 | The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley |  |
91
HYMNS FOR THE Public Thanksgiving-Day, October 9, 1746.
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HYMN I.
[Britons, rejoice, the Lord is King!]
Britons, rejoice, the Lord is King!
The Lord of Hosts and nations sing,
Whose arm hath now your foes o'erthrown;
Ascribe the praise to God alone,
The Giver of success proclaim,
And shout your thanks in Jesus' name!
The Lord of Hosts and nations sing,
Whose arm hath now your foes o'erthrown;
Ascribe the praise to God alone,
The Giver of success proclaim,
And shout your thanks in Jesus' name!
'Twas not a feeble arm of ours
Which chased the fierce contending powers,
Jehovah turn'd the scale of fight,
Jehovah quell'd their boasted might,
And knapp'd their spears, and broke their swords,
And show'd—the battle is the Lora's.
Which chased the fierce contending powers,
Jehovah turn'd the scale of fight,
Jehovah quell'd their boasted might,
And knapp'd their spears, and broke their swords,
And show'd—the battle is the Lora's.
He beckon'd to the savage band,
And bade them sweep through half the land:
The savage band their terror spread,
With Rome and Satan at their head,
But, stopp'd by His almighty breath,
Rush'd back—into the arms of death.
And bade them sweep through half the land:
The savage band their terror spread,
With Rome and Satan at their head,
But, stopp'd by His almighty breath,
Rush'd back—into the arms of death.
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Thou Lord, alone, hast laid them low,
In pieces dash'd the' invading foe,
Thy breath which did their fury raise
Hath quench'd, at once, the sudden blaze,
Destroy'd the weapons of Thine ire,
And cast the rods into the fire.
In pieces dash'd the' invading foe,
Thy breath which did their fury raise
Hath quench'd, at once, the sudden blaze,
Destroy'd the weapons of Thine ire,
And cast the rods into the fire.
O that we all might see the Hand
Which still protects a guilty land;
Glory and strength ascribe to Thee
Who giv'st to kings the victory;
And yield, while yet Thy Spirit strives,
And thank Thee with our hearts and lives!
Which still protects a guilty land;
Glory and strength ascribe to Thee
Who giv'st to kings the victory;
And yield, while yet Thy Spirit strives,
And thank Thee with our hearts and lives!
O that we might to God rejoice,
And tremble at Thy mercy's voice:
Nor fondly dream the danger past,
While yet our own rebellions last!
O that our wars with heaven might cease,
And all receive the Prince of Peace!
And tremble at Thy mercy's voice:
Nor fondly dream the danger past,
While yet our own rebellions last!
O that our wars with heaven might cease,
And all receive the Prince of Peace!
Or if, before the scourge return,
The thankless crowd disdains to mourn,
Yet, Lord, with reverential joy,
We vow for Thee our all to' employ,
And bless Thee for the kind reprieve,
And to our Saviour's glory live.
The thankless crowd disdains to mourn,
Yet, Lord, with reverential joy,
We vow for Thee our all to' employ,
And bless Thee for the kind reprieve,
And to our Saviour's glory live.
Long as Thou lengthen'st out our days,
We live to testify Thy grace;
Secure beneath Thy mercy's wings,
We triumph in the King of kings,
The Giver of success proclaim,
And shout our thanks in Jesus' name.
We live to testify Thy grace;
Secure beneath Thy mercy's wings,
We triumph in the King of kings,
The Giver of success proclaim,
And shout our thanks in Jesus' name.
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HYMN II.
[Thanks be to God, the God of power]
Thanks be to God, the God of power,
Who shelter'd us in danger's hour;
The God of truth, who heard the prayer,
Let all His faithfulness declare;
Who sent us succours from above,
Let all adore the God of love!
Who shelter'd us in danger's hour;
The God of truth, who heard the prayer,
Let all His faithfulness declare;
Who sent us succours from above,
Let all adore the God of love!
