The poetical works of John and Charles Wesley

Righteous God, whose awful frown
The rainy torrent pours,
Sends the' impetuous judgment down
In never-ceasing showers,
Listening to Thy people's cry
Who cannot seek Thy face in vain,
Stay the bottles of the sky,
And smile on earth again.

Winds and storms their charge fulfil,
By Thy direction blow,
Execute Thy vengeful will,
And plague the world below:
Winds and storms before Thee fly,
If so Thy sovereign word ordain;
Stay the bottles of the sky,
And smile on earth again.

Though our mighty sins demand
The' impending curse of God,
Spare, oh spare a guilty land,
Nor send a second flood:
On Thy promise we rely,
Thy sign doth in the cloud remain;
Stay the bottles of the sky,
And smile on earth again.

267

Praying faith on us bestow,
And then incline Thine ear;
Faith's effectual prayer we know
Thou wilt through Jesus hear;
If in us His Spirit cry
Thou wilt the liquid plague restrain,
Stay the bottles of the sky,
And smile on earth again.

Hear us in our time of need
For Jesu's sake above;
Worthless in ourselves, we plead
The merits of Thy Son;
Hear our Advocate on high,
Who must His people's suit obtain;
Stay the bottles of the sky,
And smile on earth again.

With Elijah's faith endow'd,
Presenting our request,
Wrestling in the prayer of God
We will not let Thee rest,
Till Thy providence reply,
And hearkening to the voice of man
Shut the windows of the sky,
And smile on earth again.

University of Virginia Library

A PRAYER FOR FAIR WEATHER.