The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Righteous, sin-avenging God,
To Thee what shall we say?
Dare we deprecate the rod,
Or still for respite pray?
Thou hast given our sinful land
A longer, and a longer space,
But we still Thy love withstand,
And mock Thee to Thy face.

Thou in danger's darkest hour
Didst on our side appear,
Snatch us from the wasting power
Of Rome and Satan near:
Whom the winds and seas obey,
Thou, Lord, Thy mighty arm didst show,
Chase the alien hosts away,
And stop the' invading foe.

Not our providence or sword
Did us from ruin save,
Our Deliverer is the Lord,
Let Him the glory have:
But alas, we have not fear'd
Thy power, or render'd Thee Thy due,
Have not honour'd or rever'd
A God we never knew.

Viler still, if that can be,
We have been in Thy sight,
Scorn'd to give the praise to Thee,
And robb'd Thee of Thy right,
Wrong'd Thine interposing grace,
Denied Thy providential care,
Harden'd as the' Egyptian race
Thine utmost plague to dare.

What can our destruction stop,
Or now reverse our doom?
God the just must give us up,
And let the ruin come:
Lo! He whets His glittering sword,
His hand doth hold of judgment take,
Rises the Almighty Lord
A guilty land to shake!

O Almighty Lord, we own
Thine awful righteousness;
Make in us Thy goodness known,
Who all our sins confess,
Us who tremble at the rod,
And meekly to the judgment bow;
O remember us for good
Who sue for mercy now!

University of Virginia Library

I.

[Righteous, sin-avenging God]