God sitting on His holy seat
Compels the heathen to submit,
The grasshoppers of earth He sees,
And mocks their prosperous wickedness,
Frustrates their counsels with a frown,
And turns their Babels upside down.
Compels the heathen to submit,
The grasshoppers of earth He sees,
And mocks their prosperous wickedness,
Frustrates their counsels with a frown,
And turns their Babels upside down.
His eye observed the dark design,
To blast our rightful monarch's line,
The scheme in Satan's conclave laid,
Improved by Rome's unerring head,
To gall us with their yoke abhorr'd,
And plant their faith with fire and sword.
To blast our rightful monarch's line,
The scheme in Satan's conclave laid,
Improved by Rome's unerring head,
To gall us with their yoke abhorr'd,
And plant their faith with fire and sword.
He saw the serpent's egg break forth,
The cloud arising in the north,
He let the slighted mischief spread,
And hang in thunder o'er our head;
And while we scorn'd our abject foes,
The drop into a torrent rose.
The cloud arising in the north,
He let the slighted mischief spread,
And hang in thunder o'er our head;
And while we scorn'd our abject foes,
The drop into a torrent rose.
Lured by the grateful scent of blood,
The vultures hasten'd to their food,
The aliens urged their rapid way,
Resolved to die, or win the day;
Madly resolved their doom to brave,
And gain a kingdom or a grave.
The vultures hasten'd to their food,
The aliens urged their rapid way,
Resolved to die, or win the day;
Madly resolved their doom to brave,
And gain a kingdom or a grave.
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Swell'd to an host, the daring few
Through ours as waving lightning flew,
Rush'd on with unresisted power,
And scaled the wall, and storm'd the tower,
While God seem'd pleased their cause to bless,
And cursed them with a short success.
Through ours as waving lightning flew,
Rush'd on with unresisted power,
And scaled the wall, and storm'd the tower,
While God seem'd pleased their cause to bless,
And cursed them with a short success.
Drunk with the bold aspiring hope,
Behold them march triumphant up;
Of conquest fatally secure,
They vow to make our ruin sure,
And shout around our threaten'd towers,
“The day, the crown, and all is ours!”
Behold them march triumphant up;
Of conquest fatally secure,
They vow to make our ruin sure,
And shout around our threaten'd towers,
“The day, the crown, and all is ours!”
Who was it then dispersed the snare,
And choked those ravening dogs of war?
Jehovah curb'd their furious speed,
Jehovah sent the panic dread,
And damp'd and fill'd them with dismay,
And scared the vultures from their prey.
And choked those ravening dogs of war?
Jehovah curb'd their furious speed,
Jehovah sent the panic dread,
And damp'd and fill'd them with dismay,
And scared the vultures from their prey.
His hidden power controll'd the foe,
And said, “No farther shalt thou go.”
His bridle in their mouths they found,
And fled subdued without a wound,
(As stubble by the whirlwind driven,)
They fled before the frown of heaven.
And said, “No farther shalt thou go.”
His bridle in their mouths they found,
And fled subdued without a wound,
(As stubble by the whirlwind driven,)
They fled before the frown of heaven.
Thanks be to God, the God of power,
Who shelter'd us in danger's hour;
The God of truth, who heard the prayer,
Let all His faithfulness declare;
Who sent deliverance from above,
Let all adore the God of love!
Who shelter'd us in danger's hour;
The God of truth, who heard the prayer,
Let all His faithfulness declare;
Who sent deliverance from above,
Let all adore the God of love!
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HYMN III.
[Still let us in our rising song]
Still let us in our rising song
Pursue the wild rebellious throng,
With tenfold rage and fury fired,
With all the zeal of hell inspired,
The sons of Rome and Satan see,
And trace them to their destiny.
Pursue the wild rebellious throng,
With tenfold rage and fury fired,
With all the zeal of hell inspired,
The sons of Rome and Satan see,
And trace them to their destiny.
Bold they return to sure success,
Whom all the saints conspire to bless,
Supported by their friends beneath,
In covenant with hell and death;
And Spanish gold, and Gallic pride,
And Holy Church is on their side.
