The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Whom hostile multitudes surround,
And nations ready to devour,
No help for us in man is found,
No refuge in our darkest hour,
Unless Thy greatness interpose,
To blast the' infallible design,
Confound our proud, triumphant foes,
And claim this ransom'd land for Thine.

Oft hath Thine arm, in ancient days,
Stretch'd out in our defence appear'd,
And ransom'd a devoted race,
And snatch'd us from the death we fear'd:
Armies and fleets invincible
Were baffled in their surest aim,
Treasons and plots Thou didst dispel,
Deep as the pit from which they came.

Thy providence reversed our doom,
When parricides the land o'erflow'd,
(Rebellious sects in league with Rome,)
And turn'd it to a field of blood.
For years we groan'd beneath their sway,
But mercy, by a powerful word,
Crush'd all our tyrants in a day,
Our blessings all at once restored.

Have we not lately heard and seen
More wonderful escapes than these,
From furious persecuting men,
From hosts of human savages?

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Appall'd we heard Apollyon roar,
Aghast we saw the flames aspire,
Till rescued by almighty power,
And pluck'd as brands out of the fire.

Why then, great God, should we despair,
As Thou wert not almighty still,
But deaf to Thy own people's prayer
Who tremble at the' impending ill;
Who will not let the scourge o'erflow,
The desolating judgment come,
But still suspend the final blow,
And screen the land from Sodom's doom.

Wrestling with Abraham's faithful seed,
Lo! in the gap we humbly stand,
The righteous for the wicked plead,
Protectors of a guilty land.
Thou infinite in gracious power,
With theirs our suppliant suit receive,
Stay the rough wind, the fiery shower,
And for the remnant's sake forgive.

If now in us Thy Spirit cry,
In ours Thy own request attend;
The Lord of hosts, the Lord most high,
Deliverance to Thine Israel send:
Because Thou art the faithful God,
Our God in every age the same,
Because we trust in Jesu's blood,
And ask the grace in Jesu's name.

University of Virginia Library

HYMN IV.

[Great God, we know not what to do]