives we may to Jesus give,
A sacrifice Divine.
HYMN VI.
[Is this the guilty nation, Lord]
Is this the guilty nation, Lord,
(Permit us to inquire,)
Now to be visited by sword,
And purified by fire?
No longer can Thy wrath delay
An harden'd people's doom,
And must we see the evil day,
And must the spoiler come?
(Permit us to inquire,)
Now to be visited by sword,
And purified by fire?
No longer can Thy wrath delay
An harden'd people's doom,
And must we see the evil day,
And must the spoiler come?
158
Thou wilt not hide the thing decreed,
From those Thou call'st Thine own,
From Abraham's faithful praying seed,
Who trust in Thee alone.
Even now Thine angry rod we hear,
Thy Spirit's warning cry,
And feel the visitation near,
And to the mountain fly.
From those Thou call'st Thine own,
From Abraham's faithful praying seed,
Who trust in Thee alone.
Even now Thine angry rod we hear,
Thy Spirit's warning cry,
And feel the visitation near,
And to the mountain fly.
Thou hast to us Thy secret shown,
Who tremble at Thy name,
And sigh, and pray, and wrestle on
For our Jerusalem.
To deprecate the fatal hour,
We on our faces fall:
Ah! let not, Lord, Thy wrath devour,
Thy curse o'erwhelm us all.
Who tremble at Thy name,
And sigh, and pray, and wrestle on
For our Jerusalem.
To deprecate the fatal hour,
We on our faces fall:
Ah! let not, Lord, Thy wrath devour,
Thy curse o'erwhelm us all.
If now, on such a land as this,
Thou must avenged be,
Yet snatch us from the dark abyss
Of endless misery:
Whome'er Thy will appoints to die,
To them repentance give,
And let them with their closing eye
Behold Thy cross, and live.
Thou must avenged be,
Yet snatch us from the dark abyss
Of endless misery:
Whome'er Thy will appoints to die,
To them repentance give,
And let them with their closing eye
Behold Thy cross, and live.
If now the alien hosts break in,
To spoil our wasted shore,
Let mercy interpose between,
And circumscribe their power;
While arm'd with Heaven's avenging word,
The ready murderers stand,
Revoke their charge, nor let the sword
Go through our sinful land.
To spoil our wasted shore,
Let mercy interpose between,
And circumscribe their power;
While arm'd with Heaven's avenging word,
The ready murderers stand,
Revoke their charge, nor let the sword
Go through our sinful land.
159
Thou canst the meditated blow
By ways unseen divert,
With terror strike the fiercest foe,
And quell the proudest heart:
Thou, whom the winds and seas obey,
Look; and a frown of Thine
Shall chase the hornets far away,
And blast their dire design.
By ways unseen divert,
With terror strike the fiercest foe,
And quell the proudest heart:
Thou, whom the winds and seas obey,
Look; and a frown of Thine
Shall chase the hornets far away,
And blast their dire design.
This is our confidence of hope,
Thou dost their threatenings see,
And wilt not give Thy people up
To Popish cruelty:
Whate'er Thy justice doth below,
Thou shalt Thy church defend,
For Christ is in our hearts, we know,
And heaven in our end.
Thou dost their threatenings see,
And wilt not give Thy people up
To Popish cruelty:
Whate'er Thy justice doth below,
Thou shalt Thy church defend,
For Christ is in our hearts, we know,
And heaven in our end.
HYMN VII.
[Join all, whom God in Jesus spares]
Join all, whom God in Jesus spares,
And mingle praises with your prayers,
Sing to the Lord a solemn song,
Whose mercy respites us so long.
And mingle praises with your prayers,
Sing to the Lord a solemn song,
Whose mercy respites us so long.
Mercy alone deferr'd our doom,
And would not let the judgment come;
Thy mercy we with reverence praise,
And wonder at Thy patient grace.
And would not let the judgment come;
Thy mercy we with reverence praise,
And wonder at Thy patient grace.
Saviour, Thy unexhausted love
Did still the' approaching woe remove,
With famine, war, and earthquake near,
It rescued us from year to year.
Did still the' approaching woe remove,
With famine, war, and earthquake near,
It rescued us from year to year.
160
A bush unburn'd amidst the flame,
Jesus, we magnify Thy name,
Our strange deliverances admire,
And give Thee glory in the fire.
Jesus, we magnify Thy name,
Our strange deliverances admire,
And give Thee glory in the fire.
Preserved so oft, we cannot doubt,
Thy mighty arm shall bear us out,
Our suffering souls like gold refine,
And whiten us in blood Divine.
Thy mighty arm shall bear us out,
Our suffering souls like gold refine,
And whiten us in blood Divine.
And if the sword a few destroys,
The rest shall tremble, and rejoice,
Repent, and know their sins forgiven,
And glorify the God of heaven.
The rest shall tremble, and rejoice,
Repent, and know their sins forgiven,
And glorify the God of heaven.
HYMN VIII. Revelation xix. 11, &c.
Come, Thou Conqueror of the nations,
Now on Thy white horse appear;
Earthquakes, dearths, and desolations
Signify Thy kingdom near:
True and faithful!
'Stablish Thy dominion here.
Now on Thy white horse appear;
Earthquakes, dearths, and desolations
Signify Thy kingdom near:
True and faithful!
'Stablish Thy dominion here.
Thine the kingdom, power, and glory;
Thine the ransom'd nations are;
Let the heathen fall before Thee,
Let the isles Thy power declare;
Judge and conquer
All mankind in righteous war.
Thine the ransom'd nations are;
Let the heathen fall before Thee,
Let the isles Thy power declare;
Judge and conquer
All mankind in righteous war.
161
Thee let all mankind admire,
Object of our joy and dread!
Flame Thine eyes with heavenly fire,
Many crowns upon Thy head;
But Thine essence
None, except Thyself, can read.
Object of our joy and dread!
Flame Thine eyes with heavenly fire,
Many crowns upon Thy head;
But Thine essence
None, except Thyself, can read.