Whom all the saints conspire to bless,
Supported by their friends beneath,
In covenant with hell and death;
And Spanish gold, and Gallic pride,
And Holy Church is on their side.
See how they fly to set us free
From all our northern heresy,
Our feuds and grievances to heal,
And purge the land with northern steel,
Bring back to their infernal god,
And re-baptize us in our blood.
From all our northern heresy,
Our feuds and grievances to heal,
And purge the land with northern steel,
Bring back to their infernal god,
And re-baptize us in our blood.
Bent to devour the total prey,
They leave our troops an open way,
An uncontested passage yield,
And draw their conquerors to the field,
And, sworn our ruin to secure,
They make their own destruction sure.
They leave our troops an open way,
An uncontested passage yield,
And draw their conquerors to the field,
And, sworn our ruin to secure,
They make their own destruction sure.
Lo! the audacious hopes of Rome
Rush headlong to their instant doom,
Slaughter and threats the aliens breathe,
Nor see the Lord of life and death,
Till struck with lightning from His eye,
They fear, they turn, they fall, they die!
Rush headlong to their instant doom,
Slaughter and threats the aliens breathe,
Nor see the Lord of life and death,
Till struck with lightning from His eye,
They fear, they turn, they fall, they die!
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How are the mighty fallen! dead!
Who fill'd our conscious land with dread;
Perish'd the keenest tools of war,
The crafty caught in their own snare,
And Antichrist robb'd of his plea,
His blind infallibility!
Who fill'd our conscious land with dread;
Perish'd the keenest tools of war,
The crafty caught in their own snare,
And Antichrist robb'd of his plea,
His blind infallibility!
'T was not the number of our hosts,
That baffled all their furious boasts,
Our wisdom did not cast them down,
Our courage, Lord, was not our own;
From Thee the sacred ardour came,
And William breathed an heavenly flame!
That baffled all their furious boasts,
Our wisdom did not cast them down,
Our courage, Lord, was not our own;
From Thee the sacred ardour came,
And William breathed an heavenly flame!
O let him thankfully submit
To lay his laurels at Thy feet,
By faith a Christian hero stand,
And hang on Thine all-ruling hand,
Supporter of his father's throne,
Upheld himself by Thee alone!
To lay his laurels at Thy feet,
By faith a Christian hero stand,
And hang on Thine all-ruling hand,
Supporter of his father's throne,
Upheld himself by Thee alone!
Give him, and us, and all to see
Our strength and life secured in Thee,
By whom Thy dread vicegerents reign,
And righteous kings their sway maintain,
Assured, who on Thy love depend,
Their God and Maker is their friend.
Our strength and life secured in Thee,
By whom Thy dread vicegerents reign,
And righteous kings their sway maintain,
Assured, who on Thy love depend,
Their God and Maker is their friend.
O that we all may seek and find
The Saviour, Friend of human kind,
People and prince be still employ'd
To' ensure the lasting peace of God,
And strive, till all obtain above
Eternal rest in Jesus' love!
The Saviour, Friend of human kind,
People and prince be still employ'd
To' ensure the lasting peace of God,
And strive, till all obtain above
Eternal rest in Jesus' love!
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HYMN IV.
[Join all who know the Name]
Join all who know the Name
That sure deliverance brings,
The conquering God proclaim,
The guardian King of kings:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
That sure deliverance brings,
The conquering God proclaim,
The guardian King of kings:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
He on our Israel's side
In glorious power hath stood,
And quell'd their cruel pride,
Who thirsted for our blood:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
In glorious power hath stood,
And quell'd their cruel pride,
Who thirsted for our blood:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
Forth with our armies went
The God of victory,
And bless'd the instrument
That set our nation free:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
The God of victory,
And bless'd the instrument
That set our nation free:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
The means His wisdom chose
We honour, and look through
To Him, who all our foes,
When flush'd with conquest, slew:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
We honour, and look through
To Him, who all our foes,
When flush'd with conquest, slew:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
Wisdom as strength belongs
To Jesu's only name,
He claims our thankful songs,
From whom our safety came:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
To Jesu's only name,
He claims our thankful songs,
From whom our safety came:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
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To Him let us restore
The lives He doth redeem,
And praise Him evermore,
And live and die to Him:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
The lives He doth redeem,
And praise Him evermore,
And live and die to Him:
Saved from the peril of the sword,
Rejoice, and glory in the Lord.
HYMN V.
[What recompence, or meet reward]
What recompence, or meet reward
Shall sinners render to the Lord
For all His saving grace?
We only can with thanks receive
The utmost grace He deigns to give,
And sing the Giver's praise.
Shall sinners render to the Lord
For all His saving grace?
We only can with thanks receive
The utmost grace He deigns to give,
And sing the Giver's praise.
Saved from the Romish fowler's snare,
Our Saviour's glory to declare
We joyfully agree:
Jesus, we now Thy praise proclaim,
And rescued by Thy conquering name,
Give back our lives to Thee.
Our Saviour's glory to declare
We joyfully agree:
Jesus, we now Thy praise proclaim,
And rescued by Thy conquering name,
Give back our lives to Thee.
Thou hast Thy praying remnant heard,
Thou hast our sinful Sodom spared
For the ten righteous' sake:
Thou between God and us hast stood,
And pleaded Thine atoning blood,
And turn'd the waster back.
Thou hast our sinful Sodom spared
For the ten righteous' sake:
Thou between God and us hast stood,
And pleaded Thine atoning blood,
And turn'd the waster back.
Pluck'd as a brand out of the fire,
Let us to greater things aspire,
And mightier wonders see,
Deliverance from death, hell, and sin,
From all these rebel foes within,
And more than victory.
Let us to greater things aspire,
And mightier wonders see,
Deliverance from death, hell, and sin,
From all these rebel foes within,
And more than victory.
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Jesu, convert and stir us up
With transport to receive the cup
Of full salvation here:
And let us then by love restored
Behold Thee, our triumphant Lord,
With all Thy saints appear!
With transport to receive the cup
Of full salvation here:
And let us then by love restored
Behold Thee, our triumphant Lord,
With all Thy saints appear!
HYMN VI.
[God of love, who hear'st the prayer]
God of love, who hear'st the prayer
Offer'd for a guilty land,
Thou dost yet Thy wrath forbear,
Hold awhile Thy lifted hand;
Thou with bowels of compassion
Giv'st us still a longer space:
Turn us then, the sinful nation
Conquer by Thy pardoning grace.
Offer'd for a guilty land,
Thou dost yet Thy wrath forbear,
Hold awhile Thy lifted hand;
Thou with bowels of compassion
Giv'st us still a longer space:
Turn us then, the sinful nation
Conquer by Thy pardoning grace.
Thee in dreadful indignation
Marching through the land we saw,
Stopp'd by Israel's supplication,
Lo! Thou dost the scourge withdraw:
O that all might hear and tremble
At the long-suspended rod,
All in Jesu's name assemble,
All confess the Son of God.
Marching through the land we saw,
Stopp'd by Israel's supplication,
Lo! Thou dost the scourge withdraw:
O that all might hear and tremble
At the long-suspended rod,
All in Jesu's name assemble,
All confess the Son of God.
Grant us in this awful crisis,
Hearts Thy warning to receive,
Hearts to cast away our vices,
Hearts to sorrow and believe:
Humbly at Thy footstool mourning,
Let us groan Thy face to see,
Let us all at last returning
Find our help and rest in Thee.
Hearts Thy warning to receive,
Hearts to cast away our vices,
Hearts to sorrow and believe:
Humbly at Thy footstool mourning,
Let us groan Thy face to see,
Let us all at last returning
Find our help and rest in Thee.
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Come, the contrite heart's Desire,
Friend of helpless sinners, come!
Hear and answer us by fire,
All our sins forgive—consume,
Humble us, and then deliver
Whom Thou dost awhile reprove,
Save us then, and save for ever,
God of everlasting love!
Friend of helpless sinners, come!
Hear and answer us by fire,
All our sins forgive—consume,
Humble us, and then deliver
Whom Thou dost awhile reprove,
Save us then, and save for ever,
God of everlasting love!
HYMN VII.
[While void of care, the cheerful crowd]
While void of care, the cheerful crowd
In shouts and acclamations loud
The festal time employ;
Let us, who still the rod revere,
With pitying grief and humble fear
Correct the lighter joy.
In shouts and acclamations loud
The festal time employ;
Let us, who still the rod revere,
With pitying grief and humble fear
Correct the lighter joy.
Not but Thou read'st our thankful heart,
Thankful that Thou hast took our part,
And saved the sinful land;
Thou hast preserved the best of kings,
And shadow'd with thy mercy's wings
The man of Thy right hand.
Thankful that Thou hast took our part,
And saved the sinful land;
Thou hast preserved the best of kings,
And shadow'd with thy mercy's wings
The man of Thy right hand.
Yet must we, Lord, with shame confess,
Nor for our nation's righteousness
Hast Thou deliverance sent,
But grantest us a longer space,
To try, if those who scorn'd Thy grace
Will now at last repent.
Nor for our nation's righteousness
Hast Thou deliverance sent,
But grantest us a longer space,
To try, if those who scorn'd Thy grace
Will now at last repent.
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Thou hast not dropp'd Thy quarrel, Lord,
Thou hast not from the threatening sword
Revoked its charge to kill:
Thine anger is not turn'd away,
Thy justice still demands its prey,
Thine hand is stretch'd out still.
Thou hast not from the threatening sword
Revoked its charge to kill:
Thine anger is not turn'd away,
Thy justice still demands its prey,
Thine hand is stretch'd out still.
Conquerors of our intestine foes,
We spurn the authors of our woes;
But can our tears be dry
While just necessity commands,
And slaughter'd by fraternal hands,
Whole troops of Britons die?
We spurn the authors of our woes;
But can our tears be dry
While just necessity commands,
And slaughter'd by fraternal hands,
Whole troops of Britons die?
Thousands to their account are fled
With all their sins upon their head,
(Sins against man and God,)
Their lives are lost to ransom ours:
And still the sword abroad devours,
And thirsts for nobler blood.
With all their sins upon their head,
(Sins against man and God,)
Their lives are lost to ransom ours:
And still the sword abroad devours,
And thirsts for nobler blood.
The man who sits on the red horse
Holds on his bloody rapid course,
And peace from earth destroys;
And O! what crowds of Britain's sons
Have own'd his power in dying groans,
And answer'd to his voice!
Holds on his bloody rapid course,
And peace from earth destroys;
And O! what crowds of Britain's sons
Have own'd his power in dying groans,
And answer'd to his voice!
O might we mercy seek and find,
Ere yet he calls the man behind,
Who rides the sable steed;
Ere yet the meagre form appears,
With a long train of dearthy years,
And famine lifts his head.
Ere yet he calls the man behind,
Who rides the sable steed;
Ere yet the meagre form appears,
With a long train of dearthy years,
And famine lifts his head.
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Before with fruitless horror we
The man on the pale courser see,
And feel his blasting breath,
Jesu, regard the nation's cry,
Reverse our doom, nor let us die
The pestilential death.
The man on the pale courser see,
And feel his blasting breath,
Jesu, regard the nation's cry,
Reverse our doom, nor let us die
The pestilential death.
O might we all to Thee submit,
And fall, and kiss Thy bleeding feet,
And own Thee for our King,
Bright in Thy glorious image rise,
And rapt at last above the skies,
Thine endless praises sing.
And fall, and kiss Thy bleeding feet,
And own Thee for our King,
Bright in Thy glorious image rise,
And rapt at last above the skies,
Thine endless praises sing.
| The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley | |