 | Poems by Three Friends |  |
33
HYMN,
FOR A DAY OF PUBLIC HUMILIATION.
Dread Sovereign! at thy feet we bow,
While swift thy bolts of vengeance fly;
We fall before thy dreadful brow,
Before the light'ning of thine eye.
While swift thy bolts of vengeance fly;
We fall before thy dreadful brow,
Before the light'ning of thine eye.
For who can stand, when thou dost rise
In ire to shake a guilty land?
Fierce pestilence before thee flies,
And ruin waits thy stern command!
In ire to shake a guilty land?
Fierce pestilence before thee flies,
And ruin waits thy stern command!
While nations round us feel the weight
Of thine uplifted, vengeful rod,
Prostrate before thy throne we wait,
And own thee righteous, dreadful God!
Of thine uplifted, vengeful rod,
Prostrate before thy throne we wait,
And own thee righteous, dreadful God!
34
Yet in thy wrath remember Love,
On us the eye of Pity turn,
Our tears of penitence approve,
And let thine anger cease to burn.
On us the eye of Pity turn,
Our tears of penitence approve,
And let thine anger cease to burn.
In Mercy bid the furious fray
Of long-contending nations cease,
Thy gentle sceptre, Jesus, sway,
And reign for ever, Prince of Peace!
Of long-contending nations cease,
Thy gentle sceptre, Jesus, sway,
And reign for ever, Prince of Peace!
| Poems by Three Friends | |