Yet we know our Mediator,
By the Father's grace bestow'd,
Meanly clothed in human nature,
Thee we call the Word of God:
Flesh Thy vesture,
Dipp'd in Thy own sacred blood.
By the Father's grace bestow'd,
Meanly clothed in human nature,
Thee we call the Word of God:
Flesh Thy vesture,
Dipp'd in Thy own sacred blood.
Follow'd by the hosts of heaven,
(White their robes, their coursers white,)
Come, and let the word be given,
Let Thy sword the nations smite;
With Thy judgments,
With Thine iron sceptre fight.
(White their robes, their coursers white,)
Come, and let the word be given,
Let Thy sword the nations smite;
With Thy judgments,
With Thine iron sceptre fight.
Captain, God of our salvation,
Thou who hast the winepress trod,
Borne the' Almighty's indignation,
Quench'd the fiercest wrath of God,
Take the kingdom,
Claim the purchase of Thy blood.
Thou who hast the winepress trod,
Borne the' Almighty's indignation,
Quench'd the fiercest wrath of God,
Take the kingdom,
Claim the purchase of Thy blood.
On Thy thigh and vesture written,
Show the world Thy heavenly name,
That, with loving wonder smitten,
All may glorify the Lamb;
All adore Thee,
All the Lord of Hosts proclaim.
Show the world Thy heavenly name,
That, with loving wonder smitten,
All may glorify the Lamb;
All adore Thee,
All the Lord of Hosts proclaim.
162
Honour, glory, and salvation,
To the Lord our God we give;
Power, and endless adoration,
Thou art worthy to receive:
Reign triumphant,
King of kings, for ever live!
To the Lord our God we give;
Power, and endless adoration,
Thou art worthy to receive:
Reign triumphant,
King of kings, for ever live!
FINIS.
163
HYMNS TO BE USED ON THE THANKSGIVING-DAY, November 20, 1759, AND AFTER IT.
HYMN I.
[Great God of all-victorious grace]
Great God of all-victorious grace,
Assist us worthily to praise
Thy glorious majesty:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
We fain would magnify the Lord,
And make our boast of Thee.
Assist us worthily to praise
Thy glorious majesty:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
We fain would magnify the Lord,
And make our boast of Thee.
Upheld by Thine almighty hand,
Conquerors on every side, we stand,
And see our foes cast down,
Author of all our God we bless,
Our whole miraculous success
Ascribe to God alone.
Conquerors on every side, we stand,
And see our foes cast down,
Author of all our God we bless,
Our whole miraculous success
Ascribe to God alone.
Thy single arm the victories gave,
And show'd, Thou art not bound to save
By many or by few:
Number and strength of hosts is vain;
Weakness itself, if Thou ordain,
Shall earth and hell subdue.
And show'd, Thou art not bound to save
By many or by few:
Number and strength of hosts is vain;
Weakness itself, if Thou ordain,
Shall earth and hell subdue.
164
Worship and power to God belongs!
Saviour, let our triumphal songs
Thine only praise record:
Some in their fleets and armies trust,
But we of God will make our boast,
And glory in the Lord.
Saviour, let our triumphal songs
Thine only praise record:
Some in their fleets and armies trust,
But we of God will make our boast,
And glory in the Lord.
Wide as our conquering arms extend,
Throughout the earth the news we send,
The joyous news proclaim,
Tell it to all the nations round
Salvation on our side is found,
And Jesus is His name!
Throughout the earth the news we send,
The joyous news proclaim,
Tell it to all the nations round
Salvation on our side is found,
And Jesus is His name!
Jesus hath saved our souls from death!
Let all who by Thy mercy breathe,
Thy mercy taste and see!
Claim, Lord, and take the purchased race,
And let the world, redeem'd by grace,
Rejoice to God in Thee.
Let all who by Thy mercy breathe,
Thy mercy taste and see!
Claim, Lord, and take the purchased race,
And let the world, redeem'd by grace,
Rejoice to God in Thee.
HYMN II.
[But ah! what means this frantic noise!]
But ah! what means this frantic noise!
Do these, good God, to Thee rejoice,
Whose echoing shouts we hear!
A beastly bacchanalian crowd!
Whose oaths profane, and curses loud,
Torment the sober ear?
Do these, good God, to Thee rejoice,
Whose echoing shouts we hear!
A beastly bacchanalian crowd!
Whose oaths profane, and curses loud,
Torment the sober ear?
With foul and riotous excess,
With surfeiting and drunkenness,
They magnify Thy name;
With vauntings proud, and impious jest,
(The horrors of Belshazzar's feast,)
They glory in their shame.
With surfeiting and drunkenness,
They magnify Thy name;
With vauntings proud, and impious jest,
(The horrors of Belshazzar's feast,)
They glory in their shame.
165
The rich to Thy dread courts repair,
And offering up their formal prayer
As incense to the skies,
With sports they close the hallow'd day,
Their promised vows to Satan pay,
An hellish sacrifice!
And offering up their formal prayer
As incense to the skies,
With sports they close the hallow'd day,
Their promised vows to Satan pay,
An hellish sacrifice!
But do ye thus the Lord requite,
(While Britain's host goes forth to fight,)
Or thus His help engage?
Ah! foolish souls, who still declare
Your hatred against God, and war
With your Defender wage!
(While Britain's host goes forth to fight,)
Or thus His help engage?
Ah! foolish souls, who still declare
Your hatred against God, and war
With your Defender wage!
Ye rob Britannia of her shield,
Jehovah, by “your thanks” compell'd
To join the vanquish'd side,
Ye force Him to exalt the foe,
To lay our lofty nation low,
And scourge us for our pride.
Jehovah, by “your thanks” compell'd
To join the vanquish'd side,
Ye force Him to exalt the foe,
To lay our lofty nation low,
And scourge us for our pride.
Yet, O most patient God, forbear
The wretches who Thy anger dare,
And court the' invader's sword;
Rather regard the faithful seed,
Who to the opening seal give heed,
And tremble at Thy word.
The wretches who Thy anger dare,
And court the' invader's sword;
Rather regard the faithful seed,
Who to the opening seal give heed,
And tremble at Thy word.
We do not dream the danger past!
The first may soon become the last,
Unless Thine hand we see
Extended o'er the nations now,
And humbly to Thy judgments bow,
And ask our lives from Thee.
The first may soon become the last,
Unless Thine hand we see
Extended o'er the nations now,
And humbly to Thy judgments bow,
And ask our lives from Thee.
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Our lives are in our Maker's hand,
And till Thy mind we understand,
Thine utmost counsel prove,
O let us in the Spirit groan,
Father, Thy will on earth be done,
As in the courts above!
And till Thy mind we understand,
Thine utmost counsel prove,
O let us in the Spirit groan,
Father, Thy will on earth be done,
As in the courts above!
HYMN III.
[With sober joy, and conscious fear]
With sober joy, and conscious fear,
Father, we in Thy sight appear,
Thy mercies and our sins confess,
And tremble, while we sing Thy praise.
Father, we in Thy sight appear,
Thy mercies and our sins confess,
And tremble, while we sing Thy praise.
Repentance to our thanks we join,
The ministers of wrath Divine,
The weapons in Thy vengeful hand,
The scourges of a sinful land.
The ministers of wrath Divine,
The weapons in Thy vengeful hand,
The scourges of a sinful land.
Thou justly hast chastised Thy foes,
But spared the authors of their woes,
Indulged us with a kind reprieve,
And strangely suffer'd us to live.
But spared the authors of their woes,
Indulged us with a kind reprieve,
And strangely suffer'd us to live.
Not for our nation's righteousness
Hast Thou vouchsafed our arms to bless,
For we have most rebellious been,
For we have added sin to sin:
Hast Thou vouchsafed our arms to bless,
For we have most rebellious been,
For we have added sin to sin:
Have done Thy Spirit worse despite,
Sinners against superior light,
A favour'd, but unthankful race,
Who trample on Thy choicest grace.
Sinners against superior light,
A favour'd, but unthankful race,
Who trample on Thy choicest grace.
Yet now before Thy gracious throne
Our deep ingratitude we own,
Poor guilty worms, who blush to prove
The riches of Thy patient love.
Our deep ingratitude we own,
Poor guilty worms, who blush to prove
The riches of Thy patient love.
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We offer up our weak desires,
Of giving what Thy love requires,
Of following after righteousness,
Of living to our Saviour's praise.
Of giving what Thy love requires,
Of following after righteousness,
Of living to our Saviour's praise.
But while we render Thee Thine own,
Thy power be in our weakness shown,
Jesus, to each Thy love impart,
And bless us with a grateful heart.
Thy power be in our weakness shown,
Jesus, to each Thy love impart,
And bless us with a grateful heart.
HYMN IV.
[Sing to the Lord by whom we live]
Sing to the Lord by whom we live,
From whom our blessings spring,
Who doth to us salvation give,
And victory to our king.
From whom our blessings spring,
Who doth to us salvation give,
And victory to our king.
Thee, Conqueror of our foes, we greet,
Thee, Lord of Hosts, proclaim,
And cast our laurels at Thy feet,
And tremble at Thy name.
Thee, Lord of Hosts, proclaim,
And cast our laurels at Thy feet,
And tremble at Thy name.
With lowly reverential joy
Thy mercy we embrace,
This solemn interval employ
In ceaseless prayer and praise.
Thy mercy we embrace,
This solemn interval employ
In ceaseless prayer and praise.
Whate'er these threatening wars portend,
Whate'er Thy will decrees,
Our souls that on Thy love depend
Are kept in perfect peace.
Whate'er Thy will decrees,
Our souls that on Thy love depend
Are kept in perfect peace.
Our loving confidence is sure,
Our Guardian-Rock stands fast;
Under its shade we dwell secure,
Till every storm is past.
Our Guardian-Rock stands fast;
Under its shade we dwell secure,
Till every storm is past.
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Who rest beneath the' Almighty's wings
May cast their cares away;
Whate'er event to-morrow brings,
We live for God to-day.
May cast their cares away;
Whate'er event to-morrow brings,
We live for God to-day.
HYMN V.
[Father of compassions, hear us]
Father of compassions, hear us,
Us who flee
Unto Thee,
While the scourge draws near us.
Us who flee
Unto Thee,
While the scourge draws near us.
While inflamed with vengeful ire
Babel's host
Threats our coast,
Arm'd with sword and fire,
Babel's host
Threats our coast,
Arm'd with sword and fire,
Can we 'scape the desolation,
If the brand
In their hand
Be Thine indignation?
If the brand
In their hand
Be Thine indignation?
If we have fill'd up our measure,
And our God
Sends the rod
Of His just displeasure!
And our God
Sends the rod
Of His just displeasure!
Who can tell if late repentance
May find grace,
Screen our race
From the dreadful sentence?
May find grace,
Screen our race
From the dreadful sentence?
Wilt Thou, Lord, be yet entreated
By Thy foes,
Save e'en those
For destruction fitted?
By Thy foes,
Save e'en those
For destruction fitted?
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Still in fearful expectation
Guilty we
Wait to see
Thy determination.
Guilty we
Wait to see
Thy determination.
Father, hear the remnant's prayer,
More than ten
Righteous men
Urging Thee to spare.
More than ten
Righteous men
Urging Thee to spare.
Spare the death-devoted city;
Let us prove
All Thy love,
All Thy patient pity.
Let us prove
All Thy love,
All Thy patient pity.
Mercy is Thy heavenly nature:
Make it known
In Thy Son;
Hear our Mediator.
Make it known
In Thy Son;
Hear our Mediator.
Hear His all-commanding Spirit
Intercede,
While we plead
Jesus' blood and merit.
Intercede,
While we plead
Jesus' blood and merit.
Hear—and drop Thy controversy—
Jesus prays!
Wrath, give place,
Judgment, yield to mercy!
Jesus prays!
Wrath, give place,
Judgment, yield to mercy!
HYMN VI.
[Most gracious God, what shall we say]
Most gracious God, what shall we say
To stop a senseless people's doom?
How can we for the rebels pray
Who court the tardy scourge to come,
Thy grace despise, Thy truth deny,
And all Thy threaten'd plagues defy!
To stop a senseless people's doom?
How can we for the rebels pray
Who court the tardy scourge to come,
Thy grace despise, Thy truth deny,
And all Thy threaten'd plagues defy!
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Because Thy lingering love defers
The long indebted punishment,
From time to time the wicked spares,
Their heart on evil fully bent
Disdains the punishment to fear,
And mocks at the destruction near.
The long indebted punishment,
From time to time the wicked spares,
Their heart on evil fully bent
Disdains the punishment to fear,
And mocks at the destruction near.
Will they believe the spoiler nigh,
Or tremble at the slaughtering sword?
Safe in the toils of hell they lie,
Deaf to the watchman's warning word,
“Nor God nor man their hurt intends,
And death and Trophet are their friends.”
Or tremble at the slaughtering sword?
Safe in the toils of hell they lie,
Deaf to the watchman's warning word,
“Nor God nor man their hurt intends,
And death and Trophet are their friends.”
Or if the danger they confess,
The danger on their foes they turn,
“Those treacherous enemies to peace,
Those objects of their hate and scorn,
Let the presumptuous aliens come,
And rush upon their instant doom.”
The danger on their foes they turn,
“Those treacherous enemies to peace,
Those objects of their hate and scorn,
Let the presumptuous aliens come,
And rush upon their instant doom.”
Blind with intoxicating pride,
(Sad prelude of a nation's fall!)
They wholly in themselves confide,
Nor on the Lord of armies call,
Nor humbly at Thy footstool own
Salvation is from God alone.
(Sad prelude of a nation's fall!)
They wholly in themselves confide,
Nor on the Lord of armies call,
Nor humbly at Thy footstool own
Salvation is from God alone.
HYMN VII.
[Did they, O God, ascribe to Thee]
Did they, O God, ascribe to Thee
Their strange escapes in dangers past?
Alas for them, alas for me,
So soon forgetful of the last!
Snatch'd from the antichristian power,
The gulf wide opening to devour.
Their strange escapes in dangers past?
Alas for them, alas for me,
So soon forgetful of the last!
Snatch'd from the antichristian power,
The gulf wide opening to devour.
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Appall'd we saw the' invader's sword
March unopposed through half the land!
Jehovah then pronounced the word,
And lo! at Thy supreme command
The blasted savages of Rome
Recoil'd—and sunk into the tomb.
March unopposed through half the land!
Jehovah then pronounced the word,
And lo! at Thy supreme command
The blasted savages of Rome
Recoil'd—and sunk into the tomb.
But have we by their ruin rose
To a new life of righteousness,
Or lull'd in more profound repose
Abused, and forfeited our peace?
Our peace is gone, our safety fled,
And our dead souls are doubly dead.
To a new life of righteousness,
Or lull'd in more profound repose
Abused, and forfeited our peace?
Our peace is gone, our safety fled,
And our dead souls are doubly dead.
Call'd back by an ungrateful race,
The man on the red horse returns;
And while Thy wrath a moment stays,
The nation sports, the remnant mourns!
Ah! who of all Thy saints can tell
Shall grace or justice turn the scale?
The man on the red horse returns;
And while Thy wrath a moment stays,
The nation sports, the remnant mourns!
Ah! who of all Thy saints can tell
Shall grace or justice turn the scale?
Dare we again for respite cry,
Or deprecate the' impending blow?
If now Thou lay'st Thy thunder by,
And sav'st us from our fiercest foe,
Will Britain's sons their Saviour see,
And give the praise entire to Thee?
Or deprecate the' impending blow?
If now Thou lay'st Thy thunder by,
And sav'st us from our fiercest foe,
Will Britain's sons their Saviour see,
And give the praise entire to Thee?
We fear, the saved unthankful throng
Will more and more obdurate prove,
Thy providential mercy wrong,
And trample on Thy richest love,
And when Thou turn'st the sword aside,
Thy judgments and Thy grace deride!
Will more and more obdurate prove,
Thy providential mercy wrong,
And trample on Thy richest love,
And when Thou turn'st the sword aside,
Thy judgments and Thy grace deride!
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But, for Thou hast not yet forbid
The good for the profane to pray,
Hear Thy own people intercede,
The rough east wind of judgment stay,
Till general penitence remove,
Or melt Thine anger into love.
The good for the profane to pray,
Hear Thy own people intercede,
The rough east wind of judgment stay,
Till general penitence remove,
Or melt Thine anger into love.
Thy mercies all our thoughts transcend,
The worst Thou canst in Christ forgive;
O let our sins and troubles end,
O let our ransom'd nation live;
Hear the loud cry of Jesus' blood,
And save us through the death of God.
The worst Thou canst in Christ forgive;
O let our sins and troubles end,
O let our ransom'd nation live;
Hear the loud cry of Jesus' blood,
And save us through the death of God.
HYMN VIII.
[Great Guardian of Thy church below]
Great Guardian of Thy church below,
Stretch out Thine arm on Britain's side,
The sons of Babel to o'erthrow,
Who deep as hell their counsels hide:
Conceal'd from us with closest art,
They cannot hide them, Lord, from Thee,
Whose flaming eyes look through the heart,
And hell without a covering see.
Stretch out Thine arm on Britain's side,
The sons of Babel to o'erthrow,
Who deep as hell their counsels hide:
Conceal'd from us with closest art,
They cannot hide them, Lord, from Thee,
Whose flaming eyes look through the heart,
And hell without a covering see.
Thou know'st, and canst to us make known
Whate'er our craftiest foes devise;
It shall be to Thy servant shown,
The least that on Thy word relies:
Things in the royal chamber said,
(Like Syria's plots, in days of old,)
By ways invisible convey'd,
Shall to Thy meanest saint be told.
Whate'er our craftiest foes devise;
It shall be to Thy servant shown,
The least that on Thy word relies:
Things in the royal chamber said,
(Like Syria's plots, in days of old,)
By ways invisible convey'd,
Shall to Thy meanest saint be told.
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For this premonish'd from above
We now the opening seal attend,
And trust Thine all-disposing love,
That judgment shall in mercy end:
The bounded might of baffled man
The glory of Thy power shall raise,
Advance Thy all-redeeming plan,
And spread the victory of Thy grace.
We now the opening seal attend,
And trust Thine all-disposing love,
That judgment shall in mercy end:
The bounded might of baffled man
The glory of Thy power shall raise,
Advance Thy all-redeeming plan,
And spread the victory of Thy grace.
What then have Thine elect to dread
In general peril and dismay?
We calmly to Thy word give heed,
Prophetic of the perfect day:
Led by Thy word's unerring clue
Wheel within wheel involved we see,
Look all subservient causes through,
And wait the birth of Thy decree.
In general peril and dismay?
We calmly to Thy word give heed,
Prophetic of the perfect day:
Led by Thy word's unerring clue
Wheel within wheel involved we see,
Look all subservient causes through,
And wait the birth of Thy decree.
Lord, we behold Thy mighty hand
Stretch'd out o'er all the nations now!
The counsel of Thy will shall stand,
The heathen to Thy sceptre bow;
Demons and men shall blindly join,
And Antichrist erect his throne,
To execute Thy grand design,
And bring Thy glorious kingdom down!
Stretch'd out o'er all the nations now!
The counsel of Thy will shall stand,
The heathen to Thy sceptre bow;
Demons and men shall blindly join,
And Antichrist erect his throne,
To execute Thy grand design,
And bring Thy glorious kingdom down!
HYMN IX.
[Promised Prince of Peace, appear]
Promised Prince of Peace, appear,
Come, and fix Thy kingdom here,
Whom the longing bride desires,
Whom the universe requires.
Come, and fix Thy kingdom here,
Whom the longing bride desires,
Whom the universe requires.
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Thou hast lifted up Thy hand,
O'er the sea, and the dry land,
Hast the awful signal given;
Shake again both earth and heaven.
O'er the sea, and the dry land,
Hast the awful signal given;
Shake again both earth and heaven.
Still the drowsy nations shake,
Till out of their sins they wake,
All in one petition join'd,
Come, Desire of human kind!
Till out of their sins they wake,
All in one petition join'd,
Come, Desire of human kind!
Lord of Hosts, Thine arm reveal,
This Thy house with glory fill,
To the former church unknown,
Glory kept for us alone.
This Thy house with glory fill,
To the former church unknown,
Glory kept for us alone.
Give the never failing peace,
The transcendent holiness,
Let us all the promise prove,
Fill our souls with perfect love.
The transcendent holiness,
Let us all the promise prove,
Fill our souls with perfect love.
Now, O Christ, Thy right assert,
Enter every human heart,
Fulness of the Spirit give,
King of saints, for ever live!
Enter every human heart,
Fulness of the Spirit give,
King of saints, for ever live!
HYMN X.
[Be still, ye isles, and wait your doom!]
Be still, ye isles, and wait your doom!
Jehovah from His place is come;
He whets His glittering sword;
His hand doth hold of judgment take:
Let all the guilty nations quake
Before our angry Lord.
Jehovah from His place is come;
He whets His glittering sword;
His hand doth hold of judgment take:
Let all the guilty nations quake
Before our angry Lord.
He calls His own to see Him rise,
To mark the vengeance of the skies
Dispread through earth abroad;
Countries laid waste, and conquer'd powers,
Cities o'erturn'd, and falling towers,
And fields and seas of blood.
To mark the vengeance of the skies
Dispread through earth abroad;
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Cities o'erturn'd, and falling towers,
And fields and seas of blood.
Where shall this dreadful havoc end?
What doth the righteous God intend?
Beneath His hand we bow,
And, trembling in the balance, cry,
Will justice pass our nation by,
Or must He visit now?
What doth the righteous God intend?
Beneath His hand we bow,
And, trembling in the balance, cry,
Will justice pass our nation by,
Or must He visit now?
Cover'd and blind is every seer,
Nor doth the purposed thing appear
To one of Abraham's race:
We hear the thunder of Thy power;
But who shall all Thy mind explore,
But who shall see Thy face?
Nor doth the purposed thing appear
To one of Abraham's race:
We hear the thunder of Thy power;
But who shall all Thy mind explore,
But who shall see Thy face?
Darkness and clouds surround Thy throne,
And wrap the hidden God unknown
In awful majesty;
Unless Thou dost the secret tell,
Nor man nor angel can reveal,
Or fathom Thy decree.
And wrap the hidden God unknown
In awful majesty;
Unless Thou dost the secret tell,
Nor man nor angel can reveal,
Or fathom Thy decree.
Yet if Thou hast not fix'd our doom,
Before the swift destruction come,
And sweep Thy foes away
That mercy may incline the scale,
And wrestling faith at last prevail,
Vouchsafe us power to pray.
Before the swift destruction come,
And sweep Thy foes away
That mercy may incline the scale,
And wrestling faith at last prevail,
Vouchsafe us power to pray.
Stir up the praying seed to stand
Protectors of a guilty land,
And arm'd in its defence.
With Jesus' name, and mind, and blood,
Which stays the outstretch'd arm of God,
And binds Omnipotence.
Protectors of a guilty land,
And arm'd in its defence.
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Which stays the outstretch'd arm of God,
And binds Omnipotence.
The spirit that in Moses pray'd,
O might it flow from Christ our Head,
And in the members cry,
“Father, we all Thy will receive;
But let us to Thy glory live
Or to Thy glory die!”
O might it flow from Christ our Head,
And in the members cry,
“Father, we all Thy will receive;
But let us to Thy glory live
Or to Thy glory die!”
HYMN XI.
[See, Lord, a nation at Thy feet!]
See, Lord, a nation at Thy feet!
Do with us now as seems Thee meet,
Preserve alive, or slay;
Whate'er we may to-morrow feel,
Spared hitherto, Thy grace we tell,
We sing Thy love to-day.
Do with us now as seems Thee meet,
Preserve alive, or slay;
Whate'er we may to-morrow feel,
Spared hitherto, Thy grace we tell,
We sing Thy love to-day.
Thy love hath our protection been;
Thy love, and not the sea between,
Forbade our foes to pass;
Our watery walls had nought avail'd,
Our wooden walls themselves had fail'd
Without our wall of brass.
Thy love, and not the sea between,
Forbade our foes to pass;
Our watery walls had nought avail'd,
Our wooden walls themselves had fail'd
Without our wall of brass.
The leopard fierce, who watches o'er
Our cities, on the adverse shore
Thy secret will detains;
Howe'er impatient to get free,
Till suffer'd by a beck from Thee,
He cannot burst his chains.
Our cities, on the adverse shore
Thy secret will detains;
Howe'er impatient to get free,
Till suffer'd by a beck from Thee,
He cannot burst his chains.
But if, to scourge our nation's sin,
The foe should as a flood come in,
Or a devouring flame,
We'll praise our God, reprieved so long,
Sing in the fires a gospel-song,
And shout Immanuel's name.
The foe should as a flood come in,
Or a devouring flame,
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Sing in the fires a gospel-song,
And shout Immanuel's name.
That Spirit of faith and power Divine
Shall then lift up the Christian sign
Against our enemy;
And O! might all the aliens prove
The virtue of Thy dying love,
And yield themselves to Thee.
Shall then lift up the Christian sign
Against our enemy;
And O! might all the aliens prove
The virtue of Thy dying love,
And yield themselves to Thee.
Saviour, Desire of all mankind,
Come, and the ancient dragon bind,
Command these wars to cease;
Let every soul Thy kingdom prove,
In holy joy, and perfect love,
And everlasting peace.
Come, and the ancient dragon bind,
Command these wars to cease;
Let every soul Thy kingdom prove,
In holy joy, and perfect love,
And everlasting peace.
HYMN XII. THE SONG OF MOSES
Sung by Great Britain and Ireland, for the Victory given them over the French Fleet, Nov. the 20th, 1759.
Sing to the Lord, for He alone
Gave us the victory!
He hath our threatening foes o'erthrown,
And cast into the sea.
Worship and strength to Him belong,
And praise is all His due;
The Lord is our triumphal song,
And our salvation too.
Gave us the victory!
He hath our threatening foes o'erthrown,
And cast into the sea.
Worship and strength to Him belong,
And praise is all His due;
The Lord is our triumphal song,
And our salvation too.
To Him we will our trophies raise,
And chant His matchless powers;
Our fathers' God, exalt His praise,
Our fathers' God is ours.
Prepare His place with humble zeal,
Who takes His people's part:
The Lord eternally shall dwell
In every faithful heart.
And chant His matchless powers;
Our fathers' God, exalt His praise,
Our fathers' God is ours.
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Who takes His people's part:
The Lord eternally shall dwell
In every faithful heart.
The Lord, He is a man of war,
In every age the same:
Let Britain saved, with shouts declare
The great Jehovah's name:
Jehovah on our foes did frown
Amidst their furious boast,
And cast their chosen captains down,
And drowned half their host.
In every age the same:
Let Britain saved, with shouts declare
The great Jehovah's name:
Jehovah on our foes did frown
Amidst their furious boast,
And cast their chosen captains down,
And drowned half their host.
Into the depths they sunk as lead,
Who Thee and Thine opposed,
They sunk at once, and o'er their head
The mighty waters closed!
Thine own right hand with power supreme,
With glorious, dreadful power,
In pieces dash'd their ships and them,
And bade the gulf devour.
Who Thee and Thine opposed,
They sunk at once, and o'er their head
The mighty waters closed!
Thine own right hand with power supreme,
With glorious, dreadful power,
In pieces dash'd their ships and them,
And bade the gulf devour.
In vain the fierce invader swore,
“I will lay waste their isle,
Pursue them on their native shore,
And seize, and part the spoil;
Will on the heretics abhorr'd
My lust of vengeance cloy,
And draw my consecrated sword,
And young and old destroy.”
“I will lay waste their isle,
Pursue them on their native shore,
And seize, and part the spoil;
Will on the heretics abhorr'd
My lust of vengeance cloy,
And draw my consecrated sword,
And young and old destroy.”
For great in majesty Divine,
Thy wrathful Spirit blew,
Blasted their arrogant design,
And all their host o'erthrew:
Into the depths they sunk as lead
Who Thee and Thine opposed;
They sunk at once, and o'er their head
The mighty waters closed.
Thy wrathful Spirit blew,
Blasted their arrogant design,
And all their host o'erthrew:
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Who Thee and Thine opposed;
They sunk at once, and o'er their head
The mighty waters closed.
Which of the saints by Rome adored
With superstitious prayer,
Or who among their gods, O Lord,
Can unto Thee compare?
Not all the gods of wood and stone
To whom their worship's given,
Nor her they rank above her Son,
The Virgin queen of heaven.
With superstitious prayer,
Or who among their gods, O Lord,
Can unto Thee compare?
Not all the gods of wood and stone
To whom their worship's given,
Nor her they rank above her Son,
The Virgin queen of heaven.
Thou art our only God and King,
Glorious in holiness,
Thy wonder-working power we sing,
And tremble while we praise:
Thou stretchedst forth Thy strong right-hand,
And the abyss below
Did horribly its jaws expand,
And swallow'd up the foe.
Glorious in holiness,
Thy wonder-working power we sing,
And tremble while we praise:
Thou stretchedst forth Thy strong right-hand,
And the abyss below
Did horribly its jaws expand,
And swallow'd up the foe.
But Thou hast saved the chosen seed,
The children of Thy grace;
And Israel's Strength shall Israel lead
Into the holy place:
Complete the saving work begun
By Thine almighty hand,
And bring Thy favourite people on
Into the promised land.
The children of Thy grace;
And Israel's Strength shall Israel lead
Into the holy place:
Complete the saving work begun
By Thine almighty hand,
And bring Thy favourite people on
Into the promised land.
Struck from above with sacred fear,
The hostile nations round
Shall of our great deliverance hear,
And sicken at the sound:
Canaan's inhabitants shall quake,
The antichristian powers,
And Babylon the great shall shake
Throughout her threaten'd towers.
The hostile nations round
Shall of our great deliverance hear,
And sicken at the sound:
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The antichristian powers,
And Babylon the great shall shake
Throughout her threaten'd towers.
Presaging that her time is come,
Her retribution day,
The chiefs of persecuting Rome
Shall faint and melt away:
Horror the mighty men shall seize,
Who sought Thy church's harm,
While all in silent awe confess
The greatness of Thine arm.
Her retribution day,
The chiefs of persecuting Rome
Shall faint and melt away:
Horror the mighty men shall seize,
Who sought Thy church's harm,
While all in silent awe confess
The greatness of Thine arm.
Not one, till Israel is pass'd o'er,
Thy people shall molest,
Till, led by Thee, we reach the shore,
And gain the land of rest:
The land we surely shall possess,
And never thence remove,
Fix'd on the mount of holiness,
The mount of perfect love.
Thy people shall molest,
Till, led by Thee, we reach the shore,
And gain the land of rest:
The land we surely shall possess,
And never thence remove,
Fix'd on the mount of holiness,
The mount of perfect love.
Then wilt Thou in the saints reside,
And make their hearts Thy throne,
And show the world Thy spotless bride,
And claim them for Thine own:
Then the believing world shall sing,
“The Lord His right obtains;
Jesus is universal King,
And God for ever reigns.”
And make their hearts Thy throne,
And show the world Thy spotless bride,
And claim them for Thine own:
Then the believing world shall sing,
“The Lord His right obtains;
Jesus is universal King,
And God for ever reigns.”
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HYMN XIII.
[Britons, arise with one accord]
Britons, arise with one accord,
And learn to glory in the Lord!
The Lord, from whom salvation came,
Doth justly all your praises claim:
With humble heart and thankful voice
Rejoice aright, to God rejoice.
And learn to glory in the Lord!
The Lord, from whom salvation came,
Doth justly all your praises claim:
With humble heart and thankful voice
Rejoice aright, to God rejoice.
God over all, Thy work we praise,
Revived as in the ancient days:
Thine arm, by Israel's cry awoke,
Its own resistless strength hath took,
Dispersed the lowering cloud we fear'd,
And glorious on our side appear'd.
Revived as in the ancient days:
Thine arm, by Israel's cry awoke,
Its own resistless strength hath took,
Dispersed the lowering cloud we fear'd,
And glorious on our side appear'd.
Rome with a new armada vow'd
To quench her thirst of British blood;
On vengeance and destruction bent,
They proudly told their dire intent,
To keep with heretics their word,
And waste our isle with fire and sword.
To quench her thirst of British blood;
On vengeance and destruction bent,
They proudly told their dire intent,
To keep with heretics their word,
And waste our isle with fire and sword.
Where now is the invader's boast,
The terror of our naked coast?
Thou, Lord, who know'st the proud to quell,
Hast show'd them not invincible,
Made their infernal counsel void,
And all their vaunted strength destroy'd.
The terror of our naked coast?
Thou, Lord, who know'st the proud to quell,
Hast show'd them not invincible,
Made their infernal counsel void,
And all their vaunted strength destroy'd.
Sing to the Lord! the Lord alone
His strange destructive work hath done:
Jehovah did the cloud look through,
Jehovah gave the word, Pursue!
He dash'd their vessels on the coast,
He swallow'd up their troubled host.
His strange destructive work hath done:
Jehovah did the cloud look through,
Jehovah gave the word, Pursue!
He dash'd their vessels on the coast,
He swallow'd up their troubled host.
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Thine was the power, the wisdom Thine,
Which baffled Gaul's and Rome's design:
Whoever dealt the destined blow,
Or launch'd Thy thunder on the foe,
Thee in the instrument we see,
And give the praise entire to Thee.
Which baffled Gaul's and Rome's design:
Whoever dealt the destined blow,
Or launch'd Thy thunder on the foe,
Thee in the instrument we see,
And give the praise entire to Thee.
HYMN XIV.
[Merciful God, Thy love we sing]
Merciful God, Thy love we sing,
From whence our public blessings spring:
Thy love is every Briton's theme,
Who drinks the fountain in the stream,
And looks inferior causes through,
To keep his gracious God in view.
From whence our public blessings spring:
Thy love is every Briton's theme,
Who drinks the fountain in the stream,
And looks inferior causes through,
To keep his gracious God in view.
Bent to preserve our favour'd race,
Thou on our land, in special grace,
The steady patriot hast bestow'd,
And form'd him for Britannia's good,
As born her ruin to retrieve,
And bid his gasping country live.
Thou on our land, in special grace,
The steady patriot hast bestow'd,
And form'd him for Britannia's good,
As born her ruin to retrieve,
And bid his gasping country live.
Boldly he braved the stormy deep,
And piloted our sinking ship:
But still Thy secret hand was near,
Directing his the helm to steer;
And Britain sings, to life restored,
“Our Strength and Helper is the Lord.”
And piloted our sinking ship:
But still Thy secret hand was near,
Directing his the helm to steer;
And Britain sings, to life restored,
“Our Strength and Helper is the Lord.”
Thy Spirit in our councils sat,
And turn'd the battle to the gate:
It laid their forts and armies low,
It tore whole regions from the foe;
Thine arm from France the islands rent,
Thy thunder shook the continent.
And turn'd the battle to the gate:
It laid their forts and armies low,
It tore whole regions from the foe;
Thine arm from France the islands rent,
Thy thunder shook the continent.
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Sent of the Lord His bolts to deal,
And execute His awful will,
By haughty sacrilegious boasts,
We will not wrong the Lord of Hosts,
If fools His providence exclude,
And heathens say, There is no God.
And execute His awful will,
By haughty sacrilegious boasts,
We will not wrong the Lord of Hosts,
If fools His providence exclude,
And heathens say, There is no God.
God over-ruling all we own,
Gracious and wise is God alone:
Our counsellors He counsell'd right,
He taught our mariners to fight;
His prowess in our troops we prove,
His goodness in our king we love.
Gracious and wise is God alone:
Our counsellors He counsell'd right,
He taught our mariners to fight;
His prowess in our troops we prove,
His goodness in our king we love.
Let every instrument disclaim
The honours due to Jesus' name:
Him only wise and good confess,
Him our almighty Saviour bless,
And praise the Rock that cannot move,
The Rock of everlasting love.
The honours due to Jesus' name:
Him only wise and good confess,
Him our almighty Saviour bless,
And praise the Rock that cannot move,
The Rock of everlasting love.
HYMN XV.
[Unless the Most High For Israel had stood]
Unless the Most High For Israel had stood,
(Our Israel may cry Triumphantly loud,)
Our foes on our nation Their fury had pour'd,
And wide desolation Our country devour'd.
(Our Israel may cry Triumphantly loud,)
Our foes on our nation Their fury had pour'd,
And wide desolation Our country devour'd.
But praised be the Lord, Our Refuge and Hope,
A prey to the sword He gave us not up;
Their plots He hath blasted, Their armaments foil'd,
The ravagers wasted, The pillagers spoil'd.
A prey to the sword He gave us not up;
Their plots He hath blasted, Their armaments foil'd,
The ravagers wasted, The pillagers spoil'd.
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Give glory to God Who sits on the throne,
And scatters the proud, And rescues His own!
Our best adoration To Him we will give,
And all His salvation With rapture receive.
And scatters the proud, And rescues His own!
Our best adoration To Him we will give,
And all His salvation With rapture receive.
Our safety on Him Alone doth depend:
Who now doth redeem Shall save to the end:
Almighty Creator, We rest in Thy name,
We trust in Thy nature, For ever the same.
Who now doth redeem Shall save to the end:
Almighty Creator, We rest in Thy name,
We trust in Thy nature, For ever the same.
Thy name we adore, Thine attributes praise,
Truth, wisdom, and power, And justice and grace!
To ransom and bless us, Thou cam'st from above;
Thy name it is Jesus, Thy nature is love.
Truth, wisdom, and power, And justice and grace!
To ransom and bless us, Thou cam'st from above;
Thy name it is Jesus, Thy nature is love.
This token for good We thankfully take,
Our safety bestow'd, For Jesus's sake:
Our lives as a favour From God we receive,
And trust with our Saviour For ever to live.
Our safety bestow'd, For Jesus's sake:
Our lives as a favour From God we receive,
And trust with our Saviour For ever to live.
HYMN XVI.
[While Britain's sons their trophies raise]
While
Britain's sons their trophies raise,
Triumphant, as in full success,
And bliss without alloy,
Let pity for our bleeding foes,
Let love, which no distinction knows,
Correct the general joy.
Triumphant, as in full success,
And bliss without alloy,
Let pity for our bleeding foes,
Let love, which no distinction knows,
Correct the general joy.
Our country saved from sword and fire
Doth every Briton's thanks require,
And lifts our hearts to God;
But can we, Lord, delight to see
These scenes of human misery,
This waste of Christian blood?
Doth every Briton's thanks require,
And lifts our hearts to God;
But can we, Lord, delight to see
These scenes of human misery,
This waste of Christian blood?
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We mourn the slaughter'd sons of Gaul,
We tremble, while Thy judgments fall
On our invaders' head:
Their lives to ransom ours are given,
And crowds out of the body driven
Have perish'd in our stead.
We tremble, while Thy judgments fall
On our invaders' head:
Their lives to ransom ours are given,
And crowds out of the body driven
Have perish'd in our stead.
The thousands whom our hands have slain,
Do we, alas! who still remain,
In holiness excel?
Our army, is it not, like theirs,
A bundle of devoted tares?
Our fleet, a floating hell?
Do we, alas! who still remain,
In holiness excel?
Our army, is it not, like theirs,
A bundle of devoted tares?
Our fleet, a floating hell?
We, even we, the scourge demand;
But in the gap a people stand
Poor, helpless, and unknown,
A little flock, a remnant small,
Afflicted and despised by all,
And loved of God alone.
But in the gap a people stand
Poor, helpless, and unknown,
A little flock, a remnant small,
Afflicted and despised by all,
And loved of God alone.
Thou to the cry of Thine elect
Yet once again hast had respect,
And wouldst not vengeance take:
Thy wrath was ready to consume,
When mercy respited our doom
For the ten righteous' sake.
Yet once again hast had respect,
And wouldst not vengeance take:
Thy wrath was ready to consume,
When mercy respited our doom
For the ten righteous' sake.
But is Thine anger turn'd aside,
Thy justice fully satisfied
With punishing our foe?
Thine arm appears extended still!
Which of Thine enemies shall feel
The next destructive blow?
Thy justice fully satisfied
With punishing our foe?
Thine arm appears extended still!
Which of Thine enemies shall feel
The next destructive blow?
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We still the bloody harness wear;
The weapon of the Lord is bare
Against our wickedness:
The sword Thou dost in vengeance send,
O when shall its commission end,
And wars for ever cease!
The weapon of the Lord is bare
Against our wickedness:
The sword Thou dost in vengeance send,
O when shall its commission end,
And wars for ever cease!
Saviour of men, through whom we live,
Do Thou the peaceful answer give
While at Thy feet we groan:
Stop this effusion of our blood,
Thou who hast quench'd the wrath of God,
By pouring out Thine own.
Do Thou the peaceful answer give
While at Thy feet we groan:
Stop this effusion of our blood,
Thou who hast quench'd the wrath of God,
By pouring out Thine own.
Repentance upon both bestow,
Our foes and us; that each may know
Their sins through faith forgiven,
That all may cordially embrace,
And sweetly reconciled by grace
Go hand in hand to heaven.
Our foes and us; that each may know
Their sins through faith forgiven,
That all may cordially embrace,
And sweetly reconciled by grace
Go hand in hand to heaven.
FINIS.